Mick Ronson

Mick Ronson (born Michael Ronson, 26 May 1946 – 29 April 1993) was an English musician, songwriter, arranger and producer renowned for his virtuosic guitar work and sophisticated string arrangements that helped define the glam‑rock sound of the early 1970s. Classically trained on piano, violin and recorder from childhood, he switched to guitar after being inspired by Duane Eddy, and his early gigs with local Hull bands such as The Mariners and The Crestas set the stage for a career that would span nearly three decades. In 1970 he was recruited by David Bowie to join the nascent backing group that would become the Spiders from Mars, debuting on John Peel’s BBC Radio 1 show and quickly establishing himself as Bowie's musical foil. Ronson’s soaring lead lines on albums like The Man Who Sold the World, Hunky Dory, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars and Aladdin Sane, together with his lush string charts on “Life on Mars?” and “Golden Years”, earned him a reputation as one of rock’s most melodic guitarists.

Beyond his work with Bowie, Ronson became a highly sought‑after session musician, contributing guitar, piano and arrangements to Lou Reed’s landmark album Transformer, Ian Hunter’s hit “Once Bitten, Twice Shy”, and John Mellencamp’s anthem “Jack & Diane”, where his idea to add baby‑rattle percussion created the memorable “let it rock, let it roll” chant. He released three solo albums, the most successful of which, Slaughter on 10th Avenue, reached No. 9 on the UK Albums Chart and featured the cult favourite “Only After Dark”. Throughout the 1980s he continued to collaborate with artists ranging from Bob Dylan to Morrissey, while also producing emerging bands and contributing to film soundtracks. Diagnosed with liver cancer in early 1993, he died on 29 April 1993 at the age of 46. His legacy endures through the Mick Ronson Memorial Stage in Hull, a towering guitar sculpture in East Park, and numerous tributes that celebrate his indelible influence on rock music.