he was my uncle. unfortunately i was never able to meet him as he passed before i was born. i love watching videos of him to see what a wonderful person he was. thank you
could you tell me more about which "Riffs" he is responsible for? As I am aware David Bowie wrote everything. Mick basically plays the electric to Davids acoustic. the "Iconic" Ziggy Stardust riff, if you will was written by Bowie himself.
@@robbierocket3110 David always used top line guitarists, the reason they are top line guitarists because of the riffs they add to the basic song. Its very common, steve stevens and billy idol work the same way as an example.
I saw an interview with Bowie where he said Ronson primarily composed and arranged all of the iconic solos that you hear here. I think I'm gonna believe Bowie chief.
What a lovely, straightforward, down to earth bloke. Just plug it in and away you go! Lol. No pretence, no bravado...he was probably too nice to be as big as Bowie as he wasn't ruthless nor was he an actor. He just loved his music, loved his guitar. He was a loyal and reliable musician and band mate. RIP Mick. Xx
Ronno was not only an incredibly talented musician and arranger, he was a total class act and a super nice human being. His guitar licks as well as his gentleness are timeless. What an amazing man with an unstoppable passion for creating music.
No doubt about Bowie............peerless, but Ziggy would not have been Ziggy without Mick Ronson attacking his Les Paul the way he did, and who knows how much he shaped the songs........? Will always remember Mick Ronson.
One of the greatest guitarists ever; he made Bowie what he became. You can see he was much more comfortable performing his art than answering questions from the interviewer.
I remember the show that these interviews were for - they cut it together to seem much more natural - which I guess was always the intention. You basically never heard the questions, only his answers, and the playing. It was a good series, iirc - shame it never seems to get repeated
+juday won As much as I love Mick. I tend to think Bowie was going to find a way to make it in music one way or another. He just had that special something and he was going to make it regardless of other individuals. Remember, Ronson and he parted ways and Bowie continued to make better and better albums. Even when Bowie and Visconti stopped working together Bowie still found a way to make great music. Maybe I'm wrong but I don't know.
+nallly I have to agree. If David hadn't worked with Mick in the 60s-early 70s, he would have still done well, it just would have been with different people and a different sound. For me, my favorite music was when they worked together, they worked some magic. My heart is still broken that David is gone, but I'll always be grateful for the amazing music he and Mick left behind for us so we'll have it for the rest of our lives.
I think everyone can agree that the stuff Bowie and Ronson made together was the thing that broke Bowie into the world. The albums Bowie made after he and Mick parted ways, though completely amazing and ground breaking, just were never quite as cool or spunky or as radical as those albums. That’s just my opinion anyway.
@Mytchell Nolan it’s not about the quality of those other recordings…. Ronson was the Ziggy sound. That is what initially established Bowie as an icon in the glam era…
mick was so underrated not just cos of his inventive guitar playing but cos he joined bowie on stage in those far out costumes back in the day- very brave they pushed the boundaries together!
had to laugh at Bowie saying in an interview about Mick that he gave him the gig, but didn't tell him what he had lined up for him to wear onstage hahaha
Thanks for this post. What an incredible guy. So talented. This was a classic post to hear Mick discussing his technique and listening to playing! WOW...what a talent. Thanks for sharing...fantastic.
One of the all time great rock guitarists. Such a humble and down to earth guy. He departed way too young. His guitar work and arrangements were definitely a major part of Bowie's early success.
“Strap your guitar on and thrash it to death, basically.” Hell yes. Saw the Ziggy tour in Detroit in March 1973. Ronson was one of the great musicians, underrated except among musicians, and a great performer too.
My first car in 1974 Was a 300 dollar 68 beetle. Had two 8 track cassettes, Doobie Brothers Capt. And Me, the other was Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
Hunting down Ronno's tone is the greatest proof one needs that tone is truly in the fingers, not the gear. Here he captures his own classic sound with just a telecaster. I've seen many other people (including myself) get the Les Paul, Marshall overdrive, different Tonebender clones and half-depressed wahs only to sound like abrasive shit.
I think key to Mick's tone is a heavy picking hand and odd chords, as shown in this, he doesn't play the chords we normally go to, he goes up the fret board and plays the barre inversion of D instead of the open D for Ziggy and it sounds way way different for some reason. Also, he hits a lot of open strings that are "wrong" but fit in the sound
anarchypickle I had a friend explain that the reason these sot of positions sound so different is that they react differently when paired with distortion than the "normal" chord shapes. Chord inversions for president 2016
All roads lead back to Ronno, he was as important in his time as he is today to guitar players across the world, & I've still never heard any more tasteful playing then his on the Bowie albums he is on. IMO, EVERY rock & roll guitar player should listen to & take notes from his work, he's a GIANT
Time flys. I met mick in a club called bird cage in anlaby when he was with the rats group excel. So likeable . I'm afraid I know he was my first crush.met my parents . Dad was like , needs a bloody hair cut . He was an excellent mate good group of lads in the group. Always thought about him . Loved it when he was on videos with Bowie. Still watch them on utube. He died so young what a waste. I idored him . He was a fab mate😍😍😍😍
What a nice ending..Mick fingerpicking Ziggy..To me that riff was the first I heard of him...Awesome talent and a nice guy,,I got to shake his hand in 74 or 75..when he toured with Ian hunter..Always treasured that.. In fact I beleive I have some super 8mm film w/ no sound from that gig..Thanks for posting....DH
+Ricardo. B. Dogtooth - He was...incredibly humble, always kind to his fans. When other band members were ready to get going, Mick would linger behind, talking to fans, signing stuff, having photos taken, etc.
+Madeleine Hague That's nice to know. My one issue with Bowie is I've read he really did not like interacting with fans. I don't know if its true or not. I do have another issue with him-and believe me he is my favorite of all time-but he made a couple of songs that were negative about America which kind of throws me because he's always done well in the good old USA. Maybe somewhat of an ingrate?! I don't know.
Bowie was such a cult figure, there was a lot of hysteria around him...that is kind of scary. All the big stars go through this at some point..someone trying to break into your house, or stalking you, etc. Also, Bowie was so heavily into drugs at one point...and that cuts you off from everyone. He was a much nicer person in later years, once happy with Iman, having his daughter, being with son Duncan, etc. But again, he needed his privacy after all the craziness in his earlier life. Not sure about the America stuff...I'm Canadian and sometimes I don't hear his lyrics too well...I know he loved America - he lived in New York City, and you are right, America was crazy about him when the Ziggy tour came over.
+nallly "My one issue with Bowie is I've read he really did not like interacting with fans" -- that's not really accurate, I don't think-- it was more that Bowie really did not like being "on" in public 24/7. He guarded his personal life and downtime very carefully and was firm about not letting his public persona intrude into that space. But during the times when he was interacting in public, he was extraordinarily friendly and kind. Regretfully I never met him myself, but my brother did once, and it was his favorite celebrity encounter of all time. He had a smile and a word of encouragement for everyone, he really listened when people talked to him, he was making time to chat online with fans before Facebook or Twitter even existed. I don't blame him for wanting to keep some of his time for himself, but I've never heard anyone say he was anything but lovely during the time he did share. Things might have been a little different during the '75-76 years, of course.
My first Mick Ronson album i ever owned was called "play dont worry". He did a rendition of an Italian song called "the empty bed". Killed it. God bless you Mick. Sleep peacefully. ❤
Colin thanks a lot for uploading and sharing this wonderful video. Ronno I love you forever, I miss you so much ... You are now playing the guitar from Heaven. Never stop!
What I loved about mick was he always comes across as humble and approachable. He was an amazing guitarist and when we see these top 10 guitar players of all time, I really think he deserves to be in that bracket.
' ... dying from liver cancer ...' that explains his manner in this interview. Yes, a great, distinctive guitar sound that bites. I liked all the early Bowie albums with Mick Ronson.
More 'ull than 'essle Road and patties. Beautiful insight into a legend amongst guitarists. You could see in the interview when he started playing he transported his persona to another planet. God loves ya Mick.
Great sense of rhythm, space, attack and playing LOUD!!! R. I. P. MICK RONSON always a favorite from day one on finding out "who is that guy playing on the side of Bowie onstage?!! TIS' MICK RONSON JIFO!!!!
This guy was my favorite guitarist of all time. This guy ruled . You ask all the big guitarists now like Slash and all the other greats . And they all got it from this guy . R.I.P. Mick. Your a Fucking Legend Man in the Eyes of this guy. Thanks for everything I learned from you .Which was allot. Thanks Mick.
"Just plug it in and turn the amp up." That's all you need.....oh, and mick's fingers and soul. Christ! what a humble human being. He is responsible for so much. Born 1960, definitely on the soundtrack of my life. RIP Mick Ronson
This man was my idol when I first started playing at 13 years old. What a truly special musician and influential part of my musical career. I wish I met him. He had a place in rock history
Mick was thee sweetest star I've ever met. A warm man with a beautiful smile. I cried when I saw him play "Sweet Dreamer" 15 feet in front of me. That song has SO much in it. I always play that tune to show someone what Mick sounds like. Of course "Ziggy .." too.
Thank you for this rare and fascinating video-I was mesmerised by Mick Ronson's cosmic rock guitar style from when I first heard "Moonage Daydream" and one of the truly epic guitar solos ever,which still gets me in the same way today.
Absolute classic, the solo in Moonage Daydream in Hammersmith 1974 live and announced that this would be the end of Zizzy Stardust. David Bowie, Mick Ronson, your music and inspiration are second to none, David lyrics so weird and Mick's playing abilities so gilly. Absolutely fantastic musicians.
THAT solo! Sends chills down my spine. The tone from Mick and the Les Paul is astounding. That night the band played it far better than the album version i think.
He hits a few chords and my jaw drops! Whatever "it " is, Mick Ronson had it - unmistakable sound. Saw him in 1973 on the Ziggy Stardust tour at Earls Court. I was 14 and the only other gig i had been to was the moody blues! Moody Blues were lovely. The spider from mars blew my effing mind and i was never the same!
I love the Hull accent, the rock star hair and the Lake Placid Telecaster. He was a very humble chap, but so influential. From the East Ridings to the whole world.
Mick Ronson's lives on, thank you. Loved Bowie, but this guy contributed so much music, and he arranged many of the early classic albums. Genius from Hull.
Texture - that's one of the gifts of ronson.... To die for melodic riffs - his work is truly stunning. I always loved his playing on Bowie's cover of Cream's, I Feel Free, which was finally released on Black Tie White Noise.
i deeply miss the era that men like Mick introduced us to. This time in musical History was influenced by many things.. A very dedicated friend of mine who became enlightened in the basement of our house on the hill in Boulder Colorado once told me that the British revolution that descended upon us was actually the reincarnation of the children killed in the bombings of London.. Can you imagine the darkness that the people of London experienced during those years and how many innocent children were killed . . This musical revolution then made it to America where money and the freedom of youngsters in a very large country made it possible to experience levels of personal freedom not previously experienced . but what would it have been like without songs from the Who, and Bowie, and the Beatles . .. It would have been so empty and not nearly as much fun.. Praise all of the Guitar Gods,,, All they were doing was having fun with sound . and then they realized that they could write pertinent songs which expressed mans desire for freedom . ,,, Freedom . Freedom ,,,I deeply thank You tube and the inspiration that has made this media possible . . I spend many hours of my day here and its so very enjoyable . thank you .
I've seen the whole of this that was posted, that takes in the filming process. On behalf of the Human race Mick - we apologise for being interviewed by these utter clueless idiots. A total legend. I love Ronsons guitar and he deals with these Muppets with utter dignity
Agree. The way the interviewer just keeps prodding him to play this and that. Like a circus act. This is why a lot of people don’t like ( or do ) interviews. Much patience on Micks part. Been a fan since 1973 when I was 12,and first heard Ziggy and Hunky Dory and The man who sold the World. ( width of a circle is classic. )
I'm so glad this was made, and thank you, Mick(where ever you are), for doing it at a difficult time.I have a huge problem w/ Winter, which I won't get into here on 8/1/19. a perfect Summer night. I'll bet tho, that his best days at the end were in Summer. he was ,w/ out taking anything away from Bowie, such a huge part of DB's sound. I sing along when he's playing it .you can't really imagine those early 70's Bowie records (or any 1 that Ronson was on)w/ out him.
My absolute favorite guitarist of all time. Jimmy, Jimi, Blackmore, Clapton, on and on and on, have NOTHING better than Mick Ronson's unique style on unique songs. From a time in music history that will never be duplicated because of rare, once-in-a-lifetime genius art. A master of the guitar. And he was a beautiful English gentleman.
+Colin Blades Had it been known how much he worked with Mellencamp at the time it happened, his career might have taken quite a turn. American Fool was one of the top albums of the year and Ronson is all over it, uncredited.
Mick Ronson " STRAP IT ON TURN IT UP AND BASH OUT THE SONG " he is a humble guy , Bowie should have treated him way better than he did .He pissed off to America and dumped the spiders from Mars. This interview conducted by buffoons , Mick Ronson deserved way way more respect.
