🧑‍🎤John and David Bowie thread

LordGoodgod

Brinley
Considering the recent and great posts in other threads about John's friendship with David Bowie, I thought it was worthy of having a thread devoted exclusively to their mutual admiration and many connections!

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David Bowie (1983): I'll never forget something John Lennon told me. We were talking about writing, and I had always admired the way that he used to cut through bulls**t, just come straight to the point with what he wanted to say. And he said, "it's very easy, all you have to do is say what you mean, make it rhyme, and put a backbeat to it." I keep coming back to that principle as a writer.
 
David Bowie (1983): Yes, absolutely. I mean, it was so easy [writing 'Fame' together]. John had incredible charisma that made you cut through things. I can see the effect that he must have had on McCartney. I would imagine that McCartney sorely misses that now.


Here's David introducing and performing 'Working Class Hero' live with his band Tin Machine in 1999:

 
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My favorite story about the two: When Bowie was with John, Paul & Linda McCartney and May Pang and wanted John to hear a test pressing of Young Americans.

He played it multiple times to the point where Paul was getting frustrated and asked to hear another album. Despite this, Bowie continued to play, only until John stepped in and politely requested the same thing Paul did. David got very upset and had to leave the room for a minute.

When John and May returned home that night, Bowie called John to explain his frustrations and John apologized without knowing he had offended him. John was a major influence for Bowie and I believe in this moment, John recognized it TRULY!
 
In 1979, David Bowie was invited to be a host/participant on BBC Radio 1's program 'Star Special', in which the chosen guest played D.J. and talked about the songs they chose. The second song of the show is John's "Remember" from Plastic Ono Band.

Listen to David talk about the song here (at 8:43)

 
David Bowie (1979): I think it's a really despondent track. He left his band and he was doing his first solo album. I found it rivetingly depressing, and really enjoy playing it to myself. It's called "Remember" by John Lennon. Very good piano, I think it's Billy Preston actually.

 
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