‘Defiance’ perfectly describes Ian Hunter as he approaches his 85th birthday. Firstly against the ageing process that shows no sign of eroding his chops, spirit or the eloquently poetic yet laceratingly confrontational spark that placed him among the UK’s finest songwriters over 50 years ago. It could also be against being stigmatised as a nostalgia act, when he’s always decidedly more concerned with making his next album than repackaging old ones.
Defiance Part 1 arrived in April ’23 as an uncontrived selection from the prolific composing spree Hunter embarked on during 2020’s covid lockdown, songs farmed out for home embellishment by a hefty roll call starting with Ringo and Jeff Beck. Transcending perilous star-guest syndrome while keeping the mood buoyant for desperate times, it attracted the best reviews of his seven-decade career, most praising his songs and performances.
