February 1970 - Bowie in obscurity, Mick Ronson joins Michael Chapman

Michael Chapman's album Fully Qualified Survivor had just been released on Harvest. It featured some classic Mick Ronson guitar, instantly recognisable now as the sound Ronson would soon deliver on David Bowie's album The Man Who Sold The World. But in February 1970, it would be hard to say who was the more successful of the two, Bowie or Ronson.

Mick Ronson in 1970

David was at this point involved in his Arts Lab project and had formed an electric band, The Hype, a vehicle for the new songs he had written, some of which would be heard on his next album, The Man Who Sold The World.

The Hype was Bowie with Tony Visconti on bass, Mick Ronson on guitar and John Cambridge on drums. Cambridge had been replaced by Ronson's mate Woody Woodmansey by the time they came to record TMWSTW in the late summer of 1970.

Here's a short clip of them performing the Velvet Underground's 'I'm Waiting For The Man' at the 'Atomic Sunrise' festival in February 1970.

They also did a radio session for the BBC's Sounds Of The Seventies the following month.

Bowie was still a long way (another two years) from seeing any more commercial success, after his lone hit Space Oddity in 1969. Mick Ronson, on the other hand, was not only helping Bowie forge a new sound, but was being picked up by various other emerging artists, including Michael Chapman and Elton John.

Here is Ronson to the fore on this track from Fully Qualified Survivor, 'Stranger in the Room

The common denominator between Chapman and Elton was producer Gus Dudgeon. Gus was so impressed with Ronson's playing on Fully Qualified Survivor, he recommended Elton John check him out for his forthcoming album Madman Across The Water.

Ronson did record some guitar for Elton's record, but it didn't make the final mix of the original album release. In fact, it didn't see the light of day until much later, when a CD reissue of the album featured out-take tracks, including the version of Madman with Ronson's guitar part.

Here it is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CExEESuhhPg

Bowie on stage in 1970

Meanwhile, as the above page from the Melody Maker of the time shows, on Tuesday this week, Ronson had started gigging with Bowie and The Hype, who were booked to play at the White Bear pub in Hounslow! In the advert, they were billed as 'David Bowie's new electric band'.

It's fair to say The Hype were not well received by the critics. Bowie's questing for the right sound to reboot his career would take a few more twists, before he finally hit the big time with Ziggy Stardust in 1972.

He was at a particularly low point when he appeared at Glastonbury in 1971, but took encouragement from the reception at the festival, even though he was playing at dawn.

Bowie told how he was up all night smoking dope with Terry Reid and Linda Lewis. He took the stage at 5am, but nonetheless he seems to have captivated those who were awake.

Bowie at Glastonbury in 1971

Audio of his Glastonbury appearance exists, in which he thanks the audience for appreciating him, at a time when he was considering giving up playing live altogether:

"I just want to say that you’ve given me more pleasure than I’ve had in a good few months of working. I don’t do gigs any more because I got so pissed off with working, and dying a death every time I worked, and it’s really nice to have somebody appreciate me for a change.”

The Supermen: Mick, David and Woody, 1971

 

Here's some rare footage of Michael Chapman, live in Paris in 1970, with Rick Kemp on bass and Richie Dharma on drums - both of whom are mentioned in the above news item about Chapman teaming up with Ronson in the MM cutting, under 'Folk News'.