UNCUT

MOTT THE HOOPLE

“Oh Lord I wish I could escape this iron veil”

All The Young Dudes: 50th Anniversary Edition

MADFISH MUSIC

REISSUE OF THE MONTH

8/10

HAS rock’n’roll ever had a deus ex machina like “All The Young Dudes”? In 1972, Mott The Hoople were a cultish but generally unsuccessful rock band who had released four albums to diminishing interest since their self-titled 1969 debut. They had just toured the excellent Brain Capers, finishing up with a show that took place inside a converted gas holder in Switzerland. Feeling they had reached the lowest of the low, the band were about to call it quits. Then along came David Bowie.

Bowie was an avowed Mott fan, seeing in their ragged heavy rock some of the spirit of the American underground that had so inspired him since first hearing The Velvet Underground. Upon discovering that Mott were thinking of calling it

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