📰 PLAY DON’T WORRY — ADVERT: Mar. 1975
- Mick Ronson
- Mar 8, 1975
- 3 min read
Writer: RCA / MainMan Promotional Placement (as printed in SOUNDS)
Date: March 8, 1975
Length: ~5 min read
A striking full‑page advertisement announcing Mick Ronson’s Play Don’t Worry — a bold, guitar‑driven statement arriving in the wake of his post‑Spiders reinvention.
A moment where Ronson steps into his own spotlight, framed by a dramatic tour announcement and a new single.
Ronson returns — new album, new single, new tour.
A powerful black‑and‑white image of Mick Ronson mid‑performance anchors this full‑page advert, promoting his new album Play Don’t Worry and the single “Billy Porter.” The page also unveils a major UK tour with the Hunter‑Ronson Band, marking Ronson’s continued evolution beyond his Bowie years.
📰 Key Highlights
• Full‑page SOUNDS advert for Play Don’t Worry
• Album promoted as “now available on record and tape” (APL1 0851)
• New single “Billy Porter” (RCA 2482) spotlighted
• Major UK tour with the Hunter‑Ronson Band announced
• Tour supported by special guests Jet
📰 Overview
By early 1975, Mick Ronson was carving out a distinct identity beyond his legendary work with David Bowie. Play Don’t Worry, his second solo album, showcased Ronson’s melodic instincts, guitar virtuosity, and increasingly confident songwriting. This full‑page advert in SOUNDS captures the moment RCA and MainMan pushed the album into the public eye with maximum visual impact.
The advert also highlights Ronson’s collaboration with Ian Hunter, whose name appears at the bottom with the note “IAN HUNTER IS A CBS ARTIST.” Their partnership was becoming one of the era’s most compelling post‑glam alliances, and the Hunter‑Ronson Band tour promised a powerful live experience.
The design — a dramatic performance photograph, bold typography, and a dense block of tour dates — reflects the urgency of Ronson’s 1975 momentum.
📰 Source Details
Publication / Venue: SOUNDS (UK)
Date: March 8, 1975
Format: Full‑page promotional advert
Provenance Notes: Verified via original newspaper page; page 15 placement.
📰 The Story
The advert opens with a dynamic photograph of Ronson in full performance mode — guitar raised, body arched, lighting catching the edges of his silhouette. It’s a visual declaration: Ronson is not just a sideman; he is a star in his own right.
The headline promotes Play Don’t Worry, newly available on record and tape under RCA catalogue number APL1 0851. The album, recorded after Ronson’s work with Bowie and Lou Reed, blends glam‑rock textures with Ronson’s signature melodic guitar lines.
Below the album announcement, the advert spotlights his current single “Billy Porter,” a track that showcases Ronson’s ability to reinterpret and elevate material with emotional weight and technical finesse.
The bottom half of the page is dominated by a major UK tour schedule for the Hunter‑Ronson Band, running from March 20 through April 6, 1975. Cities include Sheffield, Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow, Newcastle, Leeds, Aylesbury, London, Birmingham, Bristol, East Ham, and Croydon — a full sweep of Britain’s major concert halls.
The advert closes with the MainMan and RCA logos, grounding Ronson’s work within the era’s most influential management and label networks.
📰 Visual Archive
A full‑page black‑and‑white SOUNDS advert featuring Mick Ronson mid‑performance, promoting Play Don’t Worry, the single “Billy Porter,” and a full UK tour with the Hunter‑Ronson Band.
📰 Caption
Full‑page SOUNDS advert for Mick Ronson’s Play Don’t Worry, March 8, 1975.
📰 Related Material
• Play Don’t Worry (1975)
• “Billy Porter” (1975)
• Hunter‑Ronson Band UK Tour (1975)
📰 Closing Notes
This advert captures Ronson at a pivotal moment — stepping confidently into his solo career while forging a powerful partnership with Ian Hunter. Play Don’t Worry stands as one of the era’s most distinctive post‑glam statements, and this SOUNDS page preserves the energy of its arrival.
📰 Sources
• SOUNDS, March 8, 1975 (primary source)
• RCA promotional materials
• Minimal provenance references only
📝 Copyright Notice
All newspaper scans, photographs, and original text excerpts referenced in this entry remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This Chronicle entry is a transformative, non‑commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference. No ownership of the original material is claimed or implied.
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