Bolder joined his first band, Ronno, with guitarist Mick Ronson in 1970 after meeting on the local music scene. He joined Bowie in 1971 to play on his fourth album, Hunky Dory, along with Ronson and drummer Woody Woodmansey. This paved the way for 1972's The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, which launched Bowie and his bandmates into international stardom. They played together on the albums Aladdin Sane and Pin-Ups before Bowie separated from the Spiders From Mars and moved to the US. Bolder went on to join Uriah Heep, making his first appearance on their 1977 album Firefly.