David Bowie and Mike Garson recording Young Americans in 1974 Credit: Terry O'Neill In the autumn of 1972, Mike Garson was earning five dollars a night playing piano in a club on 69th Street and Broadway, in Manhattan. Despite being part of a group that featured saxophonist Dave Liebman and bass player Steve Swallow, later to work with Miles Davis and Stan Getz respectively, the musicians’ lengthy sets were usually seen by fewer than 10-people. Schlepping home to his wife and baby daughter in Brooklyn, the 27-year old realised that he needed a new gig. Luck was waiting in the wings. The following day he received a call from Tony Defries, the manager of David Bowie, inviting him to audition for a berth in the Englishman’s backing band. After playing just four chords for guitarist Mick Ronson, within the hour Garson was offered the job as the newest member of The Spiders From Mars. Despite having never previously heard of Bowie, his wage increased to $2,650 a month. A week later, in Cleveland he stepped into the spotlights of a brand new world.