THE class of 74 were back in business - and how!

Ian Hunter was reunited with Mott the Hoople bandmate Morgan Fisher and Aeriel Bender for the first time in 45 years for a show which most fans had long since given up hope of ever witnessing.

Hunter's current outfit The Rant Band provided the backbone for the show, allowing the three amigos to roll back the years.

A recording of David Bowie introducing the band all those years ago followed by the rousing intro music of I Vow to Thee My Country left many gentlemen of a certain age in the audience somewhat moist around the eyes.

Hunter strode onto the stage, mirrored shades and shock of curls, to sing the opening bars of American Pie.

"The day the music died ...... or did it?" he rasped before the band launched into The Golden Age of Rock and Roll. But make no mistake, this was no nostalgia trip, this wasn't a dreaded 'heritage' act going through the motions.

No, this was an out-and-out, slap you in the face, sweat until you drop, rock and roll show.

Fisher on keyboards and Bender on guitar were replacements in the original Mott line-up, playing with the band for just one year and both had the expression of kids let loose in the sweet shop - joyful and yet not quite believing that the opportunity had arisen.

But they seized it with both hands. Fisher, who was served Champagne by a roadie during the first song - with a dayglo ice bucket next to his piano, as you do - added an extra dimension to the sound. Bender, whom Hunter has described as the band's court jester certainly lived up to the billing.

In trademark beret, he gurned, he pouted and he shredded his guitar. Sadly a few technical issues often muted his work but he remained the showman throughout.

At the heart of everything was Hunter, who in a few weeks time will become the coolest octagenarian in the world. The man is a marvel - whatever it is he is doing he should patent it.

He remains every inch the rock and roll star.

The setlist was one to treasure with hits such as Roll Away the Stone and Honaloochie Boogie sitting in between fan favourites Pearl n Boy and Marionette.

A cover of the Velvet's Sweet Jane threatened to take the roof off the place and the encore of All the Way From Memphis, Saturday Gigs and finally All the Young Dudes was the perfect way to bring this special night to a close.

Behind those shades Hunter remains fairly inscrutable but you could tell that the rousing reception meant a lot to him and the rest of the band. The show had certainly meant a huge amount to those of us lucky enough to be there.