When Def Leppard is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame tomorrow (Friday) night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, Queen guitarist Brian May will introduce them. That’s appropriate since Queen was a big influence on the band and May is a friend.
But there is another close friend and influence who was also invited, but he’s unable make it — Ian Hunter, who fronted one of Joe Elliott’s favorite bands, Mott the Hoople. Elliott has long said that he wants Mott’s version of David Bowie’s (another hero) “All the Young Dudes” played at is funeral.
Ian tells us he was asked to perform with them and Brian May at the end of the night, but he’s in rehearsals for Mott the Hoople’s tour, which starts Monday in Milwaukee.
There are many people who feel that Mott the Hoople, or at least Ian, has been overlooked by the Rock Hall. Ian says it would be a nice honor, but at the end of the day he’s really not into awards shows.
