David Bowie RIP

[helen&tony]

Hi
An unbelievable loss...If ever there was a real talent, it was David Bowie...sad loss!
Cheers
Helen

[BongoBongo123]

That is a sad one for sure. So many hits.

[mikeWalsall]

Such a shame ..another one from my era gone ...

[Bob]

Agree with the above, real surprise when I heard this on the news.

A very sad loss.

[Dr Fingers]

Worked with him in v early days. A very gentle person, really quite shy, except when he tried to chat up my Missis at a party..!

RIP, a great talent.

Derek

[francophile1947]

He kept his illness very quiet. I guess the album, released 2 days before his death, will soon be number 1 - a very sad loss.

[Diplomat]

Daily Mail dropped a clanger deciding to run a two page spread scandalising Bowie today.


Frank

[mikeonb4c]

Worked with him in v early days. A very gentle person, really quite shy, except when he tried to chat up my Missis at a party..!

RIP, a great talent.

Derek

I may have told this story before, ageing rocker and namedropper that I am (for which, if so, forgive me).....

I knew David Bowie slightly, the Spiders a bit better (I recorded with Trevor Boulder once). Used to go and see him at Beckenham Arts Lab c1970 I think and was introduced to him and later persuaded to join a band as singer by a guitarist (Mark Pritchett) who was mates with him and whose mum used to babysit for David and Angie when they lived over the road at Haddon Hall. Our band (Rothko) was put together with the ambition of supporting him on his first US tour following the launch of Ziggy Stardust. However, the album’s success took DB well beyond allowing a ‘mates band’ to be doing support so we ended up instead on the London pub circuit with contemporaries like Steve Harley, Ian Dury, Nick Lowe, Dr Feelgood and –most crowd pulling of all – The Winkies, I kid you not. And whatever happened to them I wonder!?! Our manager was the now well known film director (and then mate) Paul Greengrass. He used to blag gigs for us by saying we were on ‘warm up’ for the upcoming Bowie tour even though that idea was long dead.

There’s something I was never quite comfortable with about Bowie’s success mind you, and that was the treatment of Mick Ronson, who – in addition to his great guitar work - had played a major part in arranging and co-producing Bowie’s music and also, Lou Reed’s legendary Transformer album (that included ‘Perfect Day’ and ‘Walk on the Wild Side’). I did hear that when Ronson died he was pretty much penniless. They organised a memorial gig and Bowie was asked if he would play, but did not turn up. I was very disappointed at that: Mick Ronson was a rock upon which Bowie had built much of his early success, and an outstanding stylist on the electric guitar (Life on Mars anyone?). He deserved more success and recognition than he got, and Bowies presence would have added so much to the memorial gig.

So this might be a good day to remember Mick Ronson also:

http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-mick- ... 0000591365

For me, Hunky Dory is THE definitive DB album and by any standards an all time classic collection of songs.

[philpdr]

I remember buying Slaughter on Tenth Avenue on vinyl in my youth,hell of an album!

[Gefail]

Sad news a truly inspirational artist, seems the music industry is becoming an increasingly diluted talent pool.
Although not a big fan, I doft my cap to those who have put the work in to achieve their goals. Touring the pub circuit in an old transit is far from fun, especially if your ride home is being buried under the drum kit. Wish I'd had the luxury of a Bongo back then....

Lemmy (Motorhead bassist) also passed just after Christmas (aged 70)

[mikeWalsall]

In the late '60s early '70s my mate got done for drinking / driving .. as I have never been a 'drinker' me and my Mr's used to drive him and his group to there gigs ..

I must say looking back ... quite enjoyable / loud nights out ..(maybe that's why I am quite deaf now ..!!)

[BigPanzer]

I hate the term "musical icon" but in less than a month we have lost two of them. There is something rather sad and a bit frightening about the way that the people who inspired more than one generation of aspiring musicians, and fans, are leaving this world.
I too was a one time axe abuser, though my taste led me more to electric folk and fingerstyles, and I still have my last axe, a modified Selmar Zodiac, a reverb unit and a Casio CZ1000 that I can't bear to part with. All are gathering dust in one corner of the spare room untouched for longer than I care to admit, but I've been listening to some Bowie tonight and I almost opened the guitar case.

To DB and Lemmy, I thank you. You were both musical icons!!

Peter

PS - sounds like there could be some really good musicians or ex musicians on here. What would be the chances of getting a Bongo Band together for one, and one only gig?

P

[mikeonb4c]

Sad news a truly inspirational artist, seems the music industry is becoming an increasingly diluted talent pool.
Although not a big fan, I doft my cap to those who have put the work in to achieve their goals. Touring the pub circuit in an old transit is far from fun, especially if your ride home is being buried under the drum kit. Wish I'd had the luxury of a Bongo back then....

Lemmy (Motorhead bassist) also passed just after Christmas (aged 70)

Ah yes, the old 30cwt long wheelbase Transit fitted with aircraft seats. Happy memories....of sorts ha ha.

[Dr Fingers]

Lemmy (Motorhead bassist) also passed just after Christmas (aged 70)[/quote]

Ah yes, the old 30cwt long wheelbase Transit fitted with aircraft seats. Happy memories....of sorts ha ha.[/quote]

30cwt Tranny and airplane seats?? Luxury, mate. My first pro band (no names) had a 15cwt Commer. I slept in pig netting hung from the roof by butcher's hooks.. (getting the violins out now, ha ha! ). At least we survived the music biz, unlike a lot of good friends

Derek

[mikeWalsall]

My mates van was a Ford Thames (400E)..