For many of us who grew up in the 60s and 70s there were a
ton of musical influences going on. It was the most diverse group of musical
styles to ever come around. Not only that but airplay was diverse as well
featuring numerous styles of music as opposed to today’s trend of single style
format. What’s interesting in looking back is the performers and styles that
historians and rock critics say were the most influential but that so few people
actually listened to.
For instance while I enjoy the New York Dolls I rarely knew
of anyone at the time who listened to them. And their record sales were
incredibly low. And yet they are hailed as one of the most influential bands of
the time by critics. This is just one example though. There were others who
were hailed by critics at the time and not as popular as they claim but who
went on to become influential. One of those was David Bowie.
Hard to believe right? But if you look back at Bowie’s
catalog you’ll find that while his hit “Space Oddity” got some airplay it
wasn’t until his sixth album that he truly began to rocket to stardom. That’s
when people began to go back and look into his past albums. The name of that
album was THE RISE AND FALL OF ZIGGY STARDUST AND THE SPIDERS FROM MARS. What
may be even harder to believe is that one of the main boosts Bowie got that
raised the level of his albums was from his lead guitarist Mick Ronson.
Ronson came aboard with Bowie after his first two albums and
contributed greatly to both HUNKY DORY and THE MAN WHO SOLD THE WORLD. But it
was ZIGGY where he truly shined. Not only was Ronson a near prefect lead
guitarist who had a style all his own, he also arranged much of the music and
helped produce as well. So it’s time he was given some credit and this look at
his life starts that happening.
The documentary is told via filmed footage, stills and
interviews with people who were there, who knew him or who were influenced by
him. Recruited to work with Bowie while a greens keeper at a soccer pitch he
was anxious to do so. Their partnership was one that was seen in their
performances together but rarely found behind the scenes. There was no
animosity but it was Bowie writing the songs and Ronson giving them real life.
We’re not presented with the standard fare of stills from
Ronson as a toddler moving forward but start right where his biggest impact
took place, when he was recruited for Bowie’s band. We see and hear in the
words of others as well as Ronson himself how he melded right into the rock
scene with ease. We also learn the downside of fame as there is little fortune
for those unwilling to demand it. While Bowie received the accolades and praise
little was heaped on Ronson at the time and the same was true of the difference
in their paychecks as well. Perhaps the worst of that came when onstage at a
filmed concert for the Ziggy tour Bowie announced it was the last performance
by the band ever…without ever having mentioned it to the band.
But Ronson came through all right if not unscathed. He
formed his own band, recorded a solo album and toured but was never quite the
front man that a band needed. He found work on other people’s albums as well,
some of which were startling to discover in this film. He was with Mott the
Hoople for a short time, worked with Ian Hunter for a while and worked on
albums for David Cassidy, Roger Daltry, Ellen Foley, Bob Dylan and John
Mellencamp.
There are a number of songs he also contributed quite a bit
to that I learned of while watching this film. With Ian Hunter he was the
guitarist on “Once Bitten Twice Shy”. But most notable was that Ronson was
responsible for the riffs heard in Mellencamp’s “Jack and Diane”. A riff I’ve
listened to for years and never knew was credited to Ronson.
All the while Ronson was working and living job to job,
never achieving the financial success that he deserved. As the film shows it
wasn’t until he worked with Morrissey that he earned enough to be comfortable.
Sadly it was too late though as shortly after he was diagnosed with inoperable
cancer.
Watching the movie I learned so much more about the man
behind the stage presence. In a world where someone always seems to have a bad
tale or two or where someone carries a grudge there are none to be seen here.
All that is found is praise. Not just for his playing, arranging or producing
either, even if that is evident. There is praise for him as a decent and loving
human being as well. That’s rare in the rock world.
No lengthy performance pieces are included but snippet are.
They’ll make you want to go back and revisit the songs discussed, hinted at or
featured in clips. When you do you’ll discover just how amazing a talent Ronson
was. And you’ll hope that anyone else performing at this level, as this involved
in the creating of something special, will get the credit due long before they
pass away.
Bowie fans, Ronson fans and fans of music from those times
will want to give this a watch. Some will want to add it to their collection.
But if you love the music that came from Ronson, then by all means pick this
one up. Then dust off that old LP, plug in the turntable and give him a listen
again. You’ll transport to a time when you were young and carefree and enjoying
a great talent, perhaps without even realizing it.
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