Adrian Belew on the difference between Frank Zappa and David Bowie
There are a lot of differences between Frank Zappa and David Bowie, but Adrian Belew is probably best positioned to identify these qualities. As someone who cites both musicians as major influences, his experiences working with both unveiled some obvious contrasts between the two legends.
In the late 1970s, Belew’s innovative approach to guitar playing played a vital role in King Crimson’s success, particularly the albums Discipline and Beat. His work led him to Zappa, who discovered him in 1977, becoming a part of the musician’s 1979 album and concert tour. When he was first figuring out his sound, however, it was none other than the big names that helped him find his feet.
He discussed this during the WTF with Marc Maron podcast, delving into the beginnings and genesis of his unconventional guitar style. It’s no shocker that Belew began by studying some of the greatest guitarists of all time, recounting a showdown among three elite guitarists from the 1960s whom he considers his favourites.
While he explained that Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, and Eric Clapton “had arrived on the scene”, he realised quickly that he wanted to be viewed as much more than just a simple guitar player. Therefore, he learnt ‘Foxey Lady’, just as Hendrix did, and started taking his career more seriously, hoping to inspire others just as his idols had enlightened him.
Belew experienced touring with both Zappa and Bowie, recognising their undeniable talent alongside their stark differences when out on the road. While describing Zappa as a mentor, he added that he “stuck to him like Velctro”, basking in the enjoyment of being guided by a real maestro. Bowie, on the other hand, “just needed me to be as wild on guitar as I wanted to be”. There was a freedom that he hadn’t previously experienced, whereas with Zappa, everything felt more premeditated.
One commonality, however, was the opportunity that he got regarding vocals. He recalled the dynamics while playing alongside Zappa’s band, describing the fact that “he couldn’t play and sing at the same time”. Despite being able to lend his voice to the arrangements, his singing wouldn’t transform into something more serious until he got more heavily involved in King Crimson.
The differences between Zappa and Bowie make complete sense when you consider both of their respective legacies. Zappa seemed more robust in his madness, while Bowie approached it with more of a trial-and-error mindset. Regardless of the differences, Belew, being an innovator himself, seemed to learn valuable lessons from both experiences, coming away from them a better and more well-rounded guitarist.
