Bowie Lead Guitarists: Who's Your Fave?

Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by Mother, Oct 12, 2017.

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  1. Spazaru

    Spazaru Angry Samoan

    Mick is the only one on that list I ever met and he called me an a**hole. Had to pick him!
     
  2. Chris Schoen

    Chris Schoen Rock 'n Roll !!!

    Location:
    Maryland, U.S.A.
    Ronson. He's the "best fit", and also did a bunch of other things for Bowie's music like arrangements and strings. Very talented guy he was.
     
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  3. Derek Slazenger

    Derek Slazenger Specs, rugs & rock n roll

    I concur. Fripp is mindblowing on Scary Monsters :)
     
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  4. Andy Smith

    Andy Smith .....Like a good pinch of snuff......

    Michael Picasso for me too...
     
  5. chronic kebab

    chronic kebab Forum Resident

    Location:
    ireland
    He is stellar on STATIONTOSTATION
     
  6. footprintsinthesand

    footprintsinthesand Reasons to be cheerful part 1

    Location:
    Dutch mountains
    That would make Earl Slick otherworldly
     
  7. Centralscrutinizer

    Centralscrutinizer Forum Resident

    Robert Fripp for me. He's not on a massive amount of material but what he does play on Bowie tracks is so good he gets my vote.
     
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  8. Colocally

    Colocally One Of The New Wave Boys

    Location:
    Surrey BC.
    I feel that Bowie always had the right Lead Guitarist for the album. He had so many great band members.
     
  9. lightbulb

    lightbulb Not the Brightest of the Bunch

    Location:
    Smogville CA USA
    Mick Ronson!!!

    His stellar playing on The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and The Spiders From Mars alone seals the deal for me!

    Why?
    With such incredible tracks as:
    Hang Onto Yourself
    Ziggy Stardust
    Suffragette City

    ...which are chock full of slashing crunching guitar riffs, courtesy of Mick!

    Also one of the best "sequencing of 3 rock songs", anywhere, any album!!!

    Honorable Mention:
    Starman, Moonage Daydream, Star, and It Ain't Easy, are close follow ups, with great guitar lines.

    It's a perfect album showcasing Ronson's expertise!
     
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  10. aphexj

    aphexj Sound mind & body

    Slick covers ALL the bases so he gets my vote
     
  11. jpmosu

    jpmosu a.k.a. Mr. Jones

    Location:
    Ohio, USA
    For me, the real question is, "After Ronson and Fripp, who's your favorite?"

    Answer: Earl Slick
     
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  12. Holerbot6000

    Holerbot6000 Forum Resident

    Location:
    California
    I agree that this have been fascinating, given that they were very much contemporaries. My impression though, based on years of reading Bills message board and other writings, is that Bill has a bit of animosity toward DB, like maybe he didn't get credit for having some influence on some of David's artistic directions; they definitely have circled the same territories at one time or another. Again, just my impression. He never comes out and says anything overt and he has written complimentary things about Bowie as well, but Bill can definitely be a little prickly and I wonder if that may be a reason they never hooked up.

    My fave Bowie Guitarist is Reeves. The work he did across those 90's albums is stellar.

    And Reeves DID do an album with Bill and it's a corker.
    [​IMG]
     
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  13. Morton LaBongo

    Morton LaBongo Forum Resident

    Location:
    Manchester NH
    Bowie always had great musicians in my opinion. Have to go with Mick on this one.
     
  14. Vaughan

    Vaughan Forum Resident

    Location:
    Essex, UK
    Ronson is an obvious choice.

    But I went with Reeves. I think a lot of those mentioned made great, and significant contributions to the music. But Reeves, at some level, picked Bowie up and helped him get back to creative ways. Bowie was a leader some many times, but he was also human. When he needed a hand, Reeves was there. He also has a more contemporary approach, imo.
     
  15. billy1

    billy1 Forum Resident

    Favourite - Mick
    Wish Bowie had never met him - Gabrels, a tasteless oaf who I was glad to see the back of.
     
  16. Indeed although I always thought that Carlos was a better rhythm player than lead or soloist but he is a top notch songwriter. His riff for "Fame" created a great collaborative vehicle for Bowie, Lennon and Carlos
     
  17. Curveboy

    Curveboy Forum Resident

    Location:
    New York City
    For me it's a three way:

    Mick Ronson
    Earl Slick
    Reeves Gabrels
     
  18. Just curious-why?
     
  19. I always found it fascinating that Ian Hunter worked with two of Bowie's favorite guitarists--Mick and Earle Slick. I kind of wish that Bowie had worked with Hunter n a couple of other projects as well as producer.
     
  20. coniferouspine

    coniferouspine Forum Resident

    Voted Earl Slick. The question was "who's your fave?" and something about Slick's light touch on those smooth hybrid soul numbers has always spoken to me. But Ronson would be "best" or "greatest" or "most popular" "Most influential" etc.
     
    sekaer and trumpet sounds like this.
  21. Kevin j

    Kevin j The 5th 99

    Location:
    Seattle Area
    I don't understand why you want to make everyone who's not Mick Ronson feel bad.
     
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  22. misterdecibel

    misterdecibel Bulbous Also Tapered

    ^^In a nutshell.^^
     
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  23. agn

    agn Forum Resident

    Location:
    New Jersey
    Can't pick just one. There are so many great ones. My faves are Earl Slick (he kicks ass on so many songs.. especially Stay), Robert Fripp (Heroes nuff said), Adrian Belew!!! and of course Mick Ronson!
     
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  24. dlokazip

    dlokazip Forum Transient

    Location:
    Austin, TX, USA
    You really want me to choose between Ronson, Fripp, Belew, Vaughan, and Gabrels? Sorry. Can't do it.
     
  25. Bowie Fett

    Bowie Fett Forum Resident

    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Tough. Ronson. Fripp. Belew...but Earl Slick was the most versatile. And he played on most of my favorite Bowie tunes.
     
    sekaer likes this.
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