Goodbye! Goodbye!

Well, that's a wrap on this blog. I'm done.

I'd like to thank anyone who visited me, and I hope you found it entertaining, fun and worth your while.

I'd especially like to thank those who took the time to help me by providing content: Mike (RTM) for the Monmouth setlist, Toni (Platform Boots) and Mal for the details on the Monday and Tuesday shows, Madeline for providing links and event information, Steve for the Monmouth pictures, Keith and Morgan for sitting for the videos.

The trip was all I could ask for, with the visit to Ireland and the three MTH shows being experiences of a lifetime. I saw old friends and made new ones. Thanks to Keith for being my running mate in London, to Spike Lavender for the Fruit Fusion, and to Toni for graciously allowing me to keep a Martin Chambers drumstick that by the laws of fair play should have been his. It will have a good home and a prominent display.

I learned so many things about blogging. I could easily rattle off 20 things I'd do differently, and better, if the opportunity arises again. But I think this MTH experience -- from the day in January the shows were announced until today -- was the perfect topic for blogging, for me anyway.

The shows were a solid A. As I've said, I wish they'd mixed the setlist at least a bit from night to night, and I wish they'd given some light to Bender and Fisher. But overall it was fantastic. My lasting memory will be of pounding the stage from seat A7 and screaming along to The Moon Upstairs. I was out of my mind.

Finally, Mott the Hoople played again and after 35 years of waiting, I was in the front row. There is no better.

Thanks for your time.

Morgan Fisher and Tom Guerra

Here's Morgan Fisher visiting with Tom Guerra of Mambo Sons, who wrote the song "Overend Watts."

Saturday video: I Wish I Was Your Mother

Saturday video: Jupiter/Hymn for the Dudes

What's next?

Five nights at Hammersmith are behind us, and we're all wondering if that was the end for Mott the Hoople.

I wasn't able to get definitive answers. I don't think there are any.

There's no doubt the band will get offers in the immediate aftermath. The shows were extremely well-received. How much of that was based on pure nostalgia is a matter of opinion, but there must be short-term demand for more.

I still say the most likely course is a two- or three-day residency at a mid-sized New York venue such as Nokia Theatre at Times Square. Nothing larger, or smaller, would make financial sense. And I could see this happening in May, the same month as the 1974 Broadway shows. I don't think we're talking years of wait this time.

Here are the issues -- remember, I know nothing:

The drums: Buffin is out of the question. And with the reunion buzz done, he probably wouldn't even appear at subsequent performances. I thought the way they handled his situation was classy and appropriate. I thought they should have given him an introduction on Friday and Saturday, but then I realized they didn't introduce Verden Allen either.

Martin Chambers would be the ideal replacement, but complications with his own management or the Pretenders might scotch that idea. The Great Pretender (I stole that, it's great) was listed as a support musician on these shows and probably got less of a cut, but I can't see that happening again. If he plays again, he's a member of MTH. Martin's role in these shows is being applauded across the board. MTH fans love him now.

Steve Holley would be another capable choice.

Pete Watts: He's saying he doesn't know if he wants to do anymore. All I can say is, fans loved seeing him up there again, he looked great and can still perform. Pete, you haven't got another 35 years to play the Hamlet role. Get on board. If it's just Ian, Mick and Verden calling themselves MTH, my interest meter is way down.

(But when Ian said Tuesday that "Pete's still undecided," the implication is that the other three are decided).

Ian Hunter: One thing I missed in my stay in London was this interview with Ian and Joe Elliott in the Independent. So Joe was everywhere -- a fan, a journalist, a support act, a backup vocalist. Where does it end? But he did get Ian to say a few interesting things.

One of them was Ian's admission that Man Overboard had been "obliterated" by the MTH shows, an opinion I gave earlier on this blog. So again, what does the MTH pursuit do to the solo career of a 70-year-old man? He can't work year-round. A U.S. tour for Man Overboard was a casualty of these MTH shows.

Tour or no?: Mott the Hoople won't tour. Ian said as much in the Joe Elliott interview. Again -- a residency in New York. Maybe a couple of nights in Glasgow.

My conclusion: We'll see them again before the end of 2010. And it should really end there.

Tuesday gig?

Have at it, all. Video of "The Saturday Gigs" from ofitato via YouTube.

Monday gig?

I'm back in Texas.

I'm hoping fans will kindly share details of the Monday show, which by my reckoning ended half an hour ago.

Any setlist changes? Guests on stage?

How was Glen Matlock?

Thanks.