This woman is this new ex-hairdresser exactly who became Bowie towards the Ziggy Stardust, after that go off international in his entourage

O ne Friday day at the beginning of summer time out-of 1971, Suzi Ronson is actually hectic in the office on Evelyn Paget tresses spa on Beckenham High-street whenever one or two moved earlier pushing a push chair. The lady is wearing black colored pants and you can a hairy jacket, the guy was a student in a running gold midi top. “Everyone rushed out over take a look,” recalls Ronson, whom up coming went by their own maiden name Fussey. “Citizens were like nudging, poking both, asking, ‘Who has you to?’ Following some one whispered, ‘It is David Bowie.’”

He slept with anyone

Ronson had vaguely been aware of Bowie: the prosperity of his Place Oddity solitary got generated him good regional star while the singer’s mother is a customer. But she recalls: “He was into the a keen arty clique, maybe not my community.” Although not Ronson carry out become to-be element of Bowie’s industry, really the only performing woman within his taking a trip cluster – because the their particular the fresh new memoir Me personally and you will Mr Jones applies.

We utilized Schwarzkopf Red hot. Jesus understands why we got it in the salon – not one person otherwise during the Beckenham would have wished it

Bowie along with his spouse Angie resided on middle flooring out of a mansion named Haddon Hall, regarding south London area suburb of Beckenham. Going involved felt like typing a separate world. “I might never found some body such as this ahead of,” claims Ronson. “There have been gay men – I had never ever fulfilled some body overtly gay before – and there is Daniella, who had been Western Indian that have an excellent cockney accent, tresses colour out-of an enthusiastic eggs yolk having large brown eyes. I was only three miles at home but it you are going to just like the really had been a foreign residential property.”

‘He was a knob having maybe not advising his bandmates he was destroying out of Ziggy’ … Ronson today. Photograph: Alecsandra Dragoi/The brand new Guardian

As well as the center of it all of the had been the Bowies. Ronson had been greeting to Haddon Hall by the Angie, whose tresses she got slashed. “They planned to changes David’s search,” says Ronson, “and you will Angie realized I happened to be willing to try.” Bowie shown Ronson a magazine photograph from a model employed by japan fashion designer Kansai Yamamoto. The brand new design got quick, red-colored spiky tresses and also the singer requested if the she you will definitely backup one to. So Ronson got to really works. “It was along with that really sold them,” she states. “I utilized dream tones – Schwarzkopf Red-hot – on the health spa. God knows why we had them into the Beckenham. Nobody made use of all of them.” You to big date, the Ziggy Stardust hair style came into this world.

David marked their area

Ronson is actually invited into Bowie’s system, finding they both distressful and you can intoxicating. “I didn’t has an especially delighted teens,” she says. “My family was a tiny banged right up therefore i leftover college or university within 15 and you will try constantly searching for a getaway.” Bowie considering you to definitely eliminate and soon Ronson try with the payroll because hairdresser on the band. It’s obvious out of Me and you can Mr Jones how influential Angie is towards the Bowie’s and Ronson’s life and you may jobs.

“Angie is actually Western, she was extreme, cool and as committed as the brass,” remembers Ronson. “I wouldn’t believe exactly how unbelievable she try.” Angie championed Ronson, to be sure she obtained a premium status by the Bowie’s manager – deciding to make the fact Ronson slept that have Bowie somewhat awkward. Bowie had greeting their unique to help you Haddon Hall evidently having a great haircut however, got other motives. “It actually was frightening given that heck,” states Ronson. “I am able to have lost my job easily slept with your, or if I didn’t. I am talking about, people slept having David – and Angie appeared to encourage it.”