SPIDERS FROM MARS

SPIDERS FROM MARS

Spiders From Mars is the name most closely associated with David Bowie’s early 1970s glam rock backing band. The group is based around guitarist Mick Ronson, bassist Trevor Bolder and drummer Mick “Woody” Woodmansey, all of whom come from Hull in Yorkshire, England. Before working with Bowie, the three play together in local outfits including the Rats and Ronson’s own group, Ronno, which releases the single “Fourth Hour of My Sleep”/“Powers of Darkness.”

With David Bowie

At the start of the 1970s, Ronson is introduced to David Bowie through producer Tony Visconti. Bowie, who has already had a solo chart hit with “Space Oddity,” is looking to expand into harder rock with a strong visual style. Ronson joins Bowie’s backing group and brings in Bolder and Woodmansey. The line-up develops across The Man Who Sold the World and Hunky Dory, before the trio are identified as Spiders From Mars on The Rise & Fall of Ziggy Stardust. That album, released in 1972, helps establish glam rock more widely through its use of makeup, striking clothing and androgynous image.

The partnership continues on Aladdin Sane in 1973, another major success. Ronson also helps arrange and co-produce Lou Reed’s comeback album Transformer with Bowie in 1972. At the final show of the Aladdin Sane tour at London’s Hammersmith Odeon on 3 July 1973, Bowie announces from the stage that it is the group’s last performance. Ronson and Bolder continue with Bowie for a time on the covers album Pin Ups and a Marquee Club performance filmed for The 1980 Floor Show, but Bowie does not record or perform with Spiders From Mars again.

After the Bowie years

Ronson goes on to release solo albums Slaughter on 10th Avenue in 1974 and Play Don’t Worry in 1975, and he also works with Bob Dylan, Ian Hunter and John Cougar. Bolder and Woodmansey later revive the Spiders From Mars name for a 1976 self-titled album, with guitarist Dave Black, singer Pete McDonald and keyboard player Mike Garson joining the line-up. The record does not succeed, and the group splits soon after.

Bolder later joins Uriah Heep and Wishbone Ash. Woodmansey forms Woody Woodmansey’s U-Boat. Ronson dies of cancer on 29 April 1993. A Mick Ronson Memorial Concert takes place at Hammersmith in 1994 and features Bolder and Woodmansey alongside Def Leppard vocalist Joe Elliott and guitarist Phil Collen. Elliott and Collen later form Cybernauts with the two former Spiders, and the project releases Cybernauts Live and the internet-only The Further Adventures of the Cybernauts.