Spiders From Mars getting Ziggy to bring a David Bowie classic to life

In 1970 a young, slender David Bowie released an album that was to change the face of rock music.

The Man Who Sold the World saw the androgynous icon switching on and rocking out with a crunching heavy metal edge. It was a pop masterpiece and heralded the dawning of glam-rock.

For Bowie, his band – the prototype Spiders From Mars – and their legion of fans, things would never be the same again.

The album, released a year later in the UK, was produced by the legendary Tony Visconti – who also played bass, and rated it as the best thing he had done until the chart-topping Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps), some 10 years later.

Now Tony is back, picking up the bass with fellow Spider, the drummer Mick ‘Woody’ Woodmansey, to bring the album back to life. They will be joined by Heaven 17’s Glenn Gregory, Soft Cell frontman Marc Almond, and Tony’s own daughter Jessica Lee Morgan.

The show, even without the ‘thin, white duke’ and the late Mick Ronson, is a remarkable coming together of musicians and unmissable to Bowie fans – featuring a treasure trove of his other classics from 1969-73.

The ensemble play the Isle of Wight Festival tomorrow, before hopping on a ferry and heading up the A34 to Oxford, where they present the show at the O2 Academy Oxford.

“I always wanted to have a fresh go at playing the The Man Who Sold the World album live as it was never played live, ever,” says Tony, who has worked with Bowie since 1969’s Space Oddity through to to 2013’s The Next Day, and also worked with Marc Bolan’s T Rex and Paul McCartney.

“Woody and I are two of the original musicians who recorded this dark masterpiece, and are still ready, willing and able – and I might add, fit!

“We are joined by Glenn, not stepping into Mr Bowie’s shoes, but making this music his very own.

“To say I’m in heaven when I’m playing with this band is understating how satisfying it is to revisit something I’ve been wanting to do all these years.”

For Woody the shows are the fulfilment of a long ambition. He says: “In September last year Tony and I had the pleasure of joining forces as a rhythm section for the first time since 1970 when we recorded the The Man Who Sold the World with David Bowie and Mick Ronson.

“At the time we were all looking forward to presenting it to audiences in a live situation as we felt it would be exciting for them and us.

“Unfortunately this never came to pass …. until September last year.

“From the first song in rehearsals, which was Width Of A Circle, it was obvious that we were right about our earlier excitement. With Glenn on lead vocals, Steve and the rest of the band, each song had its own special magic, as Bowie songs do. We stayed true to the spirit and essence of the songs whilst adding a contemporary edge to them.”

Glenn said he relished the chance to work with musicians who had inspired him as a young artist.

“Singing those iconic songs live on stage with such amazing musicians was, I think, one of the most exciting things I have ever done in my life,” he laughed. “And now I’m going to do it again!”

Tony Visconti on bass

Standing in stark contrast to previous album Space oddity, The Man Who Sold the World is heavy and dystopian for a Bowie album, with bleak lyrical themes.

Its riff-heavy rock, Ronson’s throbbing guitar and its futuristic synths, were given free reign by Tony’s groundbreaking production techniques.

The touring band also features Ronson’s daughter Lisa and niece Hannah on, respectively, vocals and keyboard, recorder and backing vocals.

Joining them are guitarists James Stevenson (Generation X, The Cult, Scott Walker) and Paul Cuddeford (Ian Hunter, Bob Geldof), saxophonist and 12-string guitarist Terry Edwards (Gallon Drunk, PJ Harvey, The Blockheads, Yoko Ono), pianist Rod Melvin (Brian Eno, Ian Dury) and synth player Berenice Scott (Heaven 17).

Tony says: “Mick Ronson was, of course, the original guitarist playing all the parts, so we are joined by 70’s specialists Paul and James on very, very loud guitars to make it beefier and even darker.”

And while he and Woody are clearly excited about tomorrow’s Isle of Wight show – sharing a bill with Blur, Fleetwood Mac and The Prodigy, they are also looking forward to returning to Oxford.

“I have always loved Oxford and there is no better way to return there than to play with this wonderful band,” says Tony.

Woody agrees. “I’m pleased to be going back to Oxford too,” he says.

“The Spiders played some great gigs there back in the Ziggy era!”

CHECK IT OUT
The Man Who Sold the World is at the Isle of Wight Festival (isleofweightfestival.com) tomorrow and O2 Academy Oxford, (o2academyoxford.co.uk) on Saturday