Mick Ronson Biography
A Look at of One of Rock's Most Respected and Underrated Guitarists
Nov 19, 2008
Mick Ronson was a humble but extraordinary guitar virtuoso known for his Jeff Beck-inspired sound. He was also a talented producer who helped with the production of many famous albums from Lou Reed’s Transformer to Morrissey’s Your Arsenal. Respected and praised by the music world he is also a hugely underrated guitarist.
Ronson started much of his early musical career playing in local bands like The Mariners, The King Bees and The Crestas. Ronson was also apart of a band called The Rats where he met John Cambridge who eventually left and was replaced for drummer Mick 'Woody' Woodmansey both of whom he would play with in Hype.
Mick Ronson and David Bowie : Hype
In 1970 Cambridge recruited Mick Ronson to be a part of Hype, David Bowie's backing band. Hype would go on to play several gigs, their first of which they dressed up in costumes foreshadowing the glam rock scene that was yet to come. Cambridge soon left the band and was once again replaced by Woodmansey.
The band recorded on Bowie's album The Man Who Sold the World. After this, Hype broke up as a band but in 1971 Bowie asked Ronson to help him arrange some songs for his newest album Hunky Dory. Ronson called upon Woodmansey and Trevor Bolder for the recordings. With Hunky Dory’s success Bowie would stick with the band in his upcoming plans for a concept album.
David Bowie and the Spiders from Mars
The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars was released in 1972. It became an international sensation. Ronson is most recognized for his work with Bowie during this time particularly for the controversial performances that the duo would put on. With Bowie now adopting the persona of Ziggy Stardust, Ronson and the rest of the band were referred to as the Spiders from Mars.
Around this time Ronson would also team up with Bowie to produce Lou Reed's album Transformer where Ronson would help arrange songs as well as provide backing vocals and a variety of other musical performances. And even after their glam rock stage and the release of Aladdin Sane, Ronson would continue to work with Bowie on Pin-Ups and again in 1992 on Black Tie White Noise.
Solo Career and Other Collaborations
In 1974 Ronson launched his solo career and released his first album Slaughter on 10th Avenue. His album was received with a fair amount of success and he proceeded to record his second album Play Don't Worry. That same year Ian hunter asked Ronson to fill in as guitarist for Mott the Hoople. This marked the end of his solo career which, according to Bolder in the 1993 Record Collector article "Guitar Legends: Mick Ronson-A Retrospective" by Peter Doggett, he accepted since he didn't enjoy his role as front man.
Ronson would only briefly be a part of Mott the Hoople as they soon split up. Hunter began his solo career and Ronson joined him. During the time they worked together, Hunter also introduced Ronson to Bob Dylan. By the end of 1975 Ronson was traveling with Dylan on his Rolling Thunder Tour, but eventually left in 1976.
Throughout his career, Mick Ronson would collaborate with a wide range of other artists mostly in the form of producing. Among them was Dana Gillespie, Van Morrison, Los Illegals, Morrissey and more. He also continued to work with Hunter on several more albums.
Death and Commemoration
Mick Ronson died on April 29, 1993 of liver cancer. Plans for future collaborations and albums were shattered by his untimely death. A memorial concert was held for him on April 29, 1994 at the Hammersmith Apollo in England. Rolling Stone declared him 64 out of the 100 greatest guitarists and he received the Tommy Vance Inspiration Award at the 2007 Classic Rock Awards.
Mick Ronson certainly inspired many during his life and although underrated, he is highly esteemed and missed by the many artists that he worked with.
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