David Bowie tonight on BBC4

[BigRedX]

Just caught up on all 4 programmes.

Ziggy Stardust was the first album I ever bought and Glam Rock was what got me into music in the first place, so the story behind the album was absolutely fascinating along with the final Ziggy concert film (which I'd seen before). Loved the way you saw the Ziggy personna come into shape over the course of the two preceding albums. For me the Ziggy Stardust album is the most "fully formed" of Bowie's Glam Rock era, although some of the individual songs on Hunky Dory and Aladin Sane might be better...

The Bowie clips programme was a mixed bag - some great stuff from the 70s (although strangely nothing from his "American" albums) and less interesting stuff from later in his career including some rather lackluster versions of old songs with his recent band, and unsurprisingly nothing from Tin Machine!

And finally the BBC concert. Oh dear! That was all a bit safe and bland. I was thankful that they weren't murdering too many of my favourite songs. This band might be technically competent, but bloody hell they are deadly dull and seemingly not an innovative bone between the lot of them. No wonder Bowie's only produced a handful of interesting songs since "Scary Monsters". IMO Bowie needs to ditch these faceless session musos and find the modern Mick Ronson/Brian Eno/Robert Fripp/Adrian Belew and get properly creative again.

[Lozz196]

Yes, although their contributions are easily recognisable on Bowies work, Mick Ronson & Robert Fripp each had great individual styles, and it`s this that has been lacking. I think Bowie is one of those artists that needs someone as equally individual as himself, to work with/against, if you get the meaning.

[BigRedX]

So who should Bowie be collaborating with in order to produce something that has the freshness and innovation of his 70s albums? Ten, fifteen years ago I'd have said one of the dance acts that understood guitars like Underworld, but that time has passed. He probably ought to get out and find an unknown noisy band that's doing something different and work with them (preferably people who haven't heard of him and therefore won't be overawed by working with Bowie).

BTW who buys Bowie albums released since "Let's Dance"? Has he got a whole new audience who actually like the rather bland stuff he's been churning out for the last 25 years, or is it still older fans desperately hoping for another Ziggy or Heroes?

[KevB]

[quote name='tauzero' timestamp='1340552529' post='1706061']
I've been rather surprised that no-one else has commented on that. What with underpaying them and then not bothering to tell them that the Spiders was finished, he really seems to have been quite a sh*t.[/quote]

Bit like Ozzy with Lee Kerslake and Bob Daisley. Which then reminded me of all the excellent bass work Bolder did with Heep so Bowie's loss was their gain!

[Lozz196]

Well with David Bowie, and Mick Ronson in the band, was another two "heroes" needed, or two guys that could hold down the rhythm, and let David & Mick shine?

Unfortunately, there will always be the people who see the solid foundations as weakness - just like a football team, the unsung guys in midfield & defence are just as needed as the striker, but are often forgotten.

Sad, but seems those two particular Spiders talents were overlooked.

[BigRedX]

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1340817640' post='1710083']
Well with David Bowie, and Mick Ronson in the band, was another two "heroes" needed, or two guys that could hold down the rhythm, and let David & Mick shine?

Unfortunately, there will always be the people who see the solid foundations as weakness - just like a football team, the unsung guys in midfield & defence are just as needed as the striker, but are often forgotten.

Sad, but seems those two particular Spiders talents were overlooked.
[/quote]

So true.

It wasn't until I saw the Ziggy live film for the first time where the bass is much more obvious that I realised how many of Trevor Bolder's ideas had wormed their way into my subconscious to reappear in my own bass lines.