Bowie: A Biography - JFK247

when compared to the lives of his new friends in
America, in shambles. Worse, Tony Visconti and
Defries did not like each other, not least of all
because Defries reportedly approached Visconti
like an employee and not an artist. With Bolan’s
career in gear in both England and America, it
wasn’t long before Visconti decamped
semipermanently (he would return in 1974). “Defries
also wanted to manage me as a producer,” Visconti
wrote. “I wasn’t so enamored with the idea and didn’t
like his style so I was not easily seduced.”
With no support for a tour or any further promotion
on the part of Mercury, Bowie’s band subsisted on a
small deal for a Bowie-free record by the Hype, with
new drummer Woody Woodmansey permanently
replacing original drummer John Cambridge. It didn’t
result in any product and soon it became harder and
harder for Bowie’s backup group to justify remaining
in London while David dealt with a change in
management and, eventually, a change in record
labels. In Hull, Ronson could work and record and
play when he felt like it. Down in the capital, he was
left waiting for something to happen. He returned
north, played occasional gigs under the name Ronno
(Ronson’s nickname) and did some session work
(including an unused guitar part during the recording
sessions for Elton John’s “Madman Across the
Water”).
Meanwhile, Defries suggested to Bowie that he
relax, concentrate on his family (Angie was about to
deliver) and continue to write and record demos,