The Smashing Pumpkins, Nine Inch Nails, The Cure, Marilyn Manson, ScottWeiland, Puff Daddy, Seal, Public Enemy and The Wallflowers–all of theseartists are united by the influence of DAVID BOWIE, via his past and presentmusical explorations.
BOWIE keyboardist Mike Garson has just been tapped to tour with the SmashingPumpkins in Europe and will also play on the forthcoming album from Nine InchNails (a connection that was made during 1995’s DAVID BOWIE/Nine Inch Nailstour), while Garson and BOWIE guitarist Reeves Gabrels will both play onSeal’s next album. Gabrels likewise recently played on The Cure track “SorryWrong Number” and performed with the band at a special gig in Los Angeles (amusical union that began when the two met at BOWIE’s 50th birthday show atMadison Square Garden where Smith joined BOWIE onstage for two songs). What’smore, Gabrels is working on an upcoming project with Public Enemy.
Meanwhile, The Wallflowers presently have the most added single in thecountry with their rendition of “Heroes”–from BOWIE’s 1977 album of the samename–on the Godzilla soundtrack. Also due out is “Golden Years”–fromBOWIE’s 1976 LP Station To Station–revamped by Marilyn Manson for the openingcredits of the upcoming MTV/Paramount film Dead Man On Campus. And accordingto a recent item in New York magazine, Manson has said, “I’m going to becomethe next Ziggy Stardust.” Another favorite BOWIE track–“Let’s Dance,” thetitle track from his 1983 smash album–was sampled by Puff Daddy in his recenthit single “Been Around The World.”
In addition, Scott Weiland has talked about his musical and stylistic BOWIEinfluences in many interviews, pointing out that his video for “Barbarella”was directly inspired by BOWIE’s character in the 1976 Nicolas Roeg classicThe Man Who Fell To Earth.
Most illuminating of all recent BOWIE ties may be the fact that he placed #7in VH-1’s Top 100 Artists Poll, which was voted upon by his peers.
Without a doubt, at the end of millennium BOWIE continues to exert a hugeinfluence on contemporary music and pop culture. In the words of one critic,”other artists are trying to catch up to where he’s already been.”
So where is BOWIE going next? A live album is on tap for the fall, with anew studio album set for spring 1999. BOWIE also continues to break newground on the Internet with his online art gallery at www.bowieart.com, wheremany of his works are available for viewing and sale.