For our first stars on a log segment we're going to look at one of my favorite guitarists (who is in my opinion very underated) Mick Ronson. Ronson, while being well known for his work with David Bowie on the album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and The Spiders from Mars, worked with some of musics greats and even crafted several very good solo projects.
Mick was born in England in the mid-40's. Inspired by rock at an early age, he spent many years perfecting his craft and playing in bands here and there. While playing with various bands in his home town, Ronson would perform miscellaneous odd jobs to make ends meet. His career really took off when he traveled to London on the advice of a friend and fellow muscisian to meet and play guitar for David Bowie in 1970.
Although it was short lived (the band had disassembled by 1973) Mick's success with Bowie rocketed him to notority within the music community. His influence carried him far, muscisians such as John Mellencamp, Ian Hunter (Mott the Hoople), Roger Daltrey (The Who), Lou Reed (The Velvet Underground), and Bob Dylan. Over his career he played on over twenty four albums, 6 of which were his own.
Ronsons playing style draws heavily from earlyier "glam rockers" such as Marc Bolan of T. Rex, from the psychedelic movement of the 60's and from classical music. Ronsons classical influence would prove to be one of his greatest gifts when it came to style. He had the outstanding ability to layer multiple simple guitar tracks over each other to form one singular beutiful sound, not unlike a orchastral conductor. For instance on the famous track Ziggy Stardust, Mick wrote something like 6 seperate guitar parts for the song, from accoustic to electric parts, which range from only a few notes played every verse to the iconic oppening riff.
Here is a link to a youtube video from Bowies farewell concert performing Moonage Daydream with Ronson in 1973. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p79JKclG-oc
(sorry the quality is a little shaky, but the solo at the end is boss
Also, here is a link to some tab for that song in case your interested.
http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/tabs/d/david_bowie/moonage_daydream_tab.htm
This tab isnt the best (when are internet tabs ever good?) but it will get you playing along at least
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