MICK RONSON: One Of The Boys

“I’d like,” announced Ian Hunter, his sweeping hand motion orchestrated by an imaginary drum, “to introduce the new lead guitarist. of Mott the Hoople. .. Mick Ronson!”

This proclamation was met with spectacular silence, finally punctuated by polite applause as Ronno snaked his way through the assembled New York journalists to take a seat next to Hunter at the heavily-miked front table. The cat, you see, had pretty well clawed its way out of the bag in the preceding week.

And what a juicy item it was, when the gossip express arrived at your stop. Mick Ronson — one-time guitar translator of Bowie’s rock and roll persona exercises and (a questionable solo career notwithstanding) perhaps the strongest guitar personality since Jimmy Page — teaming with Mott the Hoople, another much-loved (and considerably betterconsumed) pack of refugees ‘from the Bowie playpen. (At the London press conference two days earlier, Tony DeFries — el presidente of the Main Man empire and manager of Ronson as well as Bowie — had joshingly welcomed Mott '‘back into the family,” causing at least one member of the band to visibly choke on his drink.)