About Me
PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT SIGN THE PETITION TO HAVE MICK RONSON INDUCTED INTO THE ROCK 'N' ROLL HALL OF FAME
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/Ronno
'THE HYPE',
Bowie:"We need a strong element of hype".
Pitt:"Then why not call the band 'The Hype'
This is the story of a significant and highly influential Rock 'n' Roll band, albeit a short lived Rock 'n Roll band, but no small wave on the coastline of music this band, oh no, more a warning signal for the approaching hurricane that we now know as Glam Rock, and all that followed thereafter in it's wake.
1969
July 16th - Mid October
David Bowie records an album influenced in part by Syd Floyd's 'The Piper At The Gates of Dawn', it's a self titled album - his second self titled album, not big on titles back then - and contains the future smash hit 'Space Oddity'. The bulk of the album is produced by New Yorker Tony Visconti with the exception of the aforementioned hit. Tony invites the group 'Juniors Eyes' along to Trident studios for the session, the group features on drums an ex Hull based 'Rat' John Cambridge, in turn, John invites a number of chums along including fellow 'Rats' Benny Marshall and Mick Ronson, Benny contributes harmonica to 'Unwashed and Somewhat Slightly Dazed' whilst Mick adds acoustic guitar and some backing vocals to 'The Wild Eyed Boy From Freecloud'. Upon completion of the recording session, everyone toddles back from whence they came.
1970
January 8th
Tony Visconti invites Marc Bolan along to contribute to David Bowie's next single, 'The Prettiest Star' although the session was chilly to say the least, the resulting product did contain the one and only collaboration between the two future stars, Tony Visconti and John Cambridge played Bass and Drums respectively.
February
Bowie requires a more permanent band to back him for the promotion of his latest album, John Cambridge is retained from the 'Space Oddity' recording session and Tony Visconti volunteers for Bass duty, whilst the missing piece of the jigsaw is marking out a Rugby pitch back home in Hull, John Cambridge persuades Bowie that Mick Ronson would make a fine lead guitarist.
February 3rd
Bowie plays the Marquee Club, London, once again utilising the services of 'Juniors Eyes' as backing band, watching the gig, at the request of John Cambridge, is Mick Ronson who witness's Bowie in live action for the first time, after the gig Ronno and Bowie jam, with a rehearsal the following day in readiness for:
February 5th,
The Sunday Show, John Peel, BBC Radio 2. The Hype make their first historic appearance together, performing, after a short Bowie solo spot, an embryonic 'Width of a Circle', this is followed by 'Janine', 'Wild eyed boy from Freecloud' 'Unwashed & Somewhat Slightly Dazed', 'Fill Your Heart', 'I'm Waiting for the Man' 'The Prettiest Star', 'Cygnet Committee' and 'Memory of a Free Festival' Mick later admitting that he didn't know any of the material, and that he just sat and watched David's fingers.
Haddon Hall, Beckenham, The home of David and Angela Barnett, and also now the Hype's new home (with girlfriends - where applicable) Mick and John kip on the balcony at the top of a set of stairs - to nowhere ('Haddon Hall', though once a grand house, had long been divided into flats, Bowie's being flat number 7, though retaining the 'Haddon Hall' bit for his correspondence)
THE HYPE SIGN TO PHILIPS (MERCURY) RECEIVING AN ADVANCE OF £4,000 thanks to some keen negotiating by Angie, the cash is used to purchase a PA, a Bass amp, Drums and a new set of tyres for Rogers Baby Blue Bedford Van (which itself had been bought new with the money given in Leiu of 'Space Oddity') but, alas, nothing for poor ol' Mick.
February 22nd
Debut performance, The Roundhouse, London, first on a bill which also featured 'Fat Mattress and 'Country Joe McDonald'. The band appeared fully fitted out in the costumes of their adopted character, David in a tight glittering space number, Tony in white tights and a big 'H' on his chest is 'Hypeman', whilst the two Hull natives where at first more than a little apprehensive, they where finally persuaded to get into the mood of things, Mick in a gold double breasted velour suit became 'Gangsterman' whilst John, who liked all things American, donned a cowboy suit, During this period in Rocks dusty past, denim, and plenty of it, was very much the garb of the day so it is safe to say that the four of them played to a much bemused audience, (which included Marc Bolan who entered into the spirit of the event by dressing as a Roman Centurion, complete with plastic breast-plate, nonetheless this event undoubtedly planted a seed, with mental notes duly taken for his future sojurn) however, there's nothing like a bit of bemusement to set tongues a wagging, the show could be deemed a success, Bowie beems "after tonight, theatre is for me".
February 23rd ..br /
Streatham Arms, London, Maybe it was some madness spilling over from the previous night, maybe it was the fact that they'd all had their clothes nicked from the Roundhouse gig (having to go home wearing their stage costumes, which by now may still have been at the laundrette) either way, the Hype appear under the pseudonym of 'Harry the Butcher' for this their second gig.
February 28th
Basildon Arts Centre, Basildon. Billed as 'The Hype - David Bowie's New Electric Band', The band having replaced the Strawbs who had earlier pulled out. (Rick Wakeman, a member of the Strawbs, had also appeared on the afore mentioned 'David Bowie' album, and later played on Bowie's 'Hunky Dory' album, rumour has it that Rick was invited to join an early Spiders from Mars but turned the offer down in favour of session work, he was, however, a member of Dib Cochran's Earwigs)
March 1st
Three Tuns Pub, Beckenham, the home of David Bowie's 'Arts Lab'
March 6th
Hull University, Home town gig for half the Hype (well, 2/3rds if you take into account David's family tree) Ex Rat, Benny Marshall, joins the band on stage contributing harmonica on 'Unwashed and Somewhat Slightly Dazed' as on the album.
March 7th
Regent Street Polytechnic
BOWIE'S BOW By Gavin Petrie, Disc and Music Echo - 12th March 1970
"DAVID BOWIE, in ten-league boots and groovy gear, presented his new backing group line up Hype, at London's Regent Street Polytechnic on Saturday. He needs an expert on sound balance who should effectively solve the teething problems of the new line up.
David had much more confidence and stage presence with this backing group, and as his songs are suitable for grooving to as well as just listening to, the brightest hope could well change categories.
This show was a disaster. The volume on Mick Ronson's lead guitar was so high that not only did he block out David's singing but also completely overpowered John Cambridge's drums. The volume also cleared the seats in a direct line with his speaker.
That magic that makes for greatness is there but suppressed, sometimes even hidden. If my ears ever recover I expect to see David plus Hype in a few months time... shining through"
good ol' Ronno....
March 11th
The Roundhouse - Atomic Sunrise Festival
March 13th
Fillmore North, Lacarno Ballroom, Sunderland.
March 20th
Bromley Register Office, duet with Angie
March 23rd
The Star Hotel, Broad Green, West Croydon...br /
March 30th
The Star Hotel, Broad Green, West Croydon...br /
Early April
Advision Studios, 'Memory of a Free Festival' recorded, the only official (though not billed as) Hype recording. David Bowie: Acoustic, Vocals., Mick Ronson: Les Paul, Backing Vocals., Tony Visconti: Bass and Arrangements., John Cambridge: Drums., Ralph Mace: Piano.,
Shortly after this session, John Cambridge decides to leave the band, going back to Hull to join "The Mandrakes" and for the second time in his career, is replaced by Mick Woodmansey, Woody taking over both John's drum stool and his place in Haddon Hall.
April 12th
Harrogate Theatre, Harrogate, Yorkshire
April 27th
The Po-Co Po-Co Club, Stockport, Cheshire, A Stockport Schools Union gig, also featuring, Barclay James Harvest.
May 21st
The Penthouse, Scarborough.
And thats pretty much where this story ends, there were some coming's and goings over the ensuing months, Ronson and Woodmansey leave, reform again with Visconti as 'Ronno' Benny Marshall joins them as a session muscian and the band record 'The Fourth Hour of My Sleep' b/w 'Powers of Darkness' on Vertigo, Once again Bowie comes a-calling asking Mick and Woody to record the Tony Visconti produced 'The Man Who Sold the World' during the months of April and May 1970 at Trident,
Meanwhile,
January 20 1971
T-Rex release Hot Love, the first glam rock single!!....really ?.....
Bowie goes off to the cinema and is blown away by 'A Clockwork Orange' Ziggy makes up a band and the rest, as they say in all the best stories, is history..
Ronno, Bowie, Woody and Trevor, The Hype MkII, or, Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
Postscript
Taken from an interview featured in the 'Friends' newspaper, February 22, 1971
David has since split from the Hype, a band formed last year to back him on gigs, a few experiences like a Roundhouse set that got louder and louder were enough to convince him that the group's equipment was taking over. "It was frightening, we all knew we were too loud but there wasn't one of us capable of taking four steps back and turning the bloody volume down." After what might be described as a disastous set, Bowie went home to Beckenham, thought about things and went back the following week alone. "The Roundhouse," as his personal manager/wife Angela puts it "was in his hand."
That was last summer, and since then Bowie has done very little stage work and has spent his time in the basement of his house 'Haddon Hall' writing songs. "enough for at least another three albums".
