I'm going to throw Lennon into the mix. To me, Lennon occupies a pedestal all by himself in British rock because him and the Beatles started it all. His unfortunate death at his prime only helps solidify it.
Anyone thinks Bowie should rank alongside Lennon?
I think Bowie is unique as his influence was not really musical as much as cultural, musically Bowie was not groundbreaking, he couldn't be as he was a performer rather than musician, what he did was take styles and influences and make them accessible to other artists, as well as the public.
Without him Kraftwork and Eno where still doing groundbreaking synthesizer work, but Bowie translated it to a post punk audience that then threw up Depeche mode and heaven 17, Gary Numan and ultimately Nine Inch Nails.
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Without him Kraftwork and Eno where still doing groundbreaking synthesizer work, but Bowie translated it to a post punk audience that then threw up Depeche mode and heaven 17, Gary Numan and ultimately Nine Inch Nails.
Maybe Bowie is the Andy Warhol of the music world. He was a generation before me so when I got in touch with his music, it was already mid to late 80s. But I detected traces of Bowie in the bands of my time such as Depeche Mode, Joy Division/New Order, Suede just to name a few.
Maybe Bowie is the Andy Warhol of the music world. He was a generation before me so when I got in touch with his music, it was already mid to late 80s. But I detected traces of Bowie in the bands of my time such as Depeche Mode, Joy Division/New Order, Suede just to name a few.
In some ways I see him like Elvis, nothing Elvis did was hugely innovative, all that rock and roll and blues was already out there, but Elvis made it popular to an audience that might not have heard it otherwise, made it acceptable but also set a template for younger musicians to emulate.
Having said that Bowie was way more musically innovative than Elvis.
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You could maybe add Ray Davies and Andy Partridge - though they were both in significant bands, they were the dominant voices.
I was thinking Ray Davis but didn't want to downplay his brothers contribution.
I hadn't considered XTC, you could throw Richard Thompson/ fairport convention in there as well.
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I think Bowie is unique as his influence was not really musical as much as cultural, musically Bowie was not groundbreaking, he couldn't be as he was a performer rather than musician, what he did was take styles and influences and make them accessible to other artists, as well as the public.
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In some ways I see him like Elvis, nothing Elvis did was hugely innovative, all that rock and roll and blues was already out there, but Elvis made it popular to an audience that might not have heard it otherwise, made it acceptable but also set a template for younger musicians to emulate.
That is... pretty close to being the most inaccurate description of Bowie I have ever heard.
David Bowie has been a major influence to essentially all of western pop/rock music at least since the mid-eighties, if not directly then by proxies such as Joy Division, Duran Duran, The Smiths and U2. (Radiohead, Lady Gaga, Marilyn Manson, Peaches...) Heck, even "serious" artists as Philip Glass have been influenced by Bowie's work. And Kanye West. He has literally been named "the most influential artist of all time". And yes that was a reference to his musical influence. (He also produced all of Iggy Pops best albums, such as Raw Power, which is very influential in itself.)
He was a fantastic song writer that invented or influenced the birth of whole genres. Many musicians that have worked with him have named him as one of the most (if not THE most) brilliant and talented people they have worked with.
You're also so opposite to fact in the "making popular" idea. For the most of his career Bowie wasn't THAT popular, and large reason for this was obviously his habit of doing things the hard way. He would disappear from publicity and reappear doing a completely different genre of music than before (at times working in genres that barely existed, such as the heavily soul/funk influenced rock/pop of Young Americans or the drum&bass/rock fusion of Earthling.) He would confuse the media and the audience with obtuse art references, fluid sexual identity and obscure satirical political commentary (much of which was probably largely inspired by heavy drug use).
In fact he managed to alienate his audience so completely in the 80's that by the time he released Black Tie White Noise in 1993, many noted that his name was probably a hindrance to that albums commercial uccess.
It's really only after he followed with albums that many actually consider to be among his best (Outside and Earthling) that he really solidified his status as the mainstream rock icon he's considered today. What's more remarkable, unlike most "comebacks", this wasn't done on the back of younger songwriters and producers No, Bowie still wrote all his stuff and even co-produced his albums. And managed to sound almost bleeding edge, at the tender age of 50+.
(Here's Rick Wakemans commentary on the topic of Bowies songwriting, and a fantastic piano version of Life on Mars, which really brings out the complexity in that song that seems so deceivingly simple.)
And note that I never even liked Bowie that much
But I recognize great stuff when I hear it.
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...on the topic of personal favourite Bowie albums, Station to Station and Ziggy Stardust would share the #1 spot, followed in no particular order by Low, Let's Dance and Hours.
Location: A simple man leading a complicated life....
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Published on Jan 13, 2016
Space Oddity has always broken my heart: that moment when one realizes the inevitability of the end! All we can do is send goodness into the universe for our loved ones and try to recognize every last glorious experience. I wanted to somehow find peace within the mourning so I paired Space Oddity with another song about resolution: Across The Universe. I'm not sure if I made either song happier or both songs sadder, but I leave it here for you to take how you wish. xo
That is... pretty close to being the most inaccurate description of Bowie I have ever heard.
David Bowie has been a major influence to essentially all of western pop/rock music at least since the mid-eighties, if not directly then by proxies such as Joy Division, Duran Duran, The Smiths and U2. (Radiohead, Lady Gaga, Marilyn Manson, Peaches...) Heck, even "serious" artists as Philip Glass have been influenced by Bowie's work. And Kanye West. He has literally been named "the most influential artist of all time". And yes that was a reference to his musical influence. (He also produced all of Iggy Pops best albums, such as Raw Power, which is very influential in itself.)
He was a fantastic song writer that invented or influenced the birth of whole genres. Many musicians that have worked with him have named him as one of the most (if not THE most) brilliant and talented people they have worked with.
You're also so opposite to fact in the "making popular" idea. For the most of his career Bowie wasn't THAT popular, and large reason for this was obviously his habit of doing things the hard way. He would disappear from publicity and reappear doing a completely different genre of music than before (at times working in genres that barely existed, such as the heavily soul/funk influenced rock/pop of Young Americans or the drum&bass/rock fusion of Earthling.) He would confuse the media and the audience with obtuse art references, fluid sexual identity and obscure satirical political commentary (much of which was probably largely inspired by heavy drug use).
In fact he managed to alienate his audience so completely in the 80's that by the time he released Black Tie White Noise in 1993, many noted that his name was probably a hindrance to that albums commercial uccess.
It's really only after he followed with albums that many actually consider to be among his best (Outside and Earthling) that he really solidified his status as the mainstream rock icon he's considered today. What's more remarkable, unlike most "comebacks", this wasn't done on the back of younger songwriters and producers No, Bowie still wrote all his stuff and even co-produced his albums. And managed to sound almost bleeding edge, at the tender age of 50+.
(Here's Rick Wakemans commentary on the topic of Bowies songwriting, and a fantastic piano version of Life on Mars, which really brings out the complexity in that song that seems so deceivingly simple.)
And note that I never even liked Bowie that much
But I recognize great stuff when I hear it.
I'd never argue that Bowie wasn't a great songwriter, nor would I argue he wasn't influential, in fact I'm pretty sure I pointed out just how influential he was, but his influence was in introducing artists and the public to music they were either not aware of in the case of the U.S. or just opening up the idea of the music as something to be played by white English bands as opposed to just listened to as a black or German sound.
Bowie himself was a translator of other people's musical styles, his first albums were fairly standard rock and ballads, influenced by the velvet underground and the kinks, they were far less innovative than the first Roxy Music Albums for instance, his Aladdin Sane era was hugely influenced by his work with Iggy and the Stooges and went on the influence punk itself, his thin white duke era was his interpretation of the Philly sound, but unlike in the U.S. philly soul was already popular in the UK, the idea of a 'rock star' doing a soul album was innovative, the music itself wasn't particularly.
Again when he took off to Berlin for my favourite period of his work the music was firmly grounded in the existing work of Can and Neu and other kraut rock artists that were relatively unknown in the U.S. and Canada but always had a following in the UK.
I'm not arguing he wasn't a genius but his genius was in co-opting styles and influences and reinterpreting them.
I think if you have grown up in white North America it is probably difficult to realize how different music is in the UK, that whole styles of music, rocksteady northern soul, dub, kraut rock Afro beat were fixtures in the charts and in the clubs of London and the UK, it gives a whole different perspective of Bowies work, he's still revered as a genius but if you know where his music comes from it does make him a cultural icon rather than a musical one.
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On a different note I would strongly recommend watching 'The Velvet Goldmine' a movie that tells an apocryphal interpretation of Bowies rise, it's on Netflix (or was a few weeks ago) great soundtrack great story and some excellent acting.
The Man Who Sold The World, a Tribute to David Bowie.
Another HUGE lost for music taken by cancer. Fundraiser in his honour is being held. Join us February 13th for your favourite Calgary bands playing their favourite Bowie songs with all of the proceeds going to cancer research. Bands and friends tba. #### CANCER!!!
Where: Palomino Smokehouse and Social Club
109 7 Avenue S.W Calgary
When: Saturday Febuary 13, 2016
Doors: 1:00pm
Admission: All procecceds go to cancer research. #### CANCER
