British rock journeyman who probably won't even ring a bell if you've memorized Pete Frame's Family Trees, his big moment (such as it was) was holding the lead singer/rhythm guitarist slot in Mott the Hoople in their dying, post-Ian Hunter days. Hyams also played in bands that included members of Van Der Graaf Generator, Spooky Tooth, Fleetwood Mac, and Ian Dury's Blockheads, although he never recorded with any of them. He made a run-of-the-mill mid-'70s rock LP, Mistaken Identities, that only made it as far as the promo copy stage, although the material (with several bonus tracks) surfaced on a 1997 CD. In retrospect, his greatest achievement seems to have been introducing Mott the Hoople (years before he joined them) to the music of David Bowie, which greased a connection that would be instrumental in Mott's career. ~ Richie Unterberger