David Bowie on the influence of John Lennon: “He reflected everything that I wanted to do
Throughout his long and illustrious career, David Bowie seemed to move through the world, soaking up artistic inspiration like a sponge. The Brixton-born songwriter was often praised for his ability to reinvent himself, taking on new musical styles and genre conventions with ease – allowing him to explore every corner of the music world, from glam rock to drum and bass. Although the songwriting talents of Bowie certainly cannot be disputed, it must be said that he owed a great deal to his ever-increasing range of influences, too.
During the early days of Bowie’s music career, he struggled to find his own niche within an over-saturated scene. Moving disparately from being a mod to writing novelty tracks like ‘The Laughing Gnome’, it was only once the young musician was exposed to the DIY genius of The Velvet Underground that he began to formulate his own musical rebellion which eventually led to the creation of the Ziggy Stardust character. Particularly in those early days, Bowie was indebted to his influences.
When looking back at the musical landscape of that early period for Bowie, during the 1960s, there is one band who are particularly difficult to ignore: The Beatles. From their early mainstream success in 1963 to the defiant experimentation of records like Revolver or Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, the Fab Four defined the British music scene of the 1960s, and their impact was felt by virtually everybody in the industry.
It is inevitable, therefore, that the band would have a colossal influence over David Bowie, and that influence never really subsided. Like many people who had witnessed the vibrancy of the swinging sixties, Bowie carried that pioneering influence throughout his life and career.
Bowie was so infatuated by The Beatles that he once sent a demo to their label, Apple Records. Although the label rejected Bowie’s demo, it did not deter the future ‘Space Oddity’ singer from his love of the band themselves. Different influences and musical styles came and went over the years, each impacting Bowie’s discography in different ways, but The Beatles were one of very few constants in his life.
Bowie’s appreciation for the band seemed to stretch far beyond a love for their music. The attitude and persona of the members, particularly how the image of the band changed over the years, struck a chord with Bowie. John Lennon, in particular, was a huge inspiration to the songwriter. In 2003, Bowie was asked for his favourite Beatle by Rolling Stone, to which he eagerly responded, “Hands down, John [Lennon].”
Explaining his deep-rooted appreciation for the ‘Imagine’ songwriter, Bowie said, “He reflected everything that I wanted to do in terms of his adventurousness; he kept going out on the edge. I liked the approach of the songwriting as well, the anger just under the lid.” Upon hearing this quote, you can certainly see how the influence of John Lennon was felt within Bowie’s own musical material.
Lennon and Bowie did cross paths eventually, and Bowie was reportedly so starstruck that he found himself incapable of speech. However, the pair seemed to hit it off, with a mutual respect for each other’s songwriting and artistry. In fact, Lennon and Bowie even got the chance to work together, co-writing Bowie’s 1975 track ‘Fame’, from the album Young Americans.
