I had hot sex with David Bowie during his ‘open marriage’ — but felt violated when he fondled a male fan in front of me

In her new memoir, Suzi Ronson (right) recalls her wild years as a friend of David Bowie and his wife Angie Barnett.
In her new memoir, Suzi Ronson (right) recalls her wild years as a friend of David Bowie and his wife Angie Barnett.
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The celebrity hairstylist who created David Bowie’s iconic Ziggy Stardust look is speaking out about having hot sex with the late rock legend.

In her forthcoming tell-all “Me and Mr. Jones: My Life with David Bowie and the Spider from Mars,” Suzi Ronson, now aged in her 70s, reveals she had a tryst with the “Changes” crooner while he was married to his first wife, Angie Barnett.

Ronson was just 22 and working at a hair salon in Kent, England in 1971 when she met Bowie and Barnett, who had wed the previous year.

Ronson, now aged in her 70s, has penned a tell-all about her wild years with the rock legend. Dave M. Benett
Ronson, now aged in her 70s, has penned a tell-all about her wild years with the rock legend. Dave M. Benett

The stylist soon joined the couple’s clique of free-spirited, hard-partying friends and says she learned the married pair had an “open marriage.”

“Darling, life is too boring to be with just one person,” Ronson recalls Barnett telling her. “It’s no secret, it’s just the way we are. We’re both liberated, both happy and free to do whatever we like.”

In an excerpt from her tome, published Saturday in the Daily Mail, Ronson writes about Bowie making an advance on her.

“As he holds my eyes the distance between us closes and suddenly he’s kissing me,” she writes of their tryst, which took place without Bowie’s wife present.

“It’s a rush, the passion rises, and before I know what I’m doing I’m in the bedroom. I let my inhibitions go as he undresses me,” she breathlessly continued. “He’s a tender, romantic lover who tells me my body is Rubenesque, that I’m beautiful.”

After the sex session was over, Ronson recalls feeling ashamed about sleeping with a married man, before Bowie reassured her that he and his wife had an arrangement,

Bowie was married to Angie Barnett from 1970 – 1980. They are pictured in 1974. Splash News
Bowie was married to Angie Barnett from 1970 – 1980. They are pictured in 1974. Splash News

“Shame washes over me,” Ronson declared. “How can I face Angie? ‘She’ll understand,’ he [Bowie] says. ‘She expects it — we have an understanding. It’d be worse if I didn’t tell her.'”

In the excerpt, Ronson further claims that Barnett told her that she was bisexual.

She also alleges she saw Bowie — who similarly stated that he was bisexual — fondle a male fan in the back of a limo. Ronson does not disclose whether the male was over the age of consent.

Ronson claims Bowie and Barnett were both bisexual and had an open marriage. Bowie and Barnett are pictured in 1973. Smith
Ronson claims Bowie and Barnett were both bisexual and had an open marriage. Bowie and Barnett are pictured in 1973. Smith

“David throws himself into the car and, without a word, launches himself at the boy [who he had met at a concert],” she writes. “I can see him pushing his tongue down the boy’s throat and his hand trying to open his trousers, all the while telling him what they’ll be doing back at the hotel. I’m speechless.”

“I sit forward, trying not to look,” the excerpt continues. “I hear a zip, see some skin, there’s some moaning. When we pull up at the hotel, David tells me to bring the boy to his room, then gets out to greet fans.”

‘I feel violated and I can’t imagine what the boy’s feeling. I ask if he’s all right. He smiles and says he’s OK, so I take him with me as I go to collect David’s sweaty stage clothes.”

Ronson went on to marry musician Mick Ronson, who worked with Bowie in the 1970s. The Ronsons are seen in 1973. Getty Images
Ronson went on to marry musician Mick Ronson, who worked with Bowie in the 1970s. The Ronsons are seen in 1973. Getty Images

Ronson — who was known as Suzi Fussey — went on to marry musician Mick Ronson, who worked with Bowie in the 1970s.

Bowie and Barnett divorced in 1980 after a decade of marriage. He subsequently wed supermodel Iman.

The rock icon died in 2016 at the age of 69.