The feeling that chaos was about to erupt was palpable": Thurston Moore's memoir Sonic Life is a fascinating insider account of life-changing outsider art, and one music geek's insatiable lust for the loud

The most versatile modern distortion pedal available today”: Fortin debuts its first dedicated distortion pedal, the Natas – and it’s based on a “blisteringly high gain” tube amp Use italics (lyric) and bold (lyric) to distinguish between different vocalists in the same song part The first part is a pretty fun record,” he says. “Not stupid or daft, just a very up record. The second one I would say is probably heavier and more political.”

Getting older is a double-edged sword; for all the wisdom attained through the years, the body continues its inevitable deterioration. That may not hamper some artists, but working musicians typically have a tougher time keeping their chops limber as the years roll by. That’s typical of what the record does, in that it doesn’t sound like anything else here, yet Hunter is the golden thread. And that extends to the guests. Todd Rundgren is on the soul filled “Don’t Tread On Me” – a simple plea for respect – and you imagine for the stars this was a fun way to get out of comfort zones. Having spent the better part of two years on the project, Hunter isn’t done yet. As its title promises, DEFIANCE PART 1 will be followed by the arrival of DEFIANCE PART 2. The second chapter will feature an equally stunning range of special guests while projecting an entirely different thematic approach and songwriting aesthetic.

I’m a songwriter,” he says. “That’s what I do for a living. And after 20 years with the Ranters, I felt like doing something different anyway. And then the Covid hit and it was like, you’re either going to go mad, or you’re going to do something. So I just went at it. I didn’t really write depressing songs, because I figured things were depressing enough as it was.”Fellow octogenarian Ringo Starr (82) keeps the beat on the following “Bed of Roses” which pounds out with the force of the best Mott grinders as guitarist Mike Campbell provides gutsy six-string support. In the thumping “I Hate Hate” ( it’s spreading like an epidemic), his gruff voice adds to the song’s irritation about negativity in society. There are a lot of reasons for calling this album “Defiance”, says Ian Hunter. “It’s like, people my age shouldn’t be making records, blah, blah, blah. But we’ve still got a bit left”.

I’ve been in Sun Studios a couple of times,” he adds, “and I don’t know what it does for anybody else, but it’s a great feeling being in that room, a very strange feeling. We went down there with The Rant Band and there’s all these original instruments – guitars hanging on the wall, there’s Jerry Lee’s piano, a little drum kit and stand-up bass. Before we knew what we were doing, we were all playing in Sun Studios. But it does have almost a ghostly vibe to it.” Having spent the better part of two years on the project, Hunter isn’t done yet. As its title promises, DEFIANCE PART 1 will be followed closely by the arrival of DEFIANCE PART 2. The second chapter will feature an equally stunning range of special guests while projecting an entirely different thematic approach and songwriting aesthetic. One of the most flexible boost pedals available”: Boss’ Waza Craft BP-1W pedal puts the ‘secret weapon’ preamp sounds of the classic CE-1 and RE-201 into one compact unit There are a lot of reasons for calling this album Defiance,” says Hunter. “It’s like, people my age shouldn’t be making records, blah, blah, blah. But we’ve still got a bit left.” Songs like “I Hate Hate” and the cathartic “Guernica” – the latter of which sees Hunter manifesting the spirit of Pablo Picasso as he recalls the creation of his 1937 anti-war masterpiece – offer indisputable evidence that Hunter’s lyrical voice remains as uncompromising and provocative as ever before.I’ve always had him down as a kind of British Bob Dylan, and “Bed Of Roses” (Ringo Starr and Mike Campbell on this one) underlines it with its glorious rambling poetry. It was a fluke”, Ian Hunter says. “This was not planned. Really, I’m serious. I really couldn’t believe some of them. I mean, it’s amazing what’s happened. It’s been such a buzz”. My new album Defiance Part 1 is finally here. There are a lot of reasons I chose to call this album Defiance. It’s as if people my age shouldn’t be making records, blah, blah, blah. But we’ve still got a bit left. I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as we did making it.

Having spent the better part of two years on the project, Hunter isn’t done yet. As its title promises, the album will be followed by the arrival of Defiance Part 2. The second chapter will feature an equally stunning range of special guests while projecting an entirely different thematic approach and songwriting aesthetic. To Hunter’s delight, the project began escalating, with a galaxy of stars clamoring to be involved. With time on their hands due the pandemic, his fellow musicians took the demos and stems that Hunter and York put together in his basement and added unforeseen power and creativity through their own trademark talents.It was a fluke,” Ian Hunter says. “ This was not planned. Really, I’m serious. I really couldn’t believe some of them. I mean, it’s amazing what’s happened. It’s been such a buzz.” There’s something a little E St Band-ish about “Guernica” and Joe Elliott’s harmonies are superb, while “I Hate Hate” is an example of the anger that burns. Its also what this album would have been if it had been conventional as it’s just Hunter and The Rant Band (it would have still been brilliant – and there’s another version too with Jeff Tweedy on). Never mind the guests, “Defiance Part 1” is one of the album’s of the year because its an Ian Hunter record and he’s a genius. Having spent the better part of two years on the project, Hunter isn’t done yet. As its title promises, “Defiance Part 1” will be followed by the arrival of “Defiance Part 2”. The second chapter will feature an equally stunning range of special guests while projecting an entirely different thematic approach and songwriting aesthetic.