h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Some of the live act around the Spiders From Mars era could,in some respects,be classified as homo-erotic,especially with Davids self confessed bisexuality.However,when David suggested to Mick Ronson about acting as a homosexual during live shows,Mick gave a resounding thumbs down to the idea.

Really? I heard Bowie used to pretend to blow Mick Ronson onstage.

I think the assumed case of Bowie giving Ronno fellatio on stage comes from when Bowie looked as if he was playing Ronno's guitar with his teeth.Not sure abot that,though,so I stand to be corrected.

There are pictures of that! Oh how I would have loved to be at one of those shows...

Ronno's as straight as they come !!

(Got enough on his plate with his parents being Mormons - give the poor lad a chance)

See http://www.5years.com/spiders.htm

Don't forget,though,Seth of Rabi,that Ronno died from liver cancer a few years ago.Must admit that I didn't know his parents were Mormons.Still rate him as a damn good guitarist,whether he was playing with Bowie,Ian Hunter,part of Bob Dylans Rolling Thunder Revue or as a solo artiste.

By the way,Seth of Rabi,thanks for the link to the Spiders From Mars link you put on your posting.

Ronno dead ???!!!

(been in Africa for 7 years. You lose touch !)

Mick died from liver cancer in 1993.A tribute concert was held featuring the likes of David Bowie,Ian Hunter,The Rats and a whole host of other bods from the music scene.The Ian Hunter track Michael Picasso is about Mick and the working relationship/friendship between the two of them.

A review of Micks biography can be found on www.thisisull.com/reviews/books/steveronson.html

Aren't 'Wierd and Gilly' Bolder and Woodmansey ?

Anyway, great link to Ull! Are you from there? I've been making do with http://www.ayup.co.uk , but that'ns been nobbut just livin for a while

Yeah Weird and Gilly are Trevor Boulder and Mick (woody) Woodmansey. I'm trying to write a guide entry on Mick Ronson it's in the peer review stage at the moment and comments are more than welcome.

Have you got any more questions about Ronno? I'll do my best to answer any questions people might have.

Seth of Rabi.

No,I'm not from Hull. Nuneaton (Warwickshire)man by birth but now living in Scarborough.Came across the Hull page when I was looking for some info about Ronno.Glad you liked the link,anyway.

Must admit I didn't know "Weird" and "Gilly" were Bolder and Woodmansey.I've been more interested in Ronno's collaboration with Ian Hunter in recent years than with his time with Bowie.Always nice to learn something new,though.

Compo.

I don't think David Bowie did play at Ronsons benefit gig. The fact he didn't resulted in angry quotes from Ian Hunter.

Mick Ronsons album Slaughter on 10th Avenue is pretty good. 'Only After Dark' and 'Growing up and I'm Fine' (by Bowie) are the best cuts. The review on Amazon of it is fair really considering its quality depends on how much you like Bowie in the first place. Ronsons voice is very much like Bowies on that album especially on the Bowie penned number which gives a very good impression of what Bowie would have sounded like if he'd sung it. I'm not sure if a demo of Bowies version exists.

From the Bowie books it seems Ronson was pushed into being a front man but in Bowies shadow wasn't comfortable with it. But he is a fascinating character especially considering his contrbutions to Bowies output was considerable and to Lou Reeds Transformer as well which is a great album.

The comic 'Red Rocket 7' by Mike Allred (published by Darkhorse) in issue 7 has one of his red rocket characters (Forest Gump like) inadvertently affect the course of rock and roll. From earlier meeting Little Richard he becomes friends with Bowie who dyes his hair as red as Red Rockets is. The story then follows Bowies career up to helping Ronson record Slaughter on 10th Avenue. The comic features great bold confident graphics with a narrative full of subtle little period details as well as including a whose who of the rock world at the time.

The Spider from Mars did go on to record an album but it didn't do well at all. To be honest anyone into Bowie should read "The Complete David Bowie " by Nicholas Pegg as it answers pretty much all the questions that have occured in this topic of the week.

If you want to read soley about Mick Ronson the best book is "The Spider with the Platinum Hair" by weird and gilly.

WattDabney.

Thinking back,I think you're correct that Bowie didn't play the Mick Ronson memorial gig.I'm probably thinking of the Freddie Mercury Memorial concert.

Compo.