Commercial deal may stop £36m centre being named after Ronson
A NEW £36m music and conference centre in Hull will not be named after legendary Spider from Mars Mick Ronson, despite a campaign by fans.
More than 3,000 people signed a petition last year asking for the building to include the name of the Hull-born guitarist and arranger behind David Bowie’s music at the height of the glam rock chapter of his career.
Ronson died 25 years ago, and petition raiser Dan Little, who delivered the document at a council meeting last November, said it would be the best way to celebrate the musician’s life and musical achievements.
The council’s cabinet will discuss the petition at a meeting next Monday.
But a report says operator SMG will be seeking a big-name sponsor, which will have a “significant commercial value”.
Naming rights, it adds, are the prerogative of SMG as tenant and the council only has approval rights to the naming.
However, SMG is willing to explore how the venue could make a reference to Ronson – described in the petition as “arguably the most influential person to come out of this city” – within the building.
In the 1970s, Ronson and Trevor Bolder, together with Mick “Woody” Woodmansey, from Driffield, were recruited as Bowie’s backing band, The Spiders From Mars.
Ronson, who had a hand in other classics of the era, including co-producing Lou Reed’s
Transformer, died in 1993 from cancer of the liver aged 46.
Council leader Coun Steve Brady said the authority was working with SMG and he was confident there would be a “good outcome” and Mr Little was “quite happy” with what was being suggested.
He added: “I think it will become clearer on Monday what the possibilities are and where.
“Everybody recognises that the music was popular, the band was popular and he was a great figure.”
The 3,500-capacity venue is due to open in the summer.