Morgan Fisher talks MTH

Morgan Fisher, keyboard player for Mott the Hoople on the album The Hoople and the 1974 tour, is giving an exhibition of his photography at the Troubador in London simultaneously with the MTH reunion shows. I went to visit. He's very gracious, and his photos and videos are an interesting behind-the scenes look at the band, kind of the visual equivalent to Ian Hunter's Diary of a Rock Star. By the way, John Fiddler, singer for the post-MTH ensemble British Lions, was on hand also. He lives in Phoenix these days. Morgan said that he is disappointed he has not been invited to perform at the Hammersmith shows (and I'm disappointed as well), but he said the timing at least is giving him a chance to meet fans and show his work to fans. He lives in Japan. Hear what he had to say about his experience in Mott the Hoople.

Day 16: Getting frustrated

"Oh God these wires are so tight." -- Marionette (1974)

Classic Rock's Web site is reporting that the support band for Day 5 at Hammersmith will be Def Leppard singer Joe Elliott backed by the Quireboys.

In an interview with Classic Rock, Elliott says he'll be doing songs recorded by the MTH members after the band split up. He says songs by Mott, British Lions and Ian Hunter will be included. I guess even Bad Company is fair game.

Great idea. It's great that those songs will be heard on at least one of the shows. Joe should be tuning up on "Shout it All Out" right now.

I've e-mailed the venue trying to find out who will support on the other four nights. No response. I guess this is still a state secret.

(By the way, I agree with one of the respondents to the Elliott story -- this band needs to open one of the shows. Click on the link to "Overend Watts" if you haven't heard it.)

I hate that festivities surrounding this reunion have been expanding at both ends, and in a haphazard manner.

First there was the Tracy Hunter-Jesse Hunter gig announced for Sunday, Oct. 4. That one I kind of understand. But then there were the Monmouth shows added piecemeal for the preceding week. Now there is the Elliott news, plus the earlier story that all MTH keyboard players not named Verden Allen will be performing Oct. 5-6 (with a "special guest," and if they're not hinting at Ariel Bender my name is Abraham Lincoln).

I do understand that Mick Bolton, Blue Weaver and Morgan Fisher are acting on their own, but geez -- why couldn't their shindig be offered on the weekend?

This started off as an Oct. 2-3 reunion. Now it's a Sept. 25-Oct. 6 Mottthehooplefest.

Many of us are traveling from the U.S., and the great majority of us can't change travel plans at this point to partake in these other offerings. And, if we're taking time off from a job to go to Europe, it's natural to assume that our travel window is Sept. 26-Oct. 4 -- one work week plus two weekends.

It's frustrating. We colonials who begged vacation time and locked in travel plans in January, immediately upon the announcement of this adventure, are being taken for granted.

So, speaking for those persons, how about throwing us a crumb?

Let us know who will support on the first three Hammersmith shows.

Let us know when we can meet the band. No if.

Stop announcing events we can't attend.

That is all. Thank you.