Woody Woodmansey interview - David Bowie and The Spiders from Mars

Unedited interview with fabulous drummer Woody Woodmansey.
Mick 'Woody' Woodmansey is an English rock drummer known for his work with David Bowie and The Spiders from Mars. With the death of Bowie in January 2016, he is the last surviving member of the Ziggy Stardust band.

[@rayrichards5375]

What a genuinely interesting, down to earth guy Woody comes across as. David & the Spiders were the first band I was ever into. Saw them live at the Empire Theatre here in Edinburgh back in 1973. A night I'll never forget. God bless you Woody and R. I. P. David, Mick and Trevor

[@Britclip]

He was a lovely man to interview, as you say so down to earth and a real gent.

[@gregtuco1]

The drum intro on Five Years still raises the hairs on my arms.

[@adrianbeaumont6745]

Its lovely the way Woody is allowed to just reminisce in his own inimitable way how some of the greatest music was made . Top guy and great drummer. Bless you man. RIP David, Mick and Trevor

[@Booh833]

What a lovely man.Interesting,honest,articulate and straight forward.Despite being a 'rock star',a real down to earth and ordinary guy and I mean that in a nice way.I wish all interviews were like this.Thanks Woody.

[@MegaNavek]

Woody is like one of the lads talking about his life experience ,it’s as though he doesn’t know he’s a legend.....just wonderful

[@davidwaterhouse2552]

Fabulous interview! Thank God ,there is at least one of 'The Spiders From Mars' still living who can give an insight into the period, and the work of Bowie and 'one of the greatest and most unsung Rock 'n' Roll bands' of all time! God Bless Woody! dx

[@rubberneckk]

David Waterhouse I’m always mystified how the spiders didn’t get more recognition for their obvious brilliance..phenomenal band

[@redlad6]

@@rubberneckk well said, me too, the spiders were awesome....great interview, woody top top drummer and sounds a decent bloke.

[@rubberneckk]

wildcatter63 not so sure..I think at end of the day, Bowie grew to hate the spiders after about 6 months playing with them. He said it himself, he couldn’t take the hard rock thing. He respected Micks ‘contribution’ to his maternal, but was totally indifferent to Trevor and Woody..I wouldn’t blame de fries or anybody else..David was the man in charge and basically hated balls to the wall rock n roll, which the spiders were

[@kirby711]

Saw BOWIE as spider from Mars at Tower theater in Upper Darby PA in 1972 UNBELIEVABLE

[@markfahey3921]

@@rubberneckk Bowie treated the Spiders very badly.

[@paulelliott7493]

Dont know if you will see this Woody...but Guildford,the spring of 73,i was 17,it was the Ziggy tour i went to the 2nd of two shows that day.The fascinating thing about it all,before the 2nd show,the four of you showed up through the side door of this pub,full stage outfits,me and a mate were made up also,but we didnt approach you guys,you left with several bottles of booze,and considering the bar was full of ex service men,i was surprised any of us got out of there alive.....and the show....wow,best show i ever saw,raw and visceral,it was amazing.saw David 2 other times through his career,and he never gave a bad performance.But 73,remains a highlight of my life,it showed me "hey you can be anything you want,you can be as different as you want be",It is to this day one of my very fondest memories.

[@jkirtleyheacting]

Brilliant interview. What a down to earth nice guy he is. Played incredible drums on some of the greatest songs ever written.

[@Britclip]

Your right JB - Top man

[@tammiestes2547]

Growing up with Woody we always played together with David, Never thought we would. be apart.

[@ralfbond258]

"WW" was a masterful blues progressive rock drum player that definiately was a good fit for David Bowies TMWSTW to AS,PUs period...imo

[@chriscampbell9191]

@@ralfbond258 And you can really hear the power of his drumming on the Ziggy film, some of which crops up on KZbin now and then. Width of a Circle is really cool (I think it got taken down, though), Ronno has a solo, and through out Woody's really playing harder than he sounded on record (because in Trident they apparently muffled the drums a bit). EDIT, there are several copies of the live Width of a Circle 1973 live performance up on YT. Well worth checking out. Woody and Trevor really shine. Ronno too.

[@Johnjoization]

What a brilliant interview. Bowie was & always will, be a legend & a rock God to billions of people around the world. However, the foundations for his global stardom started when he assembled the Spiders from Mars. Woody, Trevor and Mick were absolutely integral to his early success and they are all legends. Woody is a fantastic drummer & clearly a wonderful, down to earth STAR MAN.

[@Britclip]

You are so right John - it was a pleasure chatting to him. Thanks for your positive feedback. Stay safe.

[@camdix3250]

Amen. Woody, Trevor and Mick deserved a LOT more recognition than they were ever given.

[@camdix3250]

What a lovely, lovely man. I lived, breathed, ate and slept "David Bowie" from the age of 16 on. Didn't get to see David until 1976 and never got to see The Spiders. A lifelong regret. It wasn't until later in life that I learned The Spiders - and especially Mick Ronson - did not get the public recognition or accolades that they deserved from David, around just how much they contributed to his rise to stardom. Woody is MORE than a true gentleman. He says, "Bowie had integrity." This was true artistically, but it's my opinion he treated Trevor Bolder and Woody poorly. They themselves had no idea David was retiring Ziggy at the final concert at the Hammersmith Odeon until David actually announced it to the audience, just prior to launching into "Rock 'N Roll Suicide." Here, Woody hasn't an unkind word. What a diplomat. What an amazing musician. What a wonderful man. Thank you so much for bringing this wonderful interview to us. Best wishes.

[@tomray3332]

part of the best of my past was bowie and the spiders,forever grateful thanks

[@dandare6865]

"we only heard the song twice then recorded" HELL what a band.

[@camdix3250]

David Bowie had good, good musicians around him in these three lads. I believe he owed them a lot more recognition than he could ever bring himself to admit in public.

[@Kempowski1]

Great made Interview! No glitter, just words. And Mick is a very good storyteller, so honest.

[@judithbain3820]

What a humble guy ... good natural interview.

[@123yeahyeahno]

Lovely. 'Life On Mars?' is among the most brilliant pieces of music recorded in the last century. Nice to hear the background story.

[@peteowen3539]

Saw them Greyhound Croydon 1972 just after Ziggy came out. Pay at the door, at the bar actually, £1.25. Best gig I ever saw.

[@kevinmunday6263]

What a Great Guy Woody is ❤😊

[@Ishouldknow1]

It's incredible to think that the Ziggy and Spiders tour only lasted 18 months from start to finish.

[@Britclip]

Yes, it wasn't for long wasn't it.

[@Deedee-ee1sg]

Just read interview with Woody in today's Sunday Mirror!! Really glad he was able to make up with David Bowie, after the way that infamous last Ziggy gig ended. Very interesting interview, and worth a look! I'm intrigued to find out he's working with Joe Elliot...Def Leppard one of my fave bands!!!

[@Britclip]

Met up with Woody at Xmas and he did tell us that he was working with Def Leppard - they were going into the studio - will try and get in touch with him and find out what happened. Thanks for your interest. He has also got into painting, by the way.

[@niconpvc1292]

The last living spider from Mars 🥺

[@edwardmulholland7912]

Great, great interview.

[@terencedempsey151]

Very honest likable man.

[@Kidraver555]

Dave and I went to different schools together, great times, what a lad.

[@davis7099]

"LIfe on Mars" is incredible Woody. Millions agree. xx

[@MrMarkar1959]

thanx for your life, sharing music and these insights are heartfelt. Peace

[@00bikeboy]

This was great, thanks for posting.

[@gregtuco1]

An exceptional and enlightening interview.

[@wanderer1955]

Saw U Boat several times, back in the 70s, at the Marquee Club in Wardour St, London. They always put on a great show. Ah! The memories 😃

[@dan27music]

Great interview. Very interesting.

[@cheneyrobert]

There’s only one Ronno 👏👏👏great interview 🥂

[@paulembleton1733]

Wonderful descriptions by Woody.

[@markwilliamwestonwilson1503]

BWoody Was straight shooter , you get what you got , a kind and generous guy , love the guy ..

[@jimilove7773]

Great drummer!

[@MegaCountach]

Excellent interview! Thanks for sharing this! Cheers, Doug

[@Britclip]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@SpuktasticAudio]

Absolute GOLD. Thank you so much.

[@Britclip]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@SpuktasticAudio]

@@Britclip It was an utter joy. 👍

[@santallum]

So inviting - so exciting to play the part I could play the wild mutation as a rock & roll star

[@aevoguitars2576]

hunky dory, tmwstw.the spiders, all classics!

[@zitherzon2121]

It seems from Woody's stories here that the Spiders from Mars were very good studio musicians for Bowie. They recorded exactly what he wanted quickly. How selfish of Bowie to discard them so soon after they helped him gain international stardom. Rick Wakeman made the correct choice.

[@aevoguitars2576]

hello, i believe you do dianetics and scientology..great stuff .me too but living in france now so a bit difficult.. you guys were my heroes.that album got played so much..👍

[@colincallingcolinton6333]

Tony Defries was the brains that managed Bowie, he was the one who got the advances and tour support from RCA, you can say what you want but without Defries there would not have been a Bowie.

[@edwardmulholland7912]

@colin Yes, that is true but Bowie paid a high price for that. It wasn’t until Bowie put his catalogue on the stock market in the late ‘90’s that he was finally able to buy out Defries. Someone should write a book about this story - and the story itself is not black and white. Defries deserves credit where credit is due, he was also a ruthless bastard.

[@leonardpattison2816]

Did He used to do Bullseye?

[@frannyp46]

Leonard pattison. Come and see what you would have won.

[@heydude7568]

great day out jim, a blender and s speedboat

[@jiggersotoole7823]

17:00 2 takes. Boom.

[@aevoguitars2576]

ah nice story at the end.

[@BostonBobby1961]

Takin the Mickey. Does that mean mocking or teasing someone?

[@Britclip]

It does indeed Bobby.

[@MrWayout74]

What was the tour when DB died?

[@VonL]

is it perhaps the lighting or does Woody have a butterfly shaped redness around his eyes, bridge of his nose?

[@glumpy6079]

that's his new look.

[@jameschavez6400]

Woody Should Try To Conjur Up Some Spider Magic

[@professormause]

I'll swap 'ye a ticket for a time-machine.

[@royalerathcliff5703]

no WW...no TMWSTW,no ZS & SFM...

[@reginaldwang6713]

Brain fart, but who played bass?

[@loganroselli9087]

Trevor bolder

[@Brinta3]

@@loganroselli9087 Except for The Man Who Sold the World (Woody mentions the album in this interview). That was the first album with Mick “Woody” Woodmansey and Mick Ronson, but it was Tony Visconti on bass. Trevor Bolder joined the band for the next album, Hunky Dory.

[@ralfbond258]

𝙍𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙎𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙍𝙞𝙙𝙚...𝙘𝙪𝙯 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙙𝙤𝙣𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙡 𝙜𝙚𝙩 𝙖 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣!!