WOODY WOODMANSEY

DURING HIS FIFTY YEARS IN MUSIC, MANY NOTABLE CHARACTERS ORBITED DAVID BOWIE. THERE ARE A SELECT FEW WHO WERE ESSENTIAL PARTS OF THE STORY – CENTRAL FIGURES WHO HAD A DIRECT INFLUENCE ON HIS CREATIVITY AND A LASTING PLACE IN HIS LEGEND; WHOSE NAMES, WHEN MENTIONED, EVOKE A PARTICULAR MAGIC…

Woody Woodmansey performed on a run of essential albums – THE MAN WHO SOLD THE WORLD (1970), HUNKY DORY (1971), THE RISE AND FALL OF ZIGGY STARDUST AND THE SPIDERS FROM MARS (1972) and ALADDIN SANE (1973) – and has a truly privileged perspective on David Bowie’s ascent to global fame. As drummer in Bowie’s white-hot band The Spiders From Mars, alongside fellow Yorkshiremen Trevor Bolder (bass) and the peerless Mick Ronson (guitar), Woody was right there in the eye of the cosmic storm during the Ziggy Stardust years, before Bowie unexpectedly called time on the band, on stage during the final night of their 1973 tour… In this new edition of The Mouthcast Woody recalls The Spiders From Mars’ talismanic frontman, and offers an insight into the era when classic songs seemed to tumble out of him. He also chats about Holy Holy; the former colleague, friend and fan band paying tribute to Bowie through respectful readings of his work – though as fellow member Tony Visconti says “We’re not a tribute band. We’re the real deal”…