Mick Ronson was a lot more than just the guitarist for Ziggy Stardust. This fully updated first biography is full of first-hand recollections by those who were closest to him including a foreword by his wife Suzi and a hand-written speech by his daughter Lisa. During the five years it has taken to collate this work, authors Weird and Gilly have spoken to over fifty family members, close friends and colleagues including exclusive interviews with Suzi Ronson, David and Maggi Ronson (brother and sister), Minnie Ronson (mother), Steve Popovich (manager), Lou Reed, Mick Jones, Ian Hunter, Chrissie Hynde, Glen Matlock, Cherry Vanilla, Steve Harley, Bob Harris, Joe Elliott and a host of others. As a result, this book provides a deeply intimate and compelling insight into the life and times of an extraordinarily talented guitarist. A man who was tender and caring off the stage, yet fierce and electrifying on it. Jeff Beck, David Bowie, Ian Hunter and Annette Peacock are just a few of the names that were to become associated with the Mick Ronson legend. He toured with Bob Dylan, played with Mott The Hoople, worked with Lou Reed and produced an impressive number of albums with arresting originality. From his days as a mobile grocer to his performances at Wembley Stadium, this minutely detailed biography also includes scores of unpublished photographs and unseen rarities including: a hand-written six-page autobiography by the man himself, love letters to his first girlfriend, family album photographs and an exhaustive discography. After losing his battle with cancer, Mick passed away in the spring of 1993 at the young age of 46. This book is a salute to his remarkable music and legacy. Fully revised and updated with scores of new unpublished photographs and even more rare memorabilia. 'I was struck by the enormity of Mick's contribution to every record he played on - arrangements, incredible guitar, beautiful backing vocals, classical piano - he did it all, and he was northern and glamorous'

This book explores Mick Ronson's life and career with his family, friends, fellow musicians and fans. For devotees of David Bowie, and Mick Ronson – the Spider from Hull – who lit up the fabulous Ziggy Stardust shows with his dazzling guitar playing and powerful stage presence. This is Mick Ronson's story. And it begins in his home-town of Hull. Based on the successful show Turn and Face the Strange. With unique material and exclusive interviews with fellow musicians, friends and family (to include Maggie Ronson, his sister, and Nick Ronson, his son) and those who knew him. A new leading biography of guitarist, songwriter, arranger, producer and musician Mick Ronson. Most famous for his critical contribution to David Bowie's spectacular live band, studio albums including Hunky Dory, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars and Aladdin Sane. Mick also helped produce Lou Reed's Transformer, released five solo studio albums, performing in bands with Ian Hunter, Van Morrison and Bob Dylan as well as working with many other musicians. This is an authentic story of a boy from a council estate from Hull who achieved international rock god status. Set in a time of seismic social change, with colliding cultures of personal and community identity, image and fashion, gender roles and sexual freedom.

A band member recounts his experience with David Bowie during the early years: “Those interested in rock history won’t want to miss this.” —Publishers Weekly For millions of people, David Bowie was an icon celebrated for his music, his film and theatrical roles, and his trendsetting influence on fashion and gender norms. But until now, no one from Bowie’s inner circle has told the story of how David Jones—a young folksinger, dancer, and aspiring mime—became one of the most influential artists of our time. Drummer Woody Woodmansey’s Spider from Mars reveals what it was like to be at the white-hot center of a star’s self-creation. With never-before-told stories and never-before-seen photographs, Woodmansey offers details of the album sessions for The Man Who Sold the World, Hunky Dory, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardustand the Spiders from Mars, and Aladdin Sane: the four albums that made Bowie a cult figure. And, as fame beckoned and eventually consumed Bowie, Woodmansey recalls the wild tours, eccentric characters, and rock ‘n’ roll excess that eventually drove the band apart. A vivid and unique evocation of a transformative musical era and the enigmatic, visionary musician at the center of it, with a foreword by legendary music producer Tony Visconti and an afterword from Def Leppard’s Joe Elliot, Spider from Mars is a close-up portrait of David Bowie, by one of the people who knew him best. “Wild tours, behind-the-scenes drama, and album sessions . . . revealing.” —USA Today “An engaging behind-the-scenes look at an early phase in the life of one of rock’s most triumphant figures.” —Booklist

An expansive biography of David Bowie, one of the twentieth century’s greatest music and cultural icons. From noted author and rock ’n’ roll journalist Marc Spitz comes a major David Bowie biography to rival any other. Following Bowie’s life from his start as David Jones, an R & B—loving kid from Bromley, England, to his rise to rock ’n’ roll aristocracy as David Bowie, Bowie recounts his career but also reveals how much his music has influenced other musicians and forever changed the landscape of the modern era. Along the way, Spitz reflects on how growing up with Bowie as his soundtrack and how writing this definitive book on Bowie influenced him in ways he never expected, adding a personal dimension that Bowie fans and those passionate about art and culture will connect with and that no other bio on the artist offers. Bowie takes an in-depth look at the culture of postwar England in which Bowie grew up, the mod and hippie scenes of swinging London in the sixties, the sex and drug-fueled glitter scene of the early seventies when Bowie’s alter-ego Ziggy Stardust was born, his rise to global stardom in the eighties and his subsequent status as an elder statesman of alternative culture. Spitz puts each incarnation of Bowie into the context of its era, creating a cultural time line that is intriguing both for its historical significance as well as for its delineation of this rock ’n’ roll legend, the first musician to evolve a coherent vision after the death of the sixties dream. Amid the sex, drugs and rock ’n’ roll mayhem, a deeper portrait of the artist emerges. Bowie’s early struggles to go from follower to leader, his tricky relationship with art and commerce and Buddhism and the occult, his complicated family life, his open romantic relationship and, finally, his perceived disavowal of all that made him a touchstone for outcasts are all thoughtfully explored. A fresh evaluation of his recorded work, as well as his film, stage and video performances, is included as well. Based on a hundred original interviews with those who knew him best and those familiar with his work, including ex-wife Angie Bowie, former Bowie manager Kenneth Pitt, Siouxsie Sioux, Camille Paglia, Dick Cavett, Todd Haynes, Ricky Gervais and Peter Frampton, Bowie gives us not only a portrait of one of the most important artists in the last century, but also an honest examination of a truly revolutionary artist and the unique impact he’s had across generations.

In Bowie, Cambo & All the Hype we get a backstage pass to key people and events during those crucial early years. This is a heartfelt story of a unique friendship. Drummer, musician and friend John 'Cambo' Cambridge lived with Bowie at Haddon Hall when he had his first hit record 'Space Oddity' and toured with him in Junior's Eyes. He was there for him at many key moments – when Bowie lost his father, passed his driving test, played his first Glam Rock gig with Hype, even acting as best man when Bowie married Angela Barnett in 1970. And if John had not persuaded his former Rats colleague Mick Ronson to join Bowie in February 1970, there might never have been a Ziggy Stardust or the stellar career which followed.

Bowie & Hutch is an unusual memoir, Bowie a world superstar and Hutch a comparatively little known, semi-retired jazz guitarist living in rural East Yorkshire. John 'Hutch' Hutchinson was Bowie's musical collaborator, side-man, accompanying musician and friend, and his story should be an essential read for Bowie fans around the world. An off and on musical relationship then continued for seven years, from the Marquee Club days to the fall of Ziggy Stardust in 1973. Hutch's valuable contributions to David's music during the early years are amongst the building blocks of David Bowie's spectacular career. Looking back with good humour and affection, Hutch is able to give his first-hand account of life on the road with David Bowie. The book also covers Bowie & Hutch's musical lives in parallel from the beginnings, through the rock and roll years and up to the present day. John 'Hutch' Hutchinson is still playing regular gigs in York, Scarborough and The Yorkshire Wolds area.

“Glam was about make-up, mirrors and androgyny. It was narcissistic, obsessive, decadent and subversive. It was bohemian, but also strangely futuristic. It was Oscar Wilde meets A Clockwork Orange. It was a mutant bastard offspring of glitter. But while glitter was sparkling distraction, glam was anarchy in drag. It was sexy, glamorous, on the edge. It was the moment hippie finally died. It was absolutely rock’n’roll. But it was also fashion, art, theatre, lifestsyle. It was gay, straight, multisexual. It was totally titillating and absolutely naughty. Everybody held hands with everybody, kissed everybody, went home with everybody. It was an age of accelerated discovery, when all the kinks of sexual yearning were flushed out. It was absolutely self-indulgent and it was ridiculously camp. It was a time we thought would never end. A time so long ago now it seems like a dream. But it wasn’t and I have the pictures to prove it.” Mick Rock