Tim Renwick: A Journey Through the Legends of Rock
“I was on the verge of becoming one of David Bowie’s iconic Spiders From Mars,” shares Tim Renwick, the versatile English guitarist, in an exclusive interview with Guitar Player. “After contributing to his groundbreaking Space Oddity album in 1969, I was poised to join him for the Man Who Sold the World sessions, but fate had other plans.”
Ultimately, Bowie opted for Mick Ronson, a guitarist from the Hull-based band, the Rats. This partnership led to the creation of six albums that solidified Bowie’s status as the quintessential glam-rock artist.
“In hindsight, teaming up with Mick was a perfect match for David,” Renwick reflects. “They shared a strong bond and worked seamlessly together.”
From Bowie to Session Guitarist
rather of joining Bowie, Renwick carved out a accomplished career as a sought-after session guitarist, collaborating with music legends such as Elton John, Mike Oldfield, Alan Parsons, and many more, including Al Stewart and Eric Clapton, both of whom he discusses in detail.
Collaborating with David Bowie
“We recorded Space Oddity at Trident Studios in London. David was a pleasure to work with, though he exhibited a bit of nervousness in the studio. At that time, I was part of a band called Junior’s Eyes, and the led guitarist, Mick Wayne, was brought in to handle the guitar parts for the track,” Renwick recalls.
“After a hiatus from live performances, David was eager to test the waters again. He asked Mick if Junior’s Eyes could support him on a Scottish tour, and we agreed. We played around six or seven shows in remote locations like Dunfermline.”
“The scottish audience was quite perplexed by David. They primarily recognized him as a pop artist, but ther was so much more depth to his artistry than they realized. we also collaborated on various projects, including BBC recordings and a performance at London’s South bank, where he displayed significant stage fright. I had never witnessed anyone so anxious before a performance.”
Working with Al Stewart
“My collaboration with Al Stewart began in 1972 and continued throughout the 1970s. Al was a genuinely nice guy, laid-back and curious about a variety of topics,” Renwick shares.
“He had this unfortunate tendency to lose his voice while on tour. when that happened, his voice woudl turn into a high-pitched squeak, which was quite humorous, though we never let him in on the joke.”
“This situation often led to a few days off while he recovered, making for a rather enjoyable tour across America. We traveled in a mobile home, exploring the country while performing.”
“When we recorded his hit song, ‘The Year of the Cat,’ I played both the acoustic and electric guitar solos. al was very receptive to my ideas, allowing me considerable freedom with the arrangement of the solos,” Renwick explains.
“We spent time crafting the transition from the acoustic to the electric guitar solo, culminating in a saxophone finale. It was all about building intensity. The original album version featured a much longer guitar solo than the single release. I used Al’s Guild acoustic for the rhythm and lead parts, and then switched to my trusty ’62 Fender Strat for the electric section.”
“After ‘Year of the Cat,’ Al relocated to Los Angeles. I collaborated with him again on Time Passages in 1978, but eventually, I felt it was time to move on. He wanted me to permanently join his band in America, which I considered but ultimately decided against. Though, I did work with him again in 1988 on Last Days of the Century.
Experiences with Eric Clapton
“I had the opportunity to play alongside Eric Clapton during Roger Waters’ Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking tour in 1984. We hit it off well, and Eric later invited me to join him for his 1985 tour supporting Behind the Sun.
“Initially, Eric started the tour with J. Peter Robinson on keyboards instead of a second guitarist,but their chemistry didn’t quite mesh. While Peter was an excellent musician, his jazzy style didn’t align with Eric’s vision. Consequently, I was brought in to fill that role for about two-thirds of the world tour.”
“Our rehearsals were quite laid-back; we would typically run through a song just twice, as Eric preferred not to over-rehearse. If I asked him about technical aspects, he would simply say, ‘Just play what you feel, mate.’ He mentioned, ‘I wouldn’t have hired you if I wanted you to play what I wanted,’ which created a relaxed atmosphere among the band.”
“The tour was an amazing experience,even though Eric was facing some personal challenges at the time. He was still drinking, which was visibly affecting him. You could tell when he had a few drinks, as he would appear a bit off the next day. Interestingly, during those moments, he often played even better than when he was sober.”
“He was determined to demonstrate that he could still deliver, even if that particular album might not showcase his best work. Eric is a strong-willed individual and an exceptional musician. While he faces criticism, his contributions to music are undeniably remarkable.”
