The passing away of David Bowie reminded me of this song from the cult album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. Bowie had many personas in his amazing career, and none more celebrated than Ziggy, the alter ego that had some Iggy Pop, some Lou Reed, some Vince Taylor and a pinch of the Legendary Stardust Cowboy and B-movie sci-fi melodrama. As I was listening to the song while writing this post I figured that I should also pay tribute to Mick Ronson, whose musical contribution on this album made this album the classic that it is. I think that Moonage Daydream is his finest hour with Bowie. The opening guitar riff, the sprinkling of piano, the baritone sax and piccolo flute bridge and most notably, the epic guitar solo that closes the song. Bowie used to draw on paper the shape of the solo he wanted, and for this solo he drew a flat line that turned into a megaphone shape, and ended as a cloud of dots and lines. “Mick could take something like that and actually bloody play it, bring it to life” said Bowie. A great example of how a great solo is not about how many notes you play, but how you play them.

I’m an alligator, I’m a mama-papa coming for you

I’m the space invader, I’ll be a rock ‘n’ rollin’ bitch for you

Keep your mouth shut, you’re squawking like a pink monkey bird

And I’m busting up my brains for the words

Keep your ‘lectric eye on me babe

Put your ray gun to my head

Press your space face close to mine, love

Freak out in a moonage daydream oh yeah

Don’t fake it baby, lay the real thing on me

The church of man, love, is such a holy place to be

Make me baby, make me know you really care

Make me jump into the air

Keep your ‘lectric eye on me babe

Put your ray gun to my head

Press your space face close to mine, love

Freak out in a moonage daydream oh yeah

Freak out, far out, in out