MICK RONSON

Have been listening to David Bowie's Alladin Sane in my car lately.  The song "Panic in Detroit" and the guitar solo of Mick Ronson reminded me of where I got the idea of ending a song with a guitar solo, most notably on the Teenage Head song "Infected" from Frantic City.  I first heard Mick Ronson on "The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars."  falling in love with his guitar playing, especially the simplicity of it.  Later on I learned he was a formally trained musician, which made me admire his minimalist approach even more.  I was very disappointed when Bowie parted with the Spiders, Mick Ronson, Tevor Bolder and Woody Woodmansey.  The final chord progression of Infected is actually very similar to Panic in Detroit, more or less in a minor key.  Infected ends with a D to E to F# minor.  When we recorded the solo, Stacey Heydon our producer, decided to speed the tape up, so that I would actually be playing in G minor.  This left me with the option of leaving the G string open, which helped in tone and feedback.  The majority of the solo is improvised, but I recall Stacey helping me with the beginning organization and developing the dynamics.  Greg Roberts, the engineer came up with the idea of fading out on the last chord.

Gord

Comments

[Walter Cernile]

Gord, I will be listening to the Bowie/Ronson track you mentioned above. I assume I'll like it or at leat find it interesting but I can't imagine it touching the agressiveness that is found on "Infected". It's always been one of my very favourite songs and the solo and the guitar tone throughout are amazing. I've always been a huge fan of "HEAD" and it's great to read these blogs that give insight into the creative process of a guitarist/writer that I have always looked up to. :)

[John Rathwell]

Gord: couldn't agree with you more concerning Mick Ronson's playing. Just listen to all the work he did with Ian Hunter and his last solo disc "Heaven and Hull" which he recorded just before his death. Many who worked with him have commented that he "played within the song" which made him so great. But doesn't get nearly enough recognition from the public for just how talented he was. Not just as a player, but also as a producer and arranger (strings especially)