It was the song "Let's Dance", complete with Stevie's Albert King licks dubbed over it, that I first heard my guitar hero on the radio. I immediately bought tickets to see the upcoming Bowie show. I was SO EXCITED- I was going to get to see this guy play guitar in person!! Imagine my disappointment when we found out at the last second that Stevie's manager had pulled SRV from the Bowie tour just a few moments before the tour was supposed to begin, because of a dispute over money. Earl Slick filled in for Stevie on guitar that night, but I was crushed that we missed SRV. Of course, I got to see SRV with Double Trouble a year later, and it was awesome.

I was told a story about Stevie Ray's refusal of this Bowie tour years ago by a guy from Austin. Can't remember where I heard it, but I was in a bar.

According to this guy, Stevie Ray was extremely loyal to his two band members. When Bowie asked him to do the tour, Stevie said, "Yeah, I'll do it. But only if you cover my bass player and drummer's salaries, what I'm already paying them, while I'm on the road with you." Bowie refused and Stevie Ray backed out of the tour. This guy who told me that said that after Stevie Ray did so, his popularity in Austin skyrocketed.

Please don't take this as a slam on Bowie because it's not. I don't know of too many artists who would reimburse someone's band members while they were on tour with them.

[Edited on 1/12/2016 by robslob]

It was the song "Let's Dance", complete with Stevie's Albert King licks dubbed over it, that I first heard my guitar hero on the radio. I immediately bought tickets to see the upcoming Bowie show. I was SO EXCITED- I was going to get to see this guy play guitar in person!! Imagine my disappointment when we found out at the last second that Stevie's manager had pulled SRV from the Bowie tour just a few moments before the tour was supposed to begin, because of a dispute over money. Earl Slick filled in for Stevie on guitar that night, but I was crushed that we missed SRV. Of course, I got to see SRV with Double Trouble a year later, and it was awesome.

I was told a story about Stevie Ray's refusal of this Bowie tour years ago by a guy from Austin. Can't remember where I heard it, but I was in a bar.

According to this guy, Stevie Ray was extremely loyal to his two band members. When Bowie asked him to do the tour, Stevie said, "Yeah, I'll do it. But only if you cover my bass player and drummer's salaries, what I'm already paying them, while I'm on the road with you." Bowie refused and Stevie Ray backed out of the tour. This guy who told me that said that after Stevie Ray did so, his popularity in Austin skyrocketed.

Please don't take this as a slam on Bowie because it's not. I don't know of too many artists who would reimburse someone's band members while they were on tour with them.

[Edited on 1/12/2016 by robslob]

I'm not so sure that SRV or Bowie had anything to do with the issues surrounding this directly ... it was more to do with SRV's Agent and the Tour Management ... Bowie was very upset that SRV was not on the tour ...

This is what David Bowie had to say about it:

Tour rehearsals were a fairly disjointed affair for me as I was also being shunted here, there and everywhere to do press for the album release. By the time I got to Dallas the band had already honed the songs to a near finished state.

Although pretty disjointed himself, as drugs were seriously taking their toll, Stevie was pulling notes out of the air that no one could have dreamed would have worked with my songs. In fact there is a bootleg out there somewhere containing one days playing, a gem for those that can find it.

>>> I have offered up a couple of freebie copies of this in the "Trades" section if anyone is interested <<<

Apart from a couple of dreadful hangers-on that had fastened themselves onto Stevie's coat tails, things swung along pretty well. Stevie's manager had asked the tour promoter if, while on tour, it was possible for Stevie to fly out and do a couple of German TV shows on our days off. The promoter had specified that as long as Stevie made it to the next gig we would have no problem with it. All in all, we were really stoked about getting to Europe and the first gig.

At the end of our work in Dallas the band made its way to New York and I again left for Europe to recommence interviews and TV and such. Then, about three days in front of the first gig, I got a heart breaking call from my office. "Are you sitting down, David? I'm afraid you have a new lead guitar player. Stevie is no longer on the tour."

I was told that at the eleventh hour, literally, Stevie's manager had pulled an unbelievable trick. One half hour before the coach was due to leave for the airport, and while Stevie and the rest of the band were loading their bags onto it, the manager had demanded a meeting with the tour promoter in the lobby of the hotel. He then point blank demanded to renegotiate Stevie's fee, there and then, giving him a higher salary than any other musician on the tour, otherwise he would pull Stevie from the tour.

As I was thousands of miles away in Belgium, our promoter took it upon himself to make a decision which would change the entire sound of the show. "Arnie," he called to Arnold Dunn, our tour manager, "take Mr. Vaughan's bags off the coach, he has decided to pass on this tour."

When the rest of the party arrived in Belgium, Carmine Rojas, my bass player, told me that it was one of the most heart breaking moments he had ever witnessed on the road, Stevie left standing on the sidewalk with his bags surrounding him. Carmine was convinced that Stevie had no idea that his manager was going to pull such a scam. Carlos Alomar, the bandleader, had quickly recommended phoning Earl Slick, who learned the entire show on the flight over to Belgium.

At first, I was both devastated and angry, but not really sure who to be angry at, the stupid manager who tried a juvenile blackmail, or our tour guys for making such an important decision without waiting to get hold of me. You just have to get over these things pretty fast or buckle under, so the tour kicked off and did its thing around the world, Slick performing like a trooper with no rehearsal whatsoever.

He then point blank demanded to renegotiate Stevie's fee, there and then, giving him a higher salary than any other musician on the tour, otherwise he would pull Stevie from the tour.

That doesn't necessarily contradict the story that this guy in a bar told me. No one in Bowie's explanation ever says WHY Stevie Ray's manager demanded a higher fee.

One of my favorite Bowie tunes, from Hunky Dory, a record that was largely overlooked because it preceded Ziggy Stardust.

Hunky Dory is one of my favorite albums ever , incredible song writing , one of the first albums I owned. ( on 8 track ) I still play it regularly , I took my two boys to see him live on the Heathen tour , they both phoned to thank me for that they were both teens at the time . Releasing a farewell album is so Bowie .

" Planet Earth Is Blue "

R.I.P. Your Music Will Touch People For Generations To Come .

http://www.gibson.com/News-Lifestyle/Features/en-us/david-bowie-0616.aspx

A history of Bowie's guitar players...............quite amazing. Let me add that if anyone wants to see and hear Mick Ronson in full flight, you've got to get the DVD, "Ziggy Stardust and The Spiders From Mars: The Motion Picture". We are SO lucky to have this band documented for posterity. It's a full length concert film including backstage footage of Bowie in the dressing room with Angie.

[Edited on 1/13/2016 by robslob]

He then point blank demanded to renegotiate Stevie's fee, there and then, giving him a higher salary than any other musician on the tour, otherwise he would pull Stevie from the tour.

That doesn't necessarily contradict the story that this guy in a bar told me. No one in Bowie's explanation ever says WHY Stevie Ray's manager demanded a higher fee.

I agree Rob ... I didn't mean to contradict your story ... just wanted to add some more info ...

SRV and management used the situation and the media to their advantage.

First it was originally leaked that Jagger had suggested SRV to Bowie and described him as a mix of Jimi Hendrix and Johnny Winter. This was leaked around the world and got SRV noticed before people even heard him play a note. They were still recording Let's Dance.

A tentative deal was made that would have had SRV opening some shows. Bowie's management backed away from that. Plus they also pulled back on the help of letting SRV promote his album while on the Bowie tour. They believed that they had done enough which in a way is true as they introduced him to the world.

Then prior to the tour, they leaked a story about how much Bowie was paying his band and how much he makes. They made Bowie look like a greedy pig which maybe he was. Totally use Bowie for media attention.

Most important was that they got major media coverage and released his album. People already knew the name and couldn't wait to hear the mix of Jimi and Johnny. The album had immediate success even though clearly the blues was not a major seller. Much of the credit for the immediate success falls on Bowie as the world was eager to hear this genius who told Bowie to go to hell.

Was it genius or fluke? I lean towards genius but either way it worked. SRV's management won the day.

I worked closely with them at the time and much of the tale comes from SRV himself. The band was on a retainer with the label so they were already being paid. This was all a management ploy/disagreement.

Lifelong Bowie fan here.

I really love his output since the late 80's - Tin Machine, Earthling, Heathen, The Next Day - some of the favorites in my collection.

This is an ass kicking song from Earthling, "I'm Afraid of Americans"

Trent Reznor in the video.

Anyone ever seen the short movie he did called "Jazzin' for Blue Jean" ? This is a really cool little short where David plays two characters

I have this on VHS and was glad to find it on youtube.

Here is a relatively funny story on how he "stole" Adrian Belew from Frank Zappa :

Adrian Belew‘s stint as guitarist in David Bowie‘s band began after a decidedly uncomfortable dinner with Frank Zappa.

Zappa’s 1978 tour of Europe, Belew’s first, had reached Cologne, Germany, when Brian Eno – a longtime collaborator who knew Bowie was looking for a new guitarist – caught a show. He urged Bowie to see a subsequent stop, Belew says, setting off an incredible chain of events.

“The next night we performed in Berlin,” he says, “there was a part of the show where Frank took an extended guitar solo and most of the band members, including myself, left the stage for a few minutes. As I walked to the back of the stage, I looked over at the monitor mixing board and saw David Bowie and Iggy Pop standing there.”

After collecting himself, Belew says he told Bowie how much he loved his work, to which Bowie said, “Great, how would you like to be in my band?” Belew noted that he already had a job, with the guy currently soloing on stage.

“David laughed and said, ‘Yes, I know, but when Frank’s tour ends my tour starts two weeks later. Shall we talk about it over dinner?'” Belew remembers.
They took great pains to disguise the negotiations, meeting in a waiting limo outside Belew’s hotel. (“It was like something out of a spy film,” he says.) Bowie then announced he was taking the guitarist to one of his favorite restaurants in Berlin. Problem: Zappa and the rest of the band were somehow at the same place. “How many restaurants are there in Berlin?” Belew asks, rhetorically. “25,000?”

Though he clearly had been caught trying to poach Belew, the ever-debonair Bowie attempted to make the best of things – but Zappa was having none of it.

“David, trying to be cordial, motioned to me and said, ‘Quite a guitar player you have here Frank,'” Belew remembers. “And Frank said, ‘F– you, Captain Tom.'” (Belew notes that the angered Zappa had “demoted David from Major Tom to Captain Tom.”)

Bowie tried again to make small talk, but was met once more with the same reply from Zappa: “F– you, Captain Tom.”

“By this point,” Belew adds, “I was paralyzed. David said, ‘So, you really have nothing to say?’ Frank said, ‘F– you, Captain Tom.'” After that, Bowie, Belew and Bowie’s assistant simply got up and left.

“Getting in the limo,” Belew remembers, “David said in his wonderfully British way, ‘I thought that went rather nicely!'”

Belew ended up joining Bowie, who died on Sunday after a battle with cancer, for tours in 1978-79 and again in 1990. He’s also worked with Talking Heads and King Crimson along the way.

http://ultimateclassicrock.com/david-bowie-frank-zappa-adrian-belew/?trackback=tsmclip

Lucky enough to have seen David Bowie. Twice on the Aladdin Sane Tour. At Leeds and Bradford. I can still remember both gigs like they were yesterday, thanks for the memories, and R.I.P. David Bowie.

This is from alocal brewery here in Indy "Bier Brewery ".
Pretty cool!

There you go.... the starman is home!

It took me quite awhile to come to grips that Bowie isn't with us anymore... I was going to post last weekend but had quite a few drinks and a bit of smoke as I watched vids and clips of him.

We've all seen a lot of our musical heroes pass but this hit me different, I've been a fan since I can remember listening to music, which has been many years!

The first time I seen him live was the Serious Moonlight tour in Vancouver which was taped for video release... I need to get the DVD!

I've told many people this over the years, it was a very odd feeling walking in the Coliseum that night, I was fairly new to big shows but it felt magical as soon as I walked in.... like I was about to see a legend and I certainly did!

The last time I saw him was his last tour The Reality tour in 2004 and he was amazing as ever..... I know he stopped touring after that but I was hoping with the release of Blackstar he'd tour again.

I guess he is touring.... just not on earth.

God Speed David Jones.... you're a true legend.

It took me quite awhile to come to grips that Bowie isn't with us anymore... I was going to post last weekend but had quite a few drinks and a bit of smoke as I watched vids and clips of him.

We've all seen a lot of our musical heroes pass but this hit me different, I've been a fan since I can remember listening to music, which has been many years!

The first time I seen him live was the Serious Moonlight tour in Vancouver which was taped for video release... I need to get the DVD!

I've told many people this over the years, it was a very odd feeling walking in the Coliseum that night, I was fairly new to big shows but it felt magical as soon as I walked in.... like I was about to see a legend and I certainly did!

The last time I saw him was his last tour The Reality tour in 2004 and he was amazing as ever..... I know he stopped touring after that but I was hoping with the release of Blackstar he'd tour again.

I guess he is touring.... just not on earth.

God Speed David Jones.... you're a true legend.

That's a really nice tribute. I know a lot of us feel exactly the same.

I believe the last time I saw him was that same 2004 tour you mentioned, 4th time for me. He was incredible as always. The first one was the Thin White Duke tour, 1976. He always delivered the goods.

It took me quite awhile to come to grips that Bowie isn't with us anymore... I was going to post last weekend but had quite a few drinks and a bit of smoke as I watched vids and clips of him.

We've all seen a lot of our musical heroes pass but this hit me different, I've been a fan since I can remember listening to music, which has been many years!

The first time I seen him live was the Serious Moonlight tour in Vancouver which was taped for video release... I need to get the DVD!

I've told many people this over the years, it was a very odd feeling walking in the Coliseum that night, I was fairly new to big shows but it felt magical as soon as I walked in.... like I was about to see a legend and I certainly did!

The last time I saw him was his last tour The Reality tour in 2004 and he was amazing as ever..... I know he stopped touring after that but I was hoping with the release of Blackstar he'd tour again.

I guess he is touring.... just not on earth.

God Speed David Jones.... you're a true legend.

That's a really nice tribute. I know a lot of us feel exactly the same.

I believe the last time I saw him was that same 2004 tour you mentioned, 4th time for me. He was incredible as always. The first one was the Thin White Duke tour, 1976. He always delivered the goods.

Thank you Rob.... it's amazing the impact he's had on so many people. I have friends into blues or metal and they all grew up listening to Bowie and love his music and memories. I just read an article where Kirk Hammett praises the work and the man for huge inspiration to Metallica!

I've been listening to his earlier records all weekend and it's crazy how many amazing songs he put out.... at least one huge song per album!