Few people knew that Bowie was dying of cancer and had released the album as a final artistic statement, with wistful reflections from one of modern music’s most influential figures. “He was fun, he was always amusing, and we want to take a second here and look back at the fun moments I had with Davie Bowie over the years”.
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“I’m thankful he was true to his art”, he said.
Brighton met Bowie once – when he was hired to re-create past Bowie characters opposite the real man in a Vittel television ad – and said it was surreal to find himself sitting at a table with the legendary musician, who in real life was as amusing and down-to-earth as a mate from the pub. Produced by frequent collaborator Tony Visconti and featuring a roster of funk and soul talent that included guitarist Carlos Alomar and a young Luther Vandross, his 1975 album “Young Americans” was a complete change of pace, and featured the exuberant title track and the acid-tipped dancefloor-filler “Fame”, co-written by John Lennon.
Riverside rock band Alien Ant Farm is on tour in England, where guitarist Terry Corso reflected on the news of Bowie’s death on Facebook and Instagram late Sunday night. “The world will miss you”.
Alex Karlsson, a 20-year-old singer-songwriter and producer who was born in Newport Beach, was traveling in Vietnam where it was already Monday when the news broke. “I grew up listening to him”. My Dad had him on all the time. While his image showcased everything from hippie to glam to androgyny – all the while maintaining the best hair styles that rock has ever seen. “Turn to it to hear Bowie unleash one last round of firebrand ranting – “Man, she punched me like a dude”, he suavely bleats amid twisting saxophone and stomping drums on the crazed highlight “‘Tis a Pity She’s a Whore”. “He didn’t just battle cancer… he had six heart attacks in recent years”.
“In this era of too much information, when over-sharing is virtually mandatory, Bowie’s decision to suffer away from the limelight, among those closest to him, appears nearly as a Herculean achievement”, wrote commentator Brendan O’Neill. Many leave us with their vital works far behind them.
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R.I.P. David Bowie, you’ll be missed. Who could possibly take their place? Whose albums will we buy in multiple formats?
