Mott the Hoople - британская рок-группа, образованная в 1969 году в Херефордшире, Англия, бывшими участниками группы Silence и заимствовавшая название у романа Уилларда Мануса (главный герой которого - эксцентрик, работающий в цирковом фрик-шоу). Mott the Hoople, согласно Allmusic, "дерзко спаяли хеви-метал и глэм-рок с дилановским сарказмом, подготовив тем самым платформу для многих панк-групп, прежде всего, The Clash". Критики отмечали как тексты Иэна Хантера, так и звучание группы - "жёсткий, мускулистый звук, всеми своими корнями сидевший в рок-почве, несмотря на заигрывания группы с гомосексуальным имиджем и косметикой".
Поначалу Mott The Hoople исполняли экспериментальный хард-рок (с элементами ритм-энд-блюза и психоделии), затем неожиданно для многих оказались в эпицентре глэм-движения. Во многом эта смена направления была предопределена успехом песни "All the Young Dudes": написанная для группы Дэвидом Боуи, она стала не только хит-синглом (поднявшись до 3-го места в Англии), но и своего рода гимном всей глэм-эпохи. Свой успех в чартах группа подкрепила синглами "Honaloochie Boogie" (1973, #12, при участии Энди МакКея из Roxy Music), "All the Way from Memphis" (1973, #10; песня вошла в саундтрек фильма "Алиса здесь больше не живёт") и "Roll Away the Stone" (1973, #8).
Майк Ралфс в 1973 году ушёл в Bad Company. Иэн Хантер в 1974 году начал сольную карьеру, поначалу в дуэте с гитаристом Миком Ронсоном, затем сотрудничая со многими музыкантами разных жанров (Queen, Брюс Спрингстин и др).
(ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mott_the_Hoople)

Having played in a number of different rock bands in Hereford, England, during the late 60s, the founding members of this outfit comprised Overend Watts (Peter Watts, 13 May 1947, Birmingham, England; vocals/bass), Mick Ralphs (b. Michael Geoffrey Ralphs, 31 May 1944, Hereford, Herefordshire, England; vocals/guitar), Verden Allen (b. 26 May 1944, Hereford, England; organ) and Dale Griffin (b. 24 October 1948, Ross-on-Wye, England; vocals/drums). After dispensing with their lead singer Stan Tippens, they were on the point of dissolving when Ralphs sent a demo tape to Island Records producer Guy Stevens. He responded enthusiastically, and after placing an advertisement in Melody Maker, they auditioned a promising singer named Ian Hunter (b. 3 June 1946, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England; vocals, keyboards, guitar). In June 1969 Stevens christened the band Mott The Hoople, after the novel by Willard Manus. Their self-titled debut album revealed a very strong Bob Dylan influence, most notably in Hunter's nasal vocal inflexions and visual image. With his corkscrew hair and permanent shades Hunter bore a strong resemblance to vintage 1966 Dylan and retained that style for his entire career.
Their first album, with its M.C. Escher cover illustration, included pleasing interpretations of the Kinks' 'You Really Got Me' and Sonny Bono's 'Laugh At Me', and convinced many that Mott would become a major band. Their next three albums trod water, however, and it was only their popularity and power as a live act that kept them together. Despite teaming up with backing vocalist Steve Marriott on the Shadow Morton -produced 'Midnight Lady', a breakthrough hit remained elusive. On 26 March 1972, following the departure of Allen, they quit in disillusionment. Fairy godfather David Bowie convinced them to carry on, offered his assistance as producer, placed them under the wing of his manager, Tony De Fries, and even presented them with a stylish UK Top 5 hit, 'All The Young Dudes'. The catchy 'Honaloochie Boogie' maintained the momentum but there was one minor setback when Ralphs quit to form Bad Company. With new members Morgan Fisher (b. 1 January 1950, London, England) and Ariel Bender (b. Luther Grosvenor, 23 December 1949, Evesham, Worcestershire, England) the band enjoyed a run of further UK Top 10 hits including 'All The Way From Memphis' and 'Roll Away The Stone'. During their final phase, Bowie's sideman Mick Ronson (b. 26 May 1945, Hull, Yorkshire, England, d. 30 April 1993) joined the band in place of Grosvenor (who had departed to join Widowmaker). Preparations for a European tour in late 1974 were disrupted when Hunter was hospitalized suffering from physical exhaustion, culminating in the cancellation of the entire tour. When rumours circulated that Hunter had signed a recording contract instigating a solo career, with Ronson working alongside him, the upheaval led to an irrevocable rift within the band, resulting in the stormy demise of Mott The Hoople. With the official departure of Hunter and Ronson, the remaining members, Watts, Griffin and Fisher, determined to carry on, working simply as Mott.
(oldies.com/artist-biography/Mott-Hoople.html)