Hard News by Russell Brown

Christ, maybe I'm doing it wrong but I just had to give permission to access my Facebook, Spotify AND Soundcloud accounts to download that Tula song. Which I did, because meh, come at me spammers. Also it's a nice tune.

What a fabulous find Russell! The Bowie web just keeps more complex and interesting.

Also new this week on Audioculture: The Terminals

Which I did, because meh, come at me spammers. Also it's a nice tune.

I just unfollow the Soundcloud accounts these downloads oblige me to follow if I don't like them. And the Facebook accounts never appear in my newsfeed. It is annoying, though.

David Bowie is cooler than you will ever be

Case closed. Here's Bowie appearing with David Gilmour and Rick Wright in 2006 - I think this was a Syd Barrett tribute? - and singing 'Arnold Layne' to a rapturous reception.

Another perfect match

oh, Russell. Could you fix this? Haven't done it for a while and have obviously missed some step in the process.

It is David and Arcade Fire, in a live performance of 'Wake Up'

I watched a doco on Ziggy Stardust last night, and as well as the Velvet Underground connection, it mentioned that Bowie was at the mixing desk for the Stooges' "Raw Power".

In a similar vein (not sure if this has been mentioned yet), the Sacred Triangle of David Bowie, Iggy Pop and Lou Reed. This is Part 1 of 4

oh, Russell. Could you fix this? Haven’t done it for a while and have obviously missed some step in the process.

The step you missed was to NOT DO ANYTHING.

Just paste in the URL :-)

I watched a doco on Ziggy Stardust last night, and as well as the Velvet Underground connection, it mentioned that Bowie was at the mixing desk for the Stooges’ “Raw Power”.

He helped try and rescue Iggy's unusable original mixes of the tracks. The story is here on Wikipedia.

Some reviews aren't that complimentary, e.g. this one: http://exclaim.ca/music/article/sacred_triangle_bowie_iggy_lou_1971-1973 None of the three are actually interviewed in it.

Thanks, Russell. That is what I always tell myself ie Don’t Do Anything

explains that David Bowie is cooler than you will ever be

Like that needed any explanation*.

*Speaking for myself, I'm sure** there is someone cooler than Bowie.

** I'm lying, there is not.

The British comedian Jimmy Carr, in his Auckland performance, made the crack that, 'Now that Bowie is dead, at least everyone else left in the world is a little cooler'.

OTOH, there was also this from Bowie

When I first came to the US, around 1971, my New York guide told me one day that The Velvet Underground were to play later that night at the Electric Circus, which was about to close. I was the biggest fan in the UK, I believe.
I got to the gig early and positioned myself at the front by the lip of the stage. The performance was great, and I made sure that Lou Reed could see that I was a true fan by singing along to all the songs. After the show, I moved to the side of the stage to where the door of the dressing room was located.

I knocked, and one of the band members answered. After a few gushing compliments, I asked if I could have a few words with Lou. He looked bemused but told me to wait a second.

After only moments, Lou came out, and we sat and talked about songwriting for 10 minutes or so. I left the club floating on cloud nine — a teenage ambition achieved.

The next day, I told my guide what a blast it had been to see The Velvets live and meet Lou Reed. He looked at me quizzically for a second, then burst into laughter.

"Lou left the band some time ago," he said. "You were talking to his replacement, Doug Yule."

http://www.esquire.com/entertainment/music/news/a41108/david-bowie-what-ive-learned/

I think this was a Syd Barrett tribute? – and singing ‘Arnold Layne’ to a rapturous reception.

I was watching them play Comfortably Numb at the same concert just yesterday.

And I know Placebo ain't everyone's cup of tea, but Bowie obviously liked them, so that's Ok then.

Did you see this? Bowie, Lou Reed, Patti Smith and David Byrne, talking about Walk on the Wildside, including mention of the first time Bowie heard the VU.

Kings Arms should be fun tonight.The awesome Kate Tempest should enlighten anyone who can make it.

I'm sure I won't be the 1st to post this. One of Australia's living national treasures Sarah Blasko.

Ah! There’s an instance of Alan Yentob’s 1975 film Cracked Actor on YouTube that has somehow survived the copyright cops since 2013. I gather Bowie’s misgivings about the film’s very raw depiction of him may have been a factor in its rarity over the years.

It’s Yentob’s first production for the BBC and might actually be the best music documentary the Beeb has ever made. A must-watch:

My sister living in Tokyo spotted this thoughtful Bowie tribute Like some cat from Japan in the Japan Times.

There are stories told by five Western expats residing in Japan, each having had interacted with Bowie in one way or another during their careers. One of them is Morgan Fisher who played keys for Mott the Hoople.

Bowie loved Japan, toured there a few times and contemplated staying for longer periods but feared "I’ll get too Zen there and my writing will dry up.”

The last piece is the best I think, by one Roger Pulvers who was with Bowie in Auckland and Rarotonga to film Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (where Bowie met Ryuichi Sakamoto for the first time). There’s also a hilarious OMG fan moment in Rarotonga - not quite what you’d expect!

The first writer BTW, Nick Currie, plays under the moniker Momus and has knocked out a few Bowie covers in his time including an ok version of Ashes to Ashes

Another writer, Giovanni Fazio plays as the artist Makyo – here’s a 2015 track I found, Mystic Fire -‘abstract ambient dub from Japan’ – via Goa. Some cool photography

One of Australia's living national treasures Sarah Blasko.

Wow. Great job.

Fascinating New York Times infographic showing what songs people went to after news of his death broke.

Holy Crap! Bowie impressions of other singers, Springsteen, Reed, Iggy, Dylan...