Dave Black

The listener who adores the progressive rock of the '70s would have a soft spot for guitarist Dave Black. Some covet the solitary LP created by Kestrel, a Newcastle combo that featured Black's soloing served alongside Mellotron noodles cooked by John Cook. Then there's the badge of honor, being picked to replace lead guitarist Mick Ronson in one of the trendiest backup bands of that era, Spiders from Mars. Associated with Bowie's Ziggy Stardust persona, the band also bashed out a few recordings on its own, including hammering out a single two years in a row. Yet in true adherence to the hit-and-miss nature of Bowie's own career, Spiders from Mars was a group unable to really peek out from behind its frontman. Mostly this situation was a result of changing styles, not flabby musicianship. During the years when Black toiled with this crew, all forms of rock prefixed with strange-sounding words such as glam and prog were heading for the toilet bowl of popularity. Punk was a tint missing from Black's palette. Nonetheless, the still-glowing ember of the group's name led to a Pye pact. Bowie fans who had thrilled at the sound of the band in live shows were certainly among those wondering who could replace Ronson when he left for a solo career and eventually membership in Mott the Hoople. In England it was a case of "Who's that Geordie?" when Black was introduced, as the Kestrel effort had entertained only a small cult. Singer Pete McDonald may have had the harder job, stepping up to a spot where Bowie would normally have been standing, or wiggling. Both McDonald and Black turned up later in a band named Goldie; this group's single "Making Up Again" reconciled its way onto the British Top Ten in 1978. Several former members of Kestrel were involved in this project, the last effort of Black to receive much attention. ~ Eugene Chadbourne