Mick Ronson (1946 - 1993) Unsung Hero of Rock 'n Roll 

The Truth About Mick Ronson (1946 - 1993) Beneath the glitter and Bowie-kissed fame, Mick Ronson was a paradox: a classically trained maestro weaving rock 'n' roll magic, a shy Yorkshire lad thrust into the flamboyant heart of glam. His fingers, once nurtured by Bach, his arrangements sculpting Bowie's alien persona from Ziggy's stardust and the Spiders' electrified pulse. This is the tale of a guitarist who became more than Bowie's foil, but a sonic architect, a reluctant star, and a whisper that echoes ever louder through rock's tapestry, long after the curtain fell on Ziggy's final act. I don't think he ever appreciated how great he was, as people don't anyway when you're in the throes of it," Maggi Ronson says of her brother. But you don't have to be family to appreciate Mick Ronson. Take the words of one of the people who was there when he made his reputation as one of rock's most vivid and charismatic guitarists, the producer Tony Visconti: "Mick was sullen and cautious on the day David and I met him, not really sure of what he was getting himself into. Soon after, his guitar playing completely captivated us and his northern humour had us in stitches. For me, I expected this man to become a guitar hero." Mick Ronson was a guitarist with a sound like no other. Between 1970 and 1974, he was the musical genius behind David Bowie's greatest run of albums, The Man Who Sold the World, Hunky Dory, Ziggy Stardust, Aladdin Sane, and Pin Ups. Not only did he play guitar, he wrote the arrangements, baroque soundscapes that perfectly complemented Bowie's vision. ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ Subscribe To The Remember This RU-vid Channel Here ► geni.us/RememberThisChannel ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 💥 History and Nostalgia Channel (20th Century History Documentaries)💥 Welcome to the Remember This RU-vid History and Nostalgia Channel where we discuss thought provoking subject matter from recent the recent past to modern day... get ready for 20th Century History Documentaries content on all things from conspiracy theories to real events and how they shaped our lives. We create content, history and nostalgia on The Beatles, The Stones, JFK, MLK, Area 51, Robert Johnson, Frank Sinatra, The Rat Pack, Roswell 1947, Elvis, Aliens, UFO's, The counter culture and more... The Remember History and Nostalgia ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ Hire Me To Use My Voice In Your Next Video/Project ► geni.us/VoiceOverPhilAdair ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 💥 View The Remember This Channel’s "Top 10" Most Watched Videos:💥 #1: ⏩ geni.us/WizardOfOzMovieTribute #2: ⏩ geni.us/JohnLennonLostWeekend #3: ⏩ geni.us/NatalieWoodTragicLoss #4: ⏩ geni.us/ChateauMarmontSecrets #5: ⏩ geni.us/TheJimiHendrixStory #6: ⏩ geni.us/JimMorrisonLifeStory #7: ⏩ geni.us/MarilynMonroeLifeStory #8: ⏩ geni.us/BobHopeLifeStory #9: ⏩ geni.us/BonScottLifeStory #10: ⏩ geni.us/DorisDayLifeStory My Gear: My Main Camera ► geni.us/PanasonicFZ1000-20 My Microphone ► geni.us/RodeNTUSBMicrophone My Microphone Boom Arm ► geni.us/RodeMikeBoomArm My Headphones ► geni.us/HD280ProHeadphones My Wireless Headphones ► geni.us/BoseQC35HPhonesSilver ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ Subscribe To The Remember This RU-vid Channel Here ► geni.us/RememberThisChannel ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ Remember This RU-vid Channel Suite 12, 5th Floor, Dymocks Building 428 George Street, Sydney, NSW 2000 ▶ E: philadair@hotmail.com ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ #mickronson #glam #bowie #davidbowie #historyandnostalgia #historydocumentaries #bio #biography #biographies

I had the pleasure of meeting the man in 1974. My friend and I bunked school and hung outside the Caird hall in Dundee where Mick was playing that night. We were invited by the roadies to lend a hand and we helped set up the stage. We met Mick when he came in for the sound check. He was very kind and generous to us ( two fourteen yr old boys). I'll never forget him, best guitarist ever.

He's my favourtite guitarist.

Its always been him..the guitar solo on Moonage Daydream is in my opinion, one of the greatest ever. I was lucky enough 2 see him live & its one of my favorite moment of my life.🥰

I was 8 feet away from mick at a small club in st,Louis in 1990, as a inspiring guitarist I noticed that he made it look so easy. My wife noticed how thin he was. I think that I was fortunate to see him in person

I knew Mick very well and he loaned my his Gibson 330 to play a set with the first night I met him He was about 17 at the time and even at that time he was one of the best players in Hull As you mentioned he was a quiet guy and so down to earth I think you are right he didn’t know how talented he was He worked hard at the beginning and didn’t get the rewards he earned He was a smoker at that time and maybe always was what may have been a detriment to his health I feel privileged to have known him from his early days and m grateful for his help

For fans and newcomers alike, this video is a touching tribute to Mick Ronson's enduring influence on the world of music, celebrating the legacy of a true rock legend.

Great stand out guitarist , thank you for highlighting his brilliance ! The people of Hull are proud of their Son ...... RIP , Mick ( Ronno ) .

Mick was a music god , nothing else can describe him , bless you Mick .

IBecame a guitarist because of Mick.Still play all his parts genius.Miss you rock music would not be anything like today without Mick Ronson rip

Not only one of thee greatest guitarists ever but I also "guarantee"... he's the nicest musician in the business that I've ever met. A truly sweet human being.

Mick was the best love all his work empty bed and i d give anything to see you are a couple of my favs

Guy was absolutely brilliant.

I’ve been a fan of Mick Ronson’s since the early 1970’s and have turned so many younger people on to him that genuinely appreciate him. “I’d give anything to see you,” and “Angel No. 9” are 2 favs, but got to crank up the volume when I hear “Only After Dark.” Forever Rono!

1973, Lewisham Odeon. Bowie concert. My friend Alex and I both were able to move our way up to the front row from our average seats. Mick’s guitar string broke, and I saw him change guitars, from maybe 10 feet from where I was. Maybe the best concert I’ve ever seen, but certainly the most important.

I saw Mick Ronson twice . Both times he was with Ian Hunter . The first time was in 1977 , the second time was in 1992 . He was great !

I find it sad that it took Mick Ronson's death for David Bowie to acknowledge just how good Ronson was. During his life, Mick did not receive the recognition or public accolades that he so richly deserved. He was classically trained, went on to study music arranging, and certainly DID contribute so much to the arrangements of David's early work. He arranged the strings on "Life on Mars", he composed and arranged the synthetic strings on "All the Madmen" (which were recorded one line at a time using a ARP 2600 monophonic synthesizer). The ever-so-recognizable opening riff of the song "Ziggy Stardust" itself was created by Mick. Those are only a few examples. It was MIck who was the most instrumental at the studio engineering board for Lou Reed's "Transformer" album. John Mellencamp was going to toss "Jack and Dianne" into the dustbin until Mick resurrected it with help in the arrangement, and performed guitar on the studio recording as well. This is just barely the tip of the iceberg regarding the contributions Mick made to the world of music. If you enjoy Mick Ronson's work and would like to learn more, find and watch the video documentary, "Beside Bowie: The Mick Ronson Story". It is available on DVD and, I believe, you can also see the entire documentary here on RU-vid. It is rich with footage and interviews with those closest to Mick. And if you want even more detail, read the book, "The Spider with the Platinum Hair" by Weird and Gilly. Thank you so very much for bringing this video to us. It is important that fans of David Bowie know just how much Mick Ronson contributed to his music, the ways in which he contributed to it, and also the contributions Mick made to the work of so many other musicians. It is also most important to note that many people have said, independently of each other, that Mick was, without doubt, one of the nicest people in the industry. Oh yes, my favorite song? There are too many, but if I could only ever listen to one of Mick's songs from here on, it would have to be, "Angel #9" from his "Play, Don't Worry" album. Thankfully, I don't have to make that choice. Warmest regards to you.

There is only one Mick Ronson!

Ronno will always be my favorite guitarist. Was lucky enough to see him with Ian Hunter in the late 80's. He was brilliant that night. R.I.P. Mick.

I saw Ronson with Bowie in 1973 on the Ziggy Stardust tour. What a great guitarist and a significant stage presence. His solo albums are still played by me in 2024 because they are excellent. And no one ever seems to mention (even this video!) what a good vocalist Ronson was. He will always be special to me. And just as final ditty, his cousin, Dave East, attended my classes for two years.

listen to lady grinning soul and you hear how fantastic mr. Ronson was !!!

From collaborations with David Bowie to his solo endeavors, the video does justice to Mick Ronson's diverse musical career, paying insightful tribute to an underrated genius.

Good to hear about Mick Ronson and his musical career, I much enjoyed his work with Ian Hunter and others. Mick was one of a kind. My favourite song is Billy Porter

*Mick: One of Hull's Finest.* My dear friend, Beryl K from 1970 onwards, went to school with Mick R: _A Good Guy._ *Rest In Peace, Mr Ronson.* _To your Family and Close Friends._ 💓 Rab 🍻😎 🕊

This tribute video beautifully honors Mick Ronson's musical legacy, taking viewers on a heartfelt journey through his influential career in rock and roll.

Angel No9!!

Excellent tribute. I saw Mick on his solo tour in 1974, promoting Slaughter on 10th Avenue, at the legendary Glasgow Apollo. An amazing gig. We all thought he would be a huge star, but looking back, he almost seemed self-conscious and embarrassed at the adulation. A short while later, also at the Apollo, I saw the first Hunter/Ronson Band tour, and he seemed much more at home, with Ian Hunter taking up more (though not all) of the front man role. In both cases, Mick combined powerful vocals, searing guitar, and that undefinable star quality that seemed destined to take him to the top. Just today, I was listening to Your Arsenal by Morrisey, produced by Ronson, and you can hear his stamp all over it - Morrisey’s strongest solo LP as many agree (including Allmusic).

Serving as an excellent introduction to Mick Ronson's work, the video showcases his incredible talent and contributions, making it a must-watch for those unfamiliar with his legacy.

Delving into Mick Ronson's artistic evolution, the video showcases the transformation of his sound and style, presenting an engaging tribute to a musical chameleon.

Old rockers know Mick put Bowie on the map to superstardom with his guitar. Glad people still care about him. Great doc

I saw him when he played in Dylan’s Rolling Thunder Revue. Lakeland, Florida. Must have been late 70’s.

Great video & what a fantastic player. RIP

No 1 in my opinion

The Jean Genie, great guitar playing. Mick has a similar look and sound as Randy Rhoads, both classically trained too.

humble and talented; I loved "Play don't worry"

Favorite song: live version of "Heroes" at the Freddy Mercury tribute concert with David Bowie, Bryan Mays, and Ian Hunter... I came across it the other night- I grabbed my guitar and learned how to play it along with the video... Tears came to my eyes and I got choked up while playing it... Ronno- such an incredible guitar player and beautiful human being...

I’d give anything to see you Ronno ❗️You are a class act and memories of Birmingham Town Hall gigs in your own right & with Ian will live with me forever 🙏🏻 God Bless Mick Ronson the real Starman 🤩✌🏻

A legend 🎼🇬🇧🎸

Angel number nine,moon age daydream,width of a circle, all classic Ronno.

Very interesting but one minor point the Rats were a band in Hull for many years before Mick met Bowie not Bowie’s band that Mick joined

Great study into a genuine music innovator - I honestly think he advanced music, to think, after all the magic of the sixties music, that he had the ability to be so inventive and create fresh and unique sounds - Mick was the best thing ever to happen to David Bowie!

i saw the Ian Hunter Band with Mick Ronson ( 22nd October 1981; MR had a new short hair cut at this concert which seemed to fit him!)at the now defunct Wolf & Rissmiller's Country Club in Reseda CA(my childhood residence)...ʕ´•ᴥ•`ʔ ᶠᵘⁿ ᶠᵃᶜᵗ!🌳🌲🌴

Saw him in Ian Hunter band, excellent guitarist! It's funny,being older now and seeing most of the other great guitarists,I always seem to forget to put Mick,and Leslie West, for that matter,at the top of my list!I'll throw in Buck Dharma of Blue Oyster Cult in there too!

Well done and so respectful mate . Stumbled across this and it made my day.Thankyou Jj ⚡

I loved Mick Ronson and his solo albums Slaughter on 10th avenue and Play don't worry were Classics in my eyes and what a guitar player - I always wanted a Mick Ronson memorial concert DVD but it was never released

My Favourites: *'Ziggy Stardust' and 'Moonage Daydream'.* Hopefully meet one of these auld afternoons, Mick R, upon a better Astral Plane.* Rab 🕊 💓

Loved his work with Bowie and Lou Reed, favourite solo tracks - Billy Porter & Only after dark. ❤

I always resented Bowie and his massive ego for taking all the credit with Ziggy not giving Mick co- writing on some of the tracks. Micks contribution was enormous on it and it would’ve at least given him some financial security once his illness was diagnosed.

Hull has a statue of Queen Victoria in its city centre. She did nothing for Hull. Hull should have a massive gold Statue of Mick in its centre - a musical genius who has contributed so much to popular music.

Saw Mick with Ian Hunter on the one UK Welcome to the Club date, November 1979 I think. What a guitarist, listen to Ian's Michael Picasso track as a fitting tribute.

I consider the solo's on , Width of a Circle, Moonage Daydream, Time, and Angel No.9, to be the best ever recorded. His contribution to Bowie's career can not be measured. Side 1 of Pin Ups is probably the best versions of said songs, that even some of the original writers/bands, said they were better versions than theirs lol. Mellencamp would have never had a #1 album if it wasn't for Mick. 💯❤

Thanks for Clarifying. Never knew Mick had wondered off from Bowie. He played on Ziggy Stardust but on the `74 Tour of the great Live album of all time "David Live." It`s Earl Slick playing Moonage Daydream. So that now makes sense. God Bless.

💚

Having heard Mick sing I truly believe Bowie copied a lot of his style....he truly was a great guitarist and did not fully receive the credit he deserved as a producer and musical arranger in his lifetime... sadly missed...he should of been a super.. superstar...but at least we had him for a short while...RIP Mick

Morrissey, Glamorous Glue.!

Good on you mick rip ❤

Very underestimated musician as it says in clip bowie owed his early success to ronson

I saw Mick with Ian Hunter at the East Ham Odean in the late 70s. Never with my idol Bowie, sadly.

Tempo fa, in un documentario televisivo su di lui, qualcuno che lo aveva conosciuto bene affermò che " era uno che bastava a se stesso".Questa frase, insieme ad altri commenti sulla sua personalità, mi ha colpito molto; qualcuno ne sa di più e mi può spiegare meglio? Grazie!

Resembles Randy Rhoades, don't you think? The cream white les pauls....that guitar is bitchen...

Ronson was saved by Ian Hunter, too bad they didn’t call themselves the Hopples and dominate the next decade together…

Mick Ronson is the number 1 proof that the r n r hall of fame is a full of shit sham...After more than 50 years of brilliant contributions to r n r, Ronson is still not a member...I do believe he has still never even been nominated.