RIP David Bowie

[editor]

He really did have a great sense of humour

s Saunders recounts in a new interview with The Talkhouse, he was also in attendance for one particular session in which Bowie decided to impersonate fellow musical titans Bruce Springsteen,Neil Young, Iggy Pop, Tom Waits, Lou Reed, and more.

I was lucky enough to work with Bowie in 1985 at Westside Studios in London. My bosses, Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley (Madness, Dexys Midnight Runners, Elvis Costello, Bush) were producing the soundtrack for the movie Absolute Beginners, for which Bowie was acting and writing songs (it was a better soundtrack than it was a movie!) and I was graduating from assistant engineer to engineer at that time.

The day Bowie was first due to show up at Westside, we were all a bit nervous — Bowie was the biggest star client for Clive and Alan at that point in time. We kept looking out the windows, waiting for a stretch limo to show up and an entire entourage to walk in, but then a black cab showed up and out popped the unaccompanied Bowie. He walked in, announced in what seemed a more cockney voice than I remembered, “Hi, I’m David Bowie,” and shook our hands. He seemed smaller than I imagined he would be in person. A bit later I noticed that the cockney had dissipated somewhat and he also seemed to have grown more upright and taller, too. I thought, “Wow, he really is a chameleon,” and wondered if the earlier exaggerated cockney was his way of reducing his superstar status temporarily to put people at ease on first meeting him.

The impersonations on this YouTube posting were recorded in August '85, when Bowie came in to do the lead vocal. At the end of the session, he broke into the impersonations and I realized that these might get erased at some point, so I quickly put a cassette in and hit “record.” I wish we could hear the other side of the dialogue between Bowie and Clive and Alan, but unfortunately that wasn’t being recorded.

see my full blog about working with Bowie and the recording of 'Dancing In The Street' with Mick Jagger http://www.marksaunders.com.hostbaby....

 

[Orang Utan]

Adam & Joe talking about almost getting an interview with him and I think they're almost relieved cos they might have just asked him about Labyrinth:

 

[SpookyFrank]

He really did have a great sense of humour

His Neil Young isn't great but his Springsteen is just as comically awful as the real thing.

 

[Cheesypoof]

oh, the tears....this was amazing. The Syd song is about a strange man who nicks womens clothes and hangs them on washing lines....



And...the original <3

 

[Cheesypoof]

If you feel as sad as i do, check this original, SEE EMILY PLAY the Syd Barrett song Bowie recorded, you can see why he loved Syd so much! Got BOWIE written all over it

The lyrics:

Emily tries but misunderstands,
She often inclined to borrow somebody's dreams till tomorrow
There is no other day
Let's try it another way
You'll lose your mind and play
Free games for may
See Emily play

Soon after dark Emily cries,
Gazing through trees in sorrow hardly a sound till tomorrow

 

[Cheesypoof]

Was wandering around earlier after a meeting....and listening to this on the bus. There's lots of Bowie songs i like but this is one i only discovered two years ago - in my view, his magnum opus - Aladdin Sane. I was bamboozled by its power and discordancy, i've been listening to Thelonious Monk quite a bit for around 6 months but i swear, the piano in this is so spiky and aggressive, packed with minor chords - like Monk's on 'Epistrophy' - here's both! X

 

[terrythomas]

Wonderful thoughtful interview

 

[Bernie Gunther]

This is interesting. Tony Visconti talking about how Heroes was put together, going through the tracks.

Breaking down David Bowie's 'Heroes' - Track-by-track, BBC Arts - BBC

 

[editor]

The crowds are still coming:

David Bowie shrine in Brixton – two weeks later and the crowds keep coming – photos

 

[terrythomas]

The crowds are still coming:

David Bowie shrine in Brixton – two weeks later and the crowds keep coming – photos

Love the Red Shoes tribute, should've kept them on tho in the circumstances.

 

[Orang Utan]

The crowds are still coming:

David Bowie shrine in Brixton – two weeks later and the crowds keep coming – photos

I went there yesterday and had an unexpected embarrassing tearful moment there. was sad about other stuff, but was moved by the tributes all the same. the volume is pretty overwhelming and they're all heartfelt rather than glib

 

[editor]

I went there yesterday and had an unexpected embarrassing tearful moment there. was sad about other stuff, but was moved by the tributes all the same. the volume is pretty overwhelming and they're all heartfelt rather than glib

The completely random mix of people of all ages that I've seen there reflects just how influential he was. I've got tearful several times.

 

[Cheesypoof]

Last night - I Heart Bowie in Whelans - Dublin's legendary live music venue! queue was going out the door, packed to the rafters and the place was shaking with energy - i have not experienced anything like this in years! The bands - my GOD, they put their hearts and souls into it - hardest part of the evening was not to cry watching the performances - best night out for ages!

 

[Cheesypoof]

I just sent the following email to Whelans:

Hi guys

Just want to say a SPECIAL thanks for last night, it was a truly moving experience and the best night i have had in years.

I used to live in Brixton and i can tell you, nothing would compare to what you guys did!

The hardest part of the evening, for me, was not to cry throughout the performances - Steve, Duncan et al, deserve accolades, love and AWARDS for their spectacular efforts. I think David Bowie himself is smiling down on their sweet souls.

Best wishes.

 

[Cheesypoof]

Glen Hansard sang Golden Years last night, he was amazing but the main house band blew the house down. Afterwards, one of the backing singers read this poem to a silent audience:

Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow
I am the sun on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there; I did not die.

 

[editor]

Here's the Brixton shrine looked a couple of nights ago, late at night.

 

[Cheesypoof]

Dublin folk were asking me about it last night. I told people Brixton is the greatest place on earth *sigh*

 

[elbows]

Some lovely thoughts in this short interview.

 

[editor]

Brixton, today

 

[D'wards]

Beck on David Bowie: 'He's Always Been a Guidepost For Me'

 

[editor]

Finally got to hear this. The lyrics certainly seem like the sort of thing Bowie would allude to.

 

[terrythomas]

In case you missed Zabos thread....

David Bowie: Verbatim, Archive on 4 - BBC Radio 4

 

[belboid]

New Bowie mural gone up ion Sheffield - it hasn't really gone down too well

 

[Orang Utan]

Oh dear. reminds of Ghanaian Movie Posters

 

[editor]

Brixton remembers David Bowie: the Brixton shrine three weeks after his death

 

[pesh]

 

[Nanker Phelge]

I woke the other night remembering this great scene from Les Amants Du Pont-Neuf....

 

[editor]

Aw, this is lovely! Bowie's costume designer was Slash's mum so when he was around he used to tuck little Slashette up in bed sometimes

 

[colacubes]

Aw, this is lovely! Bowie's costume designer was Slash's mum so when he was around he used to tuck little Slashette up in bed sometimes

Just tagging Glitter as she may appreciate this

 

[Emma_Sheppard]

Hello, I've only just signed up to the forum. I am a photographer based in Reading and am doing an article on David Bowie. I would love to speak to fans to hear their stories of the music legend. If anyone would be interested in being part of the article let me know please. Thank you, Emma