Suzi Ronson To Hull & Back

By Cyndi Ford

 

Suzi Ronson, widow of the famed rocker Mick Ronson, remains undaunted in her efforts to keep her late husband's flame burning. He will forever be remembered for his wonderful contributions to the world of rock and roll, and admired by many. He has influenced many musicians, and I have asked a select few to add their questions concerning Mick to my list.


For those of us that do not know you well, where were you born, and where did you grow up?

I was born in South London, Bromley and I worked in Beckenham at a local salon called Evelyn Pagets. I had spent a year in Italy when I was 17 with a friend and then returned to Beckenham. I went to the US when I was 19 after a broken heart and stayed with my cousin for a year in Philadelphia. Then back to Beckenham. My third foray was much more enjoyable and successful I met David Bowie.


Where did you go to school, and what influenced you to start doing hair?

I went to Marion Vine a secondary modern school in Elmer’s End left at 15, it was a dreadful school. I got in a bit of trouble at school so was asked to leave and the only way my Mother would let me was if I trained for a profession. Hairdressing was the only thing you could do at my age with no O or A levels. So I took a hairdressing course.


You are the one that helped change what rock and roll looked like to the world, and are credited with helping give Ziggy his glam look; what color of red did you use, and who's idea was it to go red?

Going red was an afterthought we didn’t dye it until the day after the haircut. The haircut was radical and only looked so great because of David’s face and figure. I used “Red Hot Red” by Schwarzkopf with 30 vol for a bit of a lift for the colour.

Where did they get their inspiration for the look of the Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars?

I think the movie “Clockwork Orange” was influential. Angie Bowie was really creative with costume ideas along with David and Freddie Buretti. There were a lot of ideas from different of people at the time including myself; David along with the band had the nerve to wear them.

Did you cut anyone else in the band's hair, or any other musicians?

In the end I cut all the band’s hair and a lot of the roadies as well. I was exclusive to them and not until much later did I cut other musicians hair.


When did you meet Mick, and how long were you married?

I met Mick when I met David, or a few days later. We didn’t get together romantically until after the final Hammersmith concert. We fell in love in Italy and were married in 1977. We were married until he died in 1993. We were soul mates.

What was it like to be on the road with Mick and David, was the rock and roll lifestyle as glamorous as it appeared to be?

Yes yes yes !! It was the most unbelievable fantastic time in the world. I had been searching for adventure. When I met David my life did a complete 360, it was a whirlwind of travel and adventure, never to be the same again.

Going on the road, in the UK and then America. We were all very young and inexperienced, we didn’t know what we were doing but we were having the best time doing it. Something must have been right because whatever it was it worked. I was the only girl with a 20-man crew wonderful stuff. I think I was one of the first girl roadies.

We on the road broke all the rules and made history along the way. I had the time of my life, being involved in such a trip. Witnessing the ‘Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars’. Nothing could have been better.


Was it hard being a parent and having your husband on the road, and did you two often go out with them?

Lisa and I went on the road until it was time for her to go to school and then it was a little more difficult and yes I missed him and it was difficult to bring up a child alone but when he came home we all had such fun. We lived in the US so there was no family to fall back on so I think I missed him more than he realized but I loved my daughter so it worked out.

On behalf of Mick's fans everywhere I would like to thank you and your daughter for being the voice and representing Mick's memory; where do you draw your strength and courage from?

My courage was not here for 17 years, my strength absent. I couldn’t listen to his music or look at a photograph it was too painful. Then I did a documentary about him and it changed things. I interviewed friends and family and really enjoyed hearing all the times they had spent with Mick. Everyone loved him and even today if I hear from anyone that met him they remember the great person he was and how he would spend time with them, the fact he was famous and talented and was so handsome seemed secondary, what people remember was how kind and generous he was with his time that’s what they remember.

And now with great pleasure I will turn the questioning over to a few friends that are much more qualified than I to ask the questions about Mick's musical career~

Bruce Smith: What was Mick's favorite period? Playing with Bowie? During his solo career? Playing with Mott The Hoople and later with Ian Hunter? Or when he was producing?

Mick enjoyed everything he did he really loved life and more than anything he loved music. Most of the time he was a gentle funny guy. Shy really but when he hit that stage or picked up his guitar at home, he changed and went to a different world.
Mick was born to be a musician there was really no choice for him he was just meant to be that person, a musician above anything else. So really the answer is he enjoyed everything with music and enjoyed life as well, he was a happy fantastic person that everyone loved.

What do you think Mick would be up to now if he was alive?

I think he would have done more of the same. He did love producing but also really enjoyed composing. I could see him writing film scores or arrangements for other people. He would have still played guitar but might have played more piano or started playing the violin again, he could play pretty much anything very talented man.

What was the story behind the Bowie, Ronson split?

I think David could see himself changing or wanting to. I also think he wanted to be more of a solo performer and anyone that ever saw Mick and David together must realize that the band had two principal players, neither one more important than the other. Mick and David together on stage rivals any other band in history they were fantastic together. I think David could see he might get stuck in that Ziggy personal and he would not have
wanted that.

Sami Yaffa: I met Mick once back in -84 in Germany on my Bday and the man was an absolute gentleman, made my Bday a very happy one, bought me champagne and we ended up spending the whole night in his hotel room drinking, talking swapping stories till sunrise.
I guess you could ask her if his heart was always as huge as it was that day, generosity and kindness pouring out of him.
He left quite an impression and something to aspire to being as a human being.

You see, this question bears out all I have said. The man had a great heart a huge spirit and a generous nature and apart from that had a talent that can not be denied, I am glad you had a great evening with Mick he was a lot of fun.




Ray Cogdill: I was wondering about the Les Paul Custom he played. Was it a Black Les Paul Custom that had the front sanded to Natural or was the Natural finish on the front original from Gibson?

It was the black one that was sanded down to be natural

Steve Conte here, guitarist w/ New York Dolls, Michael Monroe, Willy DeVille - and my band The Crazy Truth.

Back in 1989 I had the pleasure of supporting Mick & Ian @ The Ritz in NYC w/ my band Company Of Wolves. We were labelmates w/ Hunter- Ronson on Mercury records. I regret not getting to speak w/ Mick that night as he's one of my favorite players (one reviewer recently called me "the Italian Mick Ronson", which I'm very proud of...)

Anyway, here's my question:

We musicians have favorite music to listen to in our different moods/ moments @ home & on the road. I'd like to know what artists/albums did Mick like to listen to -

For quiet evening at home? Before going out at night? To start the day? In the bedroom? (wink wink), Before playing a show? For musical inspiration?

Thanks so much, I look forward to your answers!

Cheers,
Steve Conte

Oh this is hard he liked so many different styles from Lucio Battisti to Karen Carpenter.
He listened a lot to whom he was going to work with. He loved Roy Harper as much as he loved Johnny Cash or Roy Orbison or Elvis Presley. He adored The Beatles as well as the Rolling Stones and The Who.
He had eclectic taste that defies a label. He also just loved the radio and so many bands that I don't remember. These are a few of the ones I do.

 

SoundCheck Magazine would like to personally thank Suzi for taking the time out to do the interview, and for all of the contributors efforts in keeping Mick's memory very much alive today! You guys are awesome!! [Ed]

 

Cyndi