Gerry Leonard will Take us There!
One of Bowie’s great collaborators, Gerry Leonard will be joining me this Saturday for a video interview on my blog leading up to his participation in this year’s Dublin Bowie Festival. For those interested in David Bowie’s work and the musicians who collaborated with him, this will be worth watching.
Gerry is a phenomenal guitarist, producer, and composer with a long career working alongside major artists. His time with Bowie included playing on Heathen, Reality, and The Next Day. He was also the musical director for the A Reality Tour. Among his contributions, he co-wrote “I’ll Take You There” and “Boss of Me.”
In our conversation, Gerry shares details about working with Bowie, including how they developed “I’ll Take You There.” He recalls that Bowie came to his house with a half-finished song, and they worked together to build it out. Gerry contributed ideas for the B section and the bridge, shaping the structure alongside Bowie’s initial vision. At the time, they were focused on the music, with Bowie waiting until later to develop the lyrics. The meaning of the song, which explores themes of identity, reinvention, and people fleeing an oppressive country to start over in the United States, took shape after the composition was complete. Looking at the world today, those themes are as relevant as ever, and Gerry reflects on how Bowie often had a way of capturing something timeless in his work.
Beyond his time with Bowie, Gerry has recorded as Spooky Ghost, collaborated extensively with Suzanne Vega, and contributed to film soundtracks. His distinctive guitar style has made him a sought-after musician across many projects.
This interview comes just before Gerry’s appearances at Dublin Bowie Festival 2025. On February 27, he will take part in a discussion with Gail Ann Dorsey, Mike Garson, and Mark Plati at the Royal College of Surgeons, where they will talk about their experiences working with Bowie. On February 28, they will perform at Whelans as a warm-up for the festival’s final event. On March 2, Gerry will serve as musical director for Bowie Alumni & RTÉ Concert Orchestra at 3Arena, where Bowie’s music will be performed with a full orchestra.
Check back this Saturday to watch the full interview.