All the young dudes.

Both Robyn and me love this song - a gift to a struggling Mott the Hoople by David Bowie in an effort to save the band. It worked for a while.

This one is here for a couple of reasons. It's a great song to start with and a great video from a time before anyone had even thought of videos. Ian Hunter's heckling performance is amazing.

It also captures an era and managed to get itself banned from the BBC until the lyrics were changed. This has the original 'Stealing clothes from Marks and Sparks', that got them in trouble in the first place.

Mott the Hoople never really got the fame they deserved although they had some very loyal fans, including some youngsters who were going to later become The Clash, who were fanatical followers for a while.

But for me the video captures the 1970's - a decade of violence and conflict, of fiercely opposed tribes. When there was nothing to do and no money to pay for it. When everybody seemed dressed in different shades of brown.

When teenagers wore embarrassing clothes very awkwardly and struggled to find a place for themselves in the world.

I see myself in the group of lads, self consciously smoking a cigarette, with the Police always nearby. We were uneasy and awkward but we definitely were........dudes.

Here's the link;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkqQj8Z_aVY

Neil Harris
(a don't stop till you drop production)
Home: helpmesortoutstpeters.blogspot.com
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