It is getting harder than ever to witness Mott the Hoople music being played, at least by its original creators. Ian Hunter is still very much with us but has not toured since the pandemic and sadly his bandmates have gradually left us, most recently guitarist Mick Ralphs. Fellow guitarist Dave ‘Bucket’ Colwell, who regularly played in Bad Company, variously alongside or replacing him, and former Who and current Oasis drummer Zak Starkey decided to put together a band for a few select dates to honour his memory and the legacy of one of Britian’s most distinctive and influential bands.

The sole London show was not in one of the capital’s usual venues but Riverside Studios by the Thames at Hammersmith, just down the road from the legendary Odeon. It is mainly a creative space for theatre, cinema and TV recordings- indeed my previous visit had been to see a recording of Have I Got News for You- but for a week was hosting a ‘guitarnation festival’ which in addition to films and plays included performances by a Jeff Beck tribute act, which I also saw and enjoyed, and Francis Dunnery.

Though Zak and Bucket took top billing on the event poster, it was a line up of proven players including two members of the Soho Dukes who have been on my radar since a gig buddy recently recommended them and said they sounded like Mott the Hoople. Keyboard player Chris Vicary played the unmistakable introduction to ‘All the Way from Memphis’, which it was a surprise to hear open the set and dapper singer Johnny Barracuda was the perfect choice with a very Hunter-esque intonation even if a touch more ‘cockney’.

Having plied his trade in Bad Company it was inevitable that ‘Bucket’ would excel on Mick Ralphs’ chunky riffs and economical solos and sure enough ‘Rock and Roll Queen’, a song ahead of its time had them in spades, as did ‘One of the Boys’, a timely reminder that Mick then repurposed the main riff for ‘Can’t Get Enough’.

The music was left to speak for itself with one clever exception: it was interspersed by short readings by Johnny from Ian Hunter’s authorised biography ‘Rock’n’Roll Sweepstakes’. Julie ‘the Duchess’ Maguire added backing vocals stylishly as well as singing the female counterpoint on ‘Roll Away the Stone’, another hit early on in the set.

Indeed highlights came thick and fast, ‘The Golden Age of Rock ‘n’ Roll’ being another while once Chris read a passage that ended with a reference to Croydon, we all knew the autobiographical anthem ‘Saturday Gigs’ would follow. They did depart from a strict MTH set by slipping in ‘Once Bitten Twice Shy’ and some of the readings did appear to refer to Ian Hunter’s solo years.

For the Mott devotee there was also a generous selection from their early Island Records, pre-glam years, beginning with the rowdy ‘na-na-nas’ of ‘Midnight Lady’. As the night wore on, these formed a bigger part of the set and seemed in a more straightforward early seventies hard rock style- in which Johnny’s voice was little drowned out.

Some I was already familiar with- ‘Sweet Angeline’ and ‘Walking with a Mountain’, others less so- ‘Moon Upstairs’ featured some busy and frenetic Moon- like drumming from Zak, and it was easy to see how he was a perfect stylistic choice for the Who, even if Roger Daltrey took a different view by the end.

Johnny joked that they liked to dig even deeper into the catalogue and were going to play the most obscure B side, prior to a rollicking as ever ‘All the Young Dudes’, though I was surprised even this did not get the seated crowd to their feet.

The main set had flown by in little over an hour and I wondered what they could have held back for encores. Instead we dipped into the main protagonists back catalogues- Julie fronting a version of Bad Company’s ‘Rock And Roll Fantasy’ to the manor born, and Johnny returning for a lively ‘Substitute’.

It was a perfectly conceived and fond tribute which did justice to the Mick Ralphs and Mott the Hoople memory. It was supposed to be a limited edition but I really hope, and suspect, that this production has some more mileage in it.

Review and Photos by Andy Nathan

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions,

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

Upcoming sessions:

April 12

Josh Taerk - Sunday Session - 12 April 2026

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast 15 February 2026.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). First broadcast on 17 February 2026

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen live or listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

Power Plays w/c 2 March 2026

DODGY – It’s Not The End (Flip Flop Records)
THE SKBs – Hour Glass (indie)
LAKE – Boy On A Mission (indie)
KING FALCON Holding Out (indie)
HOKKA Heart Said No (Nuclear Blast Records)
STARBENDERS The Beast Goes On (Sumerian Records)
EDDIE AND THE WOLVES See Me Fall (indie)

Featured Albums w/c 2 March 2026

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Singer Songwriter)

Our occasional Newsletter signposts latest additions to the website(s). We also include a selection of recent top albums, based on GRTR! reviewer ratings. The newsletter is sent out a few times a year.

If you’d like to register to receive this occasional mailing please complete the form:

If using a smartphone/tablet please tap here or re-orientate your device

(Note that this registration is separate from site registration which allows you to leave comments and receive daily emails about new content. If you wish to register for this – in addition or separately – please click or tap here – for more information – the form is at the foot of each page. Please read our privacy policy when opting-in to receive emails.