(Exclusive one-off event by invitation only. Wednesday 22nd November 2023 2.45pm)
David Bowie performed at the West Refectory (Students Union), University of Hull on 6th March 1970 with his band ‘Hype’. The band members were Tony Visconti, along with Hull born Mick Ronson and John Cambridge and just two weeks earlier they had played their debut gig at the Roundhouse in London which has gone down in folklore as the first ever ‘Glam Rock’ concert.
Combining with these Hull based musicians, which later morphed into The Spiders From Mars line up of Mick Ronson, Trevor Bolder and Woody Woodmansey was absolutely pivotal in Bowie’s trajectory from folk singer to a rock icon with subsequent albums such as Ziggy Stardust and Aladdin Sane.
53 years later in the famous Spiders from Mars house on Auckland Avenue (University Quarter®) this is celebrated with a unique preview of the stage show “Turn and Face the Strange – The Mick Ronson Story” ahead of the full stage show in December at Hull New Theatre. This exclusive, invite only event will be a real pop-up show including Hype drummer John Cambridge and many tales of how the Hull connection helped propel Bowie to global superstardom – ‘From Rats to Spiders!’. More information on the main show can be found at https://turnandfacethestrange.co.uk/
The Turn and Face the Strange show team comprises contributions and performances from some of Mick Ronson and David Bowie’s friends, family and contemporaries including John Cambridge, Keith Cheesman and John Bentley (Squeeze), as well as Hull musicians Kristian Eastwood, Bobby Joyce, Phil Keech and Annabel Etheridge.
Co-writers of Turn And Face The Strange Garry Burnett and Rupert Creed will also be there to navigate through the timeline with the band playing stripped back versions of classic songs from the career of Mick Ronson.
“Celebrating the very real musical heritage of my home city is so important. All my misspent youth had a David Bowie soundtrack”. Richard Stott Managing Director Kexgill Group (investment company who own the University Quarter® in 9 UK locations and various multi-family assets in Germany).
Rupert Creed said “Everyone at Turn & Face The Strange is delighted that University Quarter will again be the principal sponsor for our shows at Hull Truck Theatre in December, to commemorate 50 years since the last Ziggy Stardust concert and 30 years since the untimely death of Mick Ronson. Their commitment to our show and supporting the legacy of The Spiders From Mars as one of the mist pivotal bands in music history, is a real plus for the city of Hull”
Garry Burnett added “The intimate gig at the Spiders From Mars themed house, just a short walk away from the University where David Bowie played his only ever Hull concert, will be a fantastic event and how wonderful that behind the drums at the 1970 gig and this special gig will be our very own John Cambridge, the man who brought Bowie & Ronson together and changed the course of rock music forever. This is a great way to start the build up to our full show in December”
This pop-up event will be live streamed throughout the World including Mainland Europe, China, Japan, and the United States and there will be opportunities for lucky fans to win an invite via social media.
Venue: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-43989006
Contact details:
University Quarter® event Richard Stott [email protected] +44 (0)1482 343818
Turn and Face The Strange – Bobby Joyce [email protected] +(0)7976 871583
Turn And Face The Strange – The Mick Ronson Story is performing at Hull New Theatre on Friday December 8th at 7:30pm & Saturday 9th December at 2pm and 7:30pm. Tickets on sale via www.hulltheatres.co.uk/turn-and-face-strange
