Ray Major Morgan Fisher
Nigel Benjamin Dale Griffin Overend Watts
Upp
Andy Clark Stephen Amazing Jim
Copley Dave Bunce
gig poster and flyer (click to
enlarge flyer)
ticket
memories
Morgan Fisher, Mott
I
don't really have any specific memories/memorabilia re Friars, except that
I always enjoyed playing there. Of course next year (2009) is the 40th
anniversary of the formation of Mott. That would be the time to reform for
a world tour... No offers have come in yet - we need to get those 87,000
ex-Friars members clamouring for it!
Jimmy Copley, Upp
I
have many memories of Friars, I well remember my gigs with Upp. All the
very best to all at Friars...where did the years go?
press cuttings
what happened next
Mott the Hoople split in
1974, not before Hunter brought out the highly acclaimed 'Diary of a Rock
and Roll Star' book. Ian Hunter still records and tours to this day (the
webmaster saw him in 2007/2008 and he was on blistering form, with Verden Allen
joining him on stage in 2007). Hunter played Friars in 1975 as the Hunter Ronson
Band with the late Mick Ronson and in 1977 as Ian Hunter's Overnight
Angels. The remainder of Mott the Hoople carried on as Mott with a couple
of line up changes (see date links above) Hunter also provided a guest appearance at the British Lions
(remains of Mott with John Fiddler from Medicine Head) gig
in Dec 1977. Mick Ralphs, post MTH, joined Bad Company with Free's Paul Rodgers
and Simon Kirke. Dale Griffin continued into the Mott and British Lions
periods (both of whom played Friars) and then became a Radio 1 producer
and is now in ill health.
Mott the Hoople with the
original 1969 line up reformed for 40th anniversary shows in October 2009
at the Hammersmith Apollo. Some of the Friars team were there and can
confirm it was a sublime experience. They reformed again for a UK tour in 2013
with Pretenders drummer and long time Mott associate Martin Chambers on
drums
Upp were Jeff
Beck's backing group for some time (Beck played on their debut album in
1975 seemingly uncredited) and appear to have split by around 1977. Jim
Copley went on to drum for many major artists and is currently in Manfred Mann's
Earthband
odds and trivia
At the 2009 Mott the
Hoople reunion gigs, did we really see Friars flyers going across
the screens?
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