As I'm sure we all know, Bill Nelson's album 'After the Satellite Sings' was influential to David Bowie's earthling album. But I've also heard rumor's about Bowie's past. Among those are rumors that Bowie (allegedly) was going to work with the legendary Bill Nelson (of Be Bop Deluxe fame) on music. Is there any credibility to these allegations? If so, during what time would they have worked together, and what would it have been like?
Bill, I apologize if I sound too keen at times. You and Bowie were great musical heroes growing up, and I should just leave it at that. I feel I'm adding pressure to your life with my suggestions and I don't intend to. Just keep putting out your music and life is great! All the best.
There was never any move for Bowie and I to work together, but it seems he definitely liked what I did. I remember a piece in the NME's gossip column stating that Bowie was spotted buying a copy of 'Do You Dream In Colour' at the Marble Arch branch of Virgin Records store, back in the day. He also played a Red Noise track when he was a guest DJ on radio. He also very much liked Channel Light Vessel. And I have it on good authority, (from Reeves Gabrels,) that 'After The Satellite Sings' rock and drum n' bass fusion was an influence on 'Earthlimg.'😉
Mick Ronson, gone 29 years ago as of yesterday..Hard to believe that amount of time has gone since his passing, a wonderful musician and his contribution to Bowie's work and success can't be underestimated, including some wonderful string arrangements...He did great work with many musicians/artists, and I'm listening to him right now!..😎
The closest thing that came from Bowie to do anything was to hire Simon Clark for the profound riff in Ashes To Ashes. Did Bowie show up at the tribute to the death of Mick Ronson? No. Why not? Probably because Mick didn't have the stature that a Freddie Mercury had. Did Bowie steal or borrow Bill's jungle beats? Maybe, maybe not. A lot of people were doing that in the clubs. It's hard to know what Bowie was thinking, and I think his main focus was on the art scene in New York. It's nice that Gabrels Reeves from Tin Machine did a guitar album with Bill. And it's charming that Bill played guitar on David Sylvian songs with Robert Fripp and played with Brian Eno's brother. Again these are just fringe adventures coming close to Bowie's orbit. The sad truth is that Bill is in a smaller constellation than Bowie. Bowie supposedly bought an artwork of Bill. Ok. But my impression is that there is a pecking order in the rock world and people have their place from which it usually takes a miracle to break free. This is true in almost all human activities. You can't just wake up one day and say, "I'm going to hang out with Paul McCartney and Eric Clapton today. Tomorrow I'll be hanging with Elton John." You can't just enter new circles of friends and associates. (Actually, I heard that Liz Taylor married a construction worker she met on the streets of NY, which is an exception by all standards) And there are gatekeepers to keep you out. The worse thing for rock stars is that if you have fallen from rock stardom or "grace," then getting back is really hard. The only artist I can think of becoming successful again after a 10-year stint of being ignored is Neil Young. So Bill should be very happy that, unlike Bowie, he is alive and that he has had, and continues to have, great adventures playing music. And we should be happy that Bill is alive and still making music.
Been looking for a while for anything regarding Mr. Bowie speaking about Mr. Nelson.
I heard an allegation from Ground Control - ......oh no ! don't say it's true!......
Allegation - a claim or assertion that someone has done something illegal or wrong, typically one made without proof.
calling them allegations made it sound like he got cancelled or something lmao