The ZIGGY STARDUST Companion

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News & Rumours

SEPTEMBER 2002

Moonage Daydream book being printed
September 2002

MOONAGE DAYDREAM has gone to press and our binders will shortly begin binding. Deluxe copies are now sold out. Orders for regular copies are still flooding in. Place yours now. Full information (with accompanying music) at: Genesis Publications  - Robby Elson, Editor, robby@genesis-publications.com

Mick Ronson Biography due out next year
September 2002

Ronson: The Spider with the Platinum Hair - by Weird & Gilly.

THE FIRST EVER biography on legendary guitarist MICK RONSON titled: Ronson: The Spider with the Platinum Hair is due to be released next year on 27th January 2003.   Mick Ronson, the guitarist for Ziggy Stardust, is one of the most legendary rock stars of all time. This, the first biography of this extraordinary man, provides a deeply intimate and compelling insight into his life, with exclusive interviews with over 50 of his family members, close friends and colleagues, and details of his years spent working with such greats as Bob Dylan, Lou Reed, David Bowie, Jeff Beck, Ian Hunter and many more. Includes 40 previously unpublished b/w photos and rarities such as a hand-written autobiography, personal letters and an illustrated discography.

Released by Independent Music Press, this is the first and only biography ever published on one of the most legendary guitarists and rock stars of all-time. Mick Ronson was the guitarist for Ziggy Stardust, but he was also a whole lot more. This world-first biography is crammed with numerous first-hand recollections by those who were closest to him. During the five years it has taken to collate this work, the authors have spoken to over 50 family members, close friends and colleagues including exclusive interviews with Suzi Ronson (wife), David and Maggi Ronson (brother and sister), Minnie Ronson (mother), Steve Popovich (manager), Lou Reed, Mick Jones, Ian Hunter, Chrissie Hynde, Glen Matlock, Cherry Vanilla (PR), Steve Harley, Bob Harris, Joe Elliott and a host of others. As a result, this book provides a deeply intimate and compelling insight into the life and times of an extraordinarily talented guitarist. A man who was tender and caring off
the stage, yet fierce and electrifying on it. Jeff Beck, David Bowie, Ian Hunter and Annette Peacock are just a few of the names that were to become associated with the Mick Ronson legend. He toured with Bob Dylan, played with Mott The Hoople, worked with Lou Reed and produced an impressive number of albums with arresting originality. After losing his battle with cancer, Mick passed away in the Spring of 1993 at the young age of 46. This book is a salute to his remarkable music and legacy. From his days as a mobile grocer to his performances at Wembley Stadium, this minutely detailed biographical account features exclusive interviews with close family, friends, musical colleagues and admirers as well as scores of unpublished photographs and unseen rarities including: a hand-written six-page autobiography by the man himself, extracts from his personal letters home, love letters to his first girlfriend, family album photographs and an exhaustive illustrated discography. The 6th of June 2002 marked the 30th Anniversary of David Bowie's influential The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust
And The Spiders From Mars album. Mick Ronson was an integral part in that iconic record. This world-first biography commemorates the life of a man full of passion and commitment, not only to his musical career but to his relationships with his family, his friends and his fans.

Lean Back on Your Radio
September 2002

DAVID BOWIE was interviewed by Gary Crowley at 8pm (British Summer Time) September 26th on BBC London 94.9FM. You can listen live online at http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/entertainment/music/bowie_interview.shtml between 8pm and 10pm and then download the interview on demand afterwards.

"Sweet Head" features on Moonlight Mile soundtrack
September 2002

THE SOUNDTRACK to an upcoming film entitled MOONLIGHT MILE, starring Dustin Hoffman, Susan Sarandon, and Jake Gyllenhaal features a the Ziggy Stardust track "Sweet Head" by David Bowie. It is due to be released by Epic Records.   The website www.moonlight-mile.com has more information on the film including photos, trailers, etc. and will soon feature a Flash "Jukebox" in which you can listen to the soundtrack online.

Dara's ChartWatch
September 2002

THE RISE & FALL OF ZIGGY STARDUST (30th Anniversary 2-CD reissue)

THE REMARKABLE chart career of this album opened another chapter with this release. Selling enough in its first week to make #36 in the UK (giving Bowie two albums on the top 40 that week) #45 in France and #27 in Norway, it went on to notch up another seven weeks on the chart in France, and two in Norway. It also notched up one week on the US Billboard Top 20 pop catalogue, and sold well online (as all Bowie releases tend to). However, it is now off all charts and barring another Lazarus like return will not be in the next Chartwatch.

France: 45, 52, 79, 98, 137, 117, 139, 140, out of top 150; Norway: 27, 37, out of top 40, 31, out of top 40; UK: 36, 59, out of top 75; US (Billboard Top 20 Pop Catalog): 17, out; WWW (CDNow Top 100): 52, 32, 39, out; (CD Now Alternative Top 20): 6, out; (CD Universe): 1, 8, 38, out

Ebert reminds us of Ziggy Stardust
September 2002

NY Times: Yesterday's music, movies are today's hot topics

PICK UP a paper, turn on the radio, surf the Net, and you just might get the impression that the hottest thing among critics today is . . . yesterday. Uninspired by much of Hollywood's new offerings, Roger Ebert, the film critic for the Chicago Sun-Times, has been writing about pictures of yesteryear. Editors say they're focusing on the past to enlighten a new generation ignorant of pop culture before the era of Bruce, Prince and Madonna..........One factor that led Ebert to develop Great Movies was the demise of film societies and art houses that followed the VCR boom of the 1980s. There's a generation today, he said, that assumes that George Lucas in essence founded the film industry with "Star Wars" in 1977. Those same kids might know that an old guy named David Bowie released an album called "Heathen" this year but might never have heard Bowie's 1972 opus "The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars."

Cyrinda Foxe - Sadly the Jean Genie Girl passes away
September 2002

AEROSMITH'S STEVEN TYLER attended the funeral of his ex-wife Cyrinda Foxe-Tyler on Monday (September 9) in New York City. She was the dancing girl for David Bowie's 1973 video of the song, "The Jean Genie." Born Kathleen Hetzekian in Santa Monica, California, Foxe-Tyler died at 51 of a cancerous brain tumour. See more about her here.

Bowie to return to the Hammersmith Odeon
September 2002

LONDON (AP) - David Bowie is returning to the venue where he killed off his most famous creation, Ziggy Stardust, nearly 30 years ago.
The 55-year-old star said he'll perform Oct. 2 at London's "Carling Apollo," which was known in the 1970s as the Hammersmith Odeon. ``This has got to be one of the great venues in London. It should be a thrill to play it again,'' Bowie said. The performer stunned his fans in 1973 when he rounded off a Ziggy tour at the Odeon by telling them: ``This show will stay the longest in our memories, not just because it is the end of the tour but because it is the last show we'll ever do.'' The announcement was his way of burying Ziggy Stardust, the outrageous stage persona his fans had come to love. At the Oct. 2 concert, he'll play many of his classic tracks as well as songs from his recent ``Heathen'' album. But he gave no indication that he has any plans to resurrect Ziggy. The concert is part of a 10-date tour across Britain and Ireland. Supporting acts include the Manic Street Preachers and Ian Brown.

---This page last modified: 27 Oct 2002---