(The following spread is an excerpt from Diary Of A Rock Star. a documentary book by Mott the Hoople frontman tan Hunter. In his preface, Hunter explains: “It was written as it happened; on planes, buses, in cars, hotels, dressing ^ rooms - anywhere I could put pen to paper. It's riot meant to have literary merit, nor to be a journalists' delight. •( No\ it's more like a letter to a fan in the front row... a diary to keep in touch, It's meant as a buzz for thy people who dig us and wttl never be able to go to the places we travel. ”

? It was set down (hiring the last two months of 1972, when Mott were mak] mg a tour of the States to reinforce the '■ success of “All The Young Dudes. "At that time, they were beini produced by David Bowie and managed by the Bowie-Tony Defries Mainman organization. As to the names you Tl encounter in this excerpt, Mick is Mott guitarist Mick Ralphs; Pete is bassist Pete (Overend) Watts; Buff is drummer extraordinaire Buffin; and Phally is organist Verden Allen. David is Bowie and Tony is Defries. Since the book was written, both Ralphs and' Allen have have departed the Mott line-up, and any asscn ciation with Bowie,or Defies has been terminated