Moderator edit: this topic has been split off from Misprints.

er, apparently not, Ronno never played piano on stage - according to official sources that is, (and why on earth would Mick replace the then recently (Mick Ronson) auditioned and employed Garson) unless, of course, someone actually witnessed this.

There must be thousands of Ziggy photo's out there, but I've personally never seen one featuring Ronno at the piano (Bass, yep)

Either way I'd love to know the truth, (Answers on a postcard)

The truth is that's Mick playing piano! He wasn't replacing Mr G, of course, but he did play Life On Mars? at that particular show. I don't have a photograph either, but I'd love to find one. Postcard containing the answer to follow...

As it's Christmas...

From one of the Boston reviews: “Life on Mars? is melodrama; Bowie along with Ronson puts down his guitar and sings into a hand mike, gesturing out the lyric to the accompaniment on Ronson’s piano. It is not spectacular like the recorded version but the imagery again evokes the world of cinema."

Thanks for spilling your oh-so-precious bean, but one can't be 100% certain that that's the way it really occurred based on just one account. If it were something that happenned from time to time, I'd put a 99% probability on it, but as it's something not known to have occurred elsewhere, without corroboration I would surmise that it's more likely that the writer, having just mentioned Ronson, wrote "Ronson" again when he meant "Garson". It's not an error that an editor could correct, either.

You still planning a Ziggy-era book of some sort?

I don't know how constant Mike Garson's playing styie is but when comparing the recordings of Life On Mars from Boston and Santa Monica (less than three weeks in between) I think I hear a difference in the style of playing. Again this may be just a variation played by Garson, but I guess musically educated people could tell...

The writer in question attended a number of other US 1972 shows - he knows his Bowie. I have interviewed him separately, as well, and his recollection is very clear.

Yes - Ziggy book is well underway, thanks.

Also, Mike Garson would not have 'put down his guitar' to play the song.

That changes things of course and you should have stated it when making your case (especially "As it's Christmas...", Mr. Grinch).

Well, I didn't HAVE to say anything did I? Sheesh. Some people!

I'd asked Will (BowieRoadie) this very question some time ago:

His reply was

the plot, just like my gravy, thickens

Happy New year to you all by the way

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Reminds me of the famous adage "If you can remember the sixties, you weren't there..."

(I know we're talking seventies but... you know...)

I may be wrong here, but that 72 cleveland super8 footage shows mick playing piano?
I'd have a look but all my stuff is in storage at the moment...

steve

I just checked and there's no Mick on the piano in the Cleveland footage.

Thanks Maarten, is this from the Sep 22nd music hall (Garsons first) or the slightly later public auditorium gigs?

Daft question I know, but is Mick on guitar ? (is there a solo) I can't figure this one out at all....

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Cleveland footage is 22-09 indeed