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Mott the Hoople (June 2, 1974) “Grandmothers really rock … ‘n roll” - The Plain Dealer

  • Writer: Mott The Hoople
    Mott The Hoople
  • Jun 2, 1974
  • 2 min read

Charming human-interest feature in The Plain Dealer about five Cleveland grandmothers (ages 63–71) hired by Columbia Records to promote Mott the Hoople’s new single “The Golden Age of Rock ’n Roll” through modeling, radio appearances, and a day of fun in teenage territory.

PUBLICATION:

Date: Sunday, June 2, 1974

Country: United States

Title: THE PLAIN DEALER (Cleveland, Ohio) Section: Senior Class / Features Headline: Grandmothers really rock … ’n roll


THE STORY

Five grandmothers — Grace Kelly (71), Barbara Sorchy (70), Estella Tatum (63), Roberta Nelson (64), and Mae Brenner (68) — were picked up in a limousine, taken to breakfast, visited WIXY radio station, posed for photos at a hippie clothing shop, and waved signs promoting the Mott the Hoople record. The article captures their delight, quotes about feeling young again, dancing to the song, and their thoughts on rock ’n roll. It includes a fun cartoon illustration of the grandmothers holding Mott signs.


CONTEXT AND NOTES

This promotional stunt coincided with Mott the Hoople’s 1974 US tour. The same day (June 2, 1974) also saw coverage of the band’s show in Richmond, Virginia. The light-hearted story highlights the broad appeal of glam rock and the clever marketing tactics used by record labels in the 1970s.


FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS

Era: Glam / Rock (1974)

Tone: Whimsical, warm, generational Photography / Art: Black-and-white photo of the grandmothers + humorous cartoon illustration



WHAT THE CLIPPING SHOWS

  • Large headline and detailed article with multiple columns

  • Photo of the grandmothers and cartoon illustration holding Mott the Hoople signs

  • Fun promotional context for “The Golden Age of Rock ’n Roll”

RELATED MATERIAL (Same Date)

  • Mott the Hoople (May 25, 1974) Music Star Pull-Out Poster


  • Mott the Hoople (May 20, 1972) Hoople – Keeping Themselves In Sight - Sounds


  • Mott The Hoople (May 11, 1974) Live Feature – New Musical Express

Also see tabs at the foot of this post.


All magazine scans, photographs and original text excerpts remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This entry is a transformative, non-commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference.


Key Quote: “I felt like a queen for a day,” said Grace Kelly.


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