I heard the news today…* McKagan’s “Heroes” cover; Bowie music anniversaries; Exhibits; Reeves Gabrels, George Underwood, Angie Bowie and other Profiles, Lists and MUCH MORE!
This is my weekly summary of news about Bowie. The bolded titles link to the original stories I summarize below. Read on…
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NEWS
DUFF MCKAGAN Releases Cover Of ‘Heroes.’ Guns ‘N’ Roses bassist Duff McKagan has released a cover of David Bowie’s “Heroes” alongside his original song “True To The Death Rock N Roll Ballad,” just ahead of his Lighthouse Tour ’24 kicking off in Dublin on September 30. In his memoir It’s So Easy and Other Lies, McKagan mentioned that Bowie was one of the artists who shaped his musical upbringing. Additionally, McKagan’s band Guns ‘N’ Roses has often cited Bowie as a significant inspiration, particularly in terms of pushing creative boundaries. Bowie had other odd connections with the band, including a brief romantic relationship with guitarist Slash’s mother, Ola Hudson, and a confrontation with lead singer Axl Rose during the filming of a video, though they later reconciled.
Tonight turns 40. Bowie released Tonight, his sixteenth studio album on September 24th, 1984. The album is often ranked as one of his least favorable, despite featuring popular tracks like “Blue Jean” and “Loving the Alien.” While some fans enjoy its catchy hooks, others feel it lacks the adventurous spirit of his earlier work.
29th Anniversary of 1. Outside. Bowie released the album on September 25th, 1995. I’ve listened to it quite a bit ever since. Actually, I’ve been listening to it over and over again of late, even as I type these words. Which is probably not healthy…
47th Anniversary of “Heroes.” Among other information, this brief article reveals that the song is Bowie’s second-most covered. Anecdotally, it seems to me to be his most covered song, at least among those I encounter as part of my “cover of the week” exercise.
UK Music Industry Faces Success and Scrutiny Amid Streaming Royalties Debate. Despite the UK’s recorded music industry thriving with iconic artists (including Bowie) contributing to its global success, a debate over fair streaming royalties continues to cast a shadow over its image in Westminster.
Soho Grand Hotel’s Exhibit. The photography of Blondie co-creator Chris Stein, including images of David Bowie, is featured in the exhibit Under a Rock at The Gallery at Soho Grand in New York City, currently on display in partnership with The Morrison Hotel Gallery.
Isle of Wight Festival Exhibit. An exhibition celebrating the history of the Isle of Wight Festival, which includes David Bowie’s iconic 2004 headline performance, is running at the O2’s Innovation Centre in North Greenwich, England, until November 13th. The exhibit features archive images, films, and artifacts documenting the festival’s legendary performances from its inception in 1968 to its modern revival.
Halsey Channels Bowie at iHeartRadio Music Festival. Halsey channeled David Bowie at the 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards by wearing an ice blue Stella McCartney suit reminiscent of his iconic “Life on Mars” look.
Daisy the Great to Release New EP With Tony Visconti on Bass. NYC indie duo Daisy the Great return with their new single “All The People,” the lead track from their upcoming EP Spectacle: Daisy the Great vs. Tony Visconti, produced in collaboration with Tony Visconti, known for his work with David Bowie and T. Rex. The EP showcases their genre-defying sound with striking harmonies and innovative indie storytelling.
Hiddleston rumor still false. A few weeks ago, I reported on a false rumor about Tom Hiddleston supposedly starring in a Labyrinth remake and the fake movie poster going around supposedly advertising it. Well, the rumor and accompanying fake poster appear to still be circulating, according to this story, and it still isn’t true.
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PROFILES
RIP Cat Glover. Cat Glover, the singer and dancer known for her work with Prince and her connection to David Bowie, has died at 60, as announced by her family. Glover gained fame as a dancer on Star Search before choosing to collaborate with Prince over Bowie, becoming a key part of Prince’s Sign o’ the Times and Lovesexy tours.
Reeves Gabrels. Reeves Gabrels, known for his work with both The Cure and David Bowie, reluctantly accepted the role of Bowie’s Musical Director in 1996, a position he believed rock bands shouldn’t need. Despite his initial hesitation, Gabrels embraced the role by maintaining a “bandness” for the touring ensemble and ensuring the music was in order, allowing Bowie to focus on other responsibilities.
George Underwood. Artist George Underwood, known for permanently injuring Bowie’s left eye during a childhood fight, is participating in a charity exhibition inspired by lyrics from his lifelong friend and creative collaborator.
Angie Bowie. This is a fairly lengthy profile of Angie. Not exactly sure what prompted it, but if you want to know about David Bowie’s first wife, this is a good place to start.
Fanny. The 1970s all-female band Fanny, though not widely recognized, was a major influence on groups like The Runaways, The Bangles, and The Go-Go’s for breaking gender barriers in rock, and David Bowie himself praised them for their talent, calling them “colossal and wonderful.”
The Thin White Ukes. The Thin White Ukes is a musical act known for their unique interpretations of Bowie’s songs, rearranging his classics for three ukuleles and harmony vocals. Their heartfelt homage to Bowie, delivered with a whimsical twist on his alter ego “The Thin White Duke,” showcases the enduring power and adaptability of Bowie’s music, with performances that make audiences laugh, cry, and dance.
Snowapple. The creative collective Snowapple, influenced by David Bowie, David Lynch, and Laurie Anderson, has unveiled their latest project “A Moonless Night,” blending a surrealist art film with a poetry book, ahead of their 2025 project “The Cyborg Recordings.”
Astari Nite. Astari Nite’s fourth album Resolution of Happiness features David Bowie-inspired vocals and an ode to him in the track “Bowie in Daydreams,” as the band reflects on life, loss, and renewal.
Chris Hadfield. Acclaimed astronaut Chris Hadfield will tour the UK and Ireland next June with his show Chris Hadfield: A Journey Into The Cosmos, where he will discuss space science, share career memories, and showcase stunning imagery from the James Webb Space Telescope and the International Space Station, including views of Earth, Mars, and the Moon. Hadfield, who went viral in 2013 for his performance of “Space Oddity” aboard the ISS, has since become a prominent voice in space exploration and will offer audiences a unique evening of discovery and wonder.
Bernard Jacobson. Storied art dealer Bernard Jacobson reflects on his long-standing friendship with David Bowie, highlighting Bowie’s passion for art and the influence of painter William Tillyer on Bowie’s album artwork, while also discussing the current state of the art world and his hopes for future greatness.
Phil Palmer. Phil Palmer, a renowned session guitarist who worked with legends like David Bowie, Paul McCartney, and Lucio Battisti, reflects on his career in his newly released memoir, Session Man – A Guitarist’s Life, including the story behind his iconic guitar solos on Battisti’s hit song “Con il nastro rosa.”
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LISTS
41 era-defining music photos. Bowie skyrocketed to fame in the early 1970s as his alter ego Ziggy Stardust, a role he became deeply lost in, before dramatically ending Ziggy’s journey in 1973, leading to his evolution into the Aladdin Sane persona, immortalized by a famed photoshoot with Brian Duffy.
The Best SNL Acts Of The 1970s. Bowie’s 1979 Saturday Night Live performance, hosted by Martin Sheen, featured three avant-garde songs: “The Man Who Sold the World” with Bowie immobile in a plastic outfit, “TVC15” with a surreal pink poodle and a blue Mao suit, and “Boys Keep Swinging,” where Bowie used a green-screened puppet body, blending humor and cutting-edge special effects.
The seven greatest cover songs of all time. Bowie’s 1976 cover of “Wild is the Wind” transforms Johnny Mathis’s 1957 original into a six-minute, emotionally charged showstopper, featuring Bowie’s powerful vocals and exquisite instrumentation from his band.
Memorable songs with a country in the title. “China Girl” is on the list, though I think the brief writeup misunderstands what the song is actually about.
20 artists who released surprisingly excellent late-career records. Blackstar is on the list. I’ve seen this type of list before and possibly this very list– not sure how much the website Yardbreaker recycles its own stuff.
Bowie’s Top 100 Books. Not sure if this is a re-post— the information here in is not new. But if you haven’t seen it before, you might want to check it out.
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FAR OUT MAGAZINE
The online magazine always manages to post Bowie stories. This week featured:
1. Byrne on Bowie
2. Songs Bowie hated
3. Bowie on bands the break up.
4. Bowie didn’t like Never Let Me Down
5. When Bowie met Jimmy Page.
6. Artists banned from SNL
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THIS WEEK IN THIS BLOG
September 22: Last week’s news
September 23: David Bowie Cover of the Week: Rick Wakeman’s keyboard covers of “Space Oddity” and “Life on Mars?”
September 24: Iman appears to endorse Harris/Walz
September 25: In Defense of “Tonight”
September 26: Live from the Manhattan Center ’99 EP Commentary
September 27: Free Form Friday: Fall(ing)
September 28: Exclusive Interview: Melissa PK Tonning-Kollwitz, pt. 2
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And with that, “we’ve finished our news…”*
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*“I’ve heard the news today” is Bowie’s adaptation of the Beatles lyric, which is heard in “Young Americans.” **“We’ve finished our news” is a line from, “Oh You Pretty Things”
