Arts & Entertainment
Festival Preview: Ian Hunter & The Rant Band
Classic songwriter and rock legend to close out the Arts & Music Festival.
Hoboken is hosting its annual Spring Arts and Music Festival on May 1. Patch will be previewing some of the bands performing. Today: Ian Hunter & The Rant Band.
Rock icon and former lead singer of Mott the Hoople, Ian Hunter is the headline act at this year's Hoboken Art's and Music Festival.
Ian Hunter's long and storied career began in the late 60's and has seen nary a down period since. As the lead singer of Mott The Hoople from 1969 to 1974, he and the band became glam rock pioneers, famous for their 1972, David Bowie penned smash hit, 'All The Young Dudes.'"
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Since Hunter left the band in 1974, he's gone on to make over a dozen solo records and has worked with everyone from Mick Jones of The Clash to The E Street Band to Ringo Starr. He is known worldwide for his songwriting prowess and considerable place in rock and roll history.
Some of his most beloved songs include such gems as "Roll Away The Stone', 'Once Bitten, Twice Shy' and 'Cleveland Rocks.'"
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He's been cited as an influence by countless bands including Kiss, Blur, Oasis, The Clash and R.E.M.
R.E.M.'s Scott McCaughey and Peter Buck are also in The Baseball Project, the band performing immediately prior to Ian Hunter and The Rant Band at the Arts and Music Festival this weekend.
"I'm thrilled to be appearing on the same stage as Ian Hunter," McCaughey said. "He's a true rock'n'roll great and has been a huge inspiration to me for 40 years!"
Hunter's band, The Rant Band includes members Andy York on guitar, (John Mellencamp), Steve Holley on drums and percussion (Wings, Joe Cocker), Paul Page on bass (Dion), Jack Petruzzelli on electric guitar (Rufus Wainwright, Joan Osbourne), James Mastro on electric guitar (Patti Smith, John Cale), Andy Burton on piano and organ.
Hoboken fun fact/sidenote : Rant Band guitarist James Mastro is also the owner of Hoboken's own Guitar Bar.
If recent Ian Hunter & The Rant Band gigs are any indication, the show this weekend will be a career spanning affair that all the young (and old) dudes will be talking about for years to come.
Ian Hunter & The Rant Band plays the Observer Hwy Stage at 4:30pm on May 1 as part of the Hoboken Arts & Music Festival. The band will return to the area in September when it has a month long residency at City Winery in Manhattan.
