How did David Bowie and John Lennon become friends?
We were first introduced in about 1974 by Elizabeth Taylor. We were in LA, and one night she had a party to which both John and I had been invited. David Bowie, 1999
Like millions of other teenagers, David Bowie was a keen Beatles fan. Though there were more obvious influences - particularly Anthony Newley - on his early records in the mid Sixties he remained an admirer, making several attempts to establish contact with The Beatles.
In 1968 Bowie even tried to change label, from Decca to Apple, submitting an audition tape via his manager. None of The Beatles had any recollection of hearing this.
Englishmen in New York
By 1974 David Bowie was no longer an obscure folk singer, though he had a relatively low profile in the US. To improve this, he went to New York to record his 'white soul' album Young Americans.
In interviews, he gave the impression that his first meeting with Lennon was a chance encounter.
Keen to get a Beatle on his new album - Bowie phoned Lennon to tell him that he was recording a version of Across the Universe. Lennon agreed to come to the studio play acoustic guitar.
The session was a success. Lennon later said he preferred Bowie's version to the original recording with The Beatles on Let It Be.
Fame
The two Englishmen returned to the studio for a jamming session. As they improvised, guitarist Carlos Alomar played a riff he had intended for a Bowie cover of the R & B song Footstompin. This developed this into a new song.Initially, Lennon sang 'aim' over the Alomar guitar. Bowie then rewrote the lyric, changing the hook from 'aim' to 'fame'. The resulting single was Bowie's most successful in the US, reaching the Top Ten for the first time.
From Fan Boy to Fame - Bowie & The Beatles (6 min free read)
From Fan Boy to Fame - Bowie & The Beatles (6 min free read)
