It was 30 years ago today, on this day in 1993, that we lost the great Mick Ronson, who died of liver cancer at the age of 46.
Ronson was a legendary English guitarist, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, arranger, and producer. He achieved critical and commercial success working with David Bowie as one of the Spiders from Mars. He was a session musician who recorded with Bowie followed by several albums with Ian Hunter, also Morrissey, as well as a sideman in touring bands with Van Morrison and Bob Dylan.
In his honor, check out the groundbreaking 1972 Top Of The Pops performance of "Starman" above, and the trailer for the Mick Ronson documentary, below.