Mick Ronson guitar returns to Hull for show celebrating rockstar

A guitar owned and played by the rockstar Mick Ronson in the mid-1970s will return to his home city for the City of Culture celebrations.
Ched Cheeseman with Mick Ronson's guitarChed Cheeseman with Mick Ronson's guitar
Ched Cheeseman with Mick Ronson's guitar

A show and exhibition from August 15 called Turn and Face The Strange will celebrate the life and music career of Mick Ronson, best known as the guitarist and arranger behind David Bowie at the height of the glam rock chapter of his career.

The original Gibson Les Paul which Mick played on the Rolling Thunder Tour with Bob Dylan will be played in the show by Hull musician Keith ‘Ched’ Cheesman.

Both Keith and Mick were in the 60’s band The Rats.

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The exhibition will also display two limited edition copies of the guitar, one with Mick’s signature, and both stripped blond (like Mick).

There will also be a Hagstrom electric guitar which is a copy of the guitar David Bowie played on ‘Rebel Rebel’ and the Diamond Dogs album.

The exhibition will feature memorabilia from friends and fans including a Wah Wah pedal and Tone Bender played by Mick in his early career, and signed posters, letters, programmes and photographs, many of which have never been seen before.

Co- writer Rupert Creed says: “It’s the first time one of Mick's guitars has been seen in Hull since the days he played with Bowie and the Spiders from Mars. We hope that residents and visitors will enjoy viewing this guitar and hearing it played in the show”

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Mick Ronson will always be associated with Gibson Les Paul electric guitars. His most memorable work with David Bowie, Bob Dylan and Lou Reed was all performed and recorded on a famous ‘stripped’ Les Paul guitar which he originally purchased from Cornell’s Music Store on Spring Bank in Hull in 1969. Mick gave away this guitar in the 1970s to a Hard Rock Café.

The ‘Turn and Face the Strange’ show and exhibition is at the Freedom Centre, Preston Road, Hull from August 15 to August 19.

Performances are at 7.30pm with a matinee at 2pm on the Saturday. The exhibition will be open throughout afternoon to the public and in the evening for those attending the show.

The exhibition is curated by Hull designer Ed Ullyart with assistance from Tracey Taylor and Kay Jarvis.

Tickets are selling fast and some shows are sold out. Tickets can be purchased via Hull City of Culture website and Hull Box Office.