David Bowie (David Robert Haywood Jones) born January 8th 1947
Nicknamed “Ziggy”, “The Thin White Duke”, “Picasso of Pop”
The Iconic David Bowie wrote 48 songs, 27 studio albums, starred in 27 films, released 128 singles, of which 61 were UK top 40 singles, including 5 no 1’s, “Space Oddity”, “Ashes to Ashes”, ”Under Pressure”, “Let’s Dance” and “Dancing in the Streets”, selling over 100 million records worldwide and being introduced into the Rolling Stone magazine Hall of Fame in 1996 in a career spanning 50 years.
Interestingly Bowie means “fair haired”.
Here, Eventide hosted a Facebook event on 26th June called #Quarantide and caught up with his key band members for an exclusive conversation of how they met him and the funny moments, sharing their invitations from him to board the mothership of Bowie’s creative vision.
The Alumni, Bowie line up consists of:
Mike Garson: - Pianist, who contributed to the song “Aladdin Sane”, with a jazzy feel that Bowie liked, also in the band Brethren with Rick Marotta and the member who was with Bowie the longest and known for not playing the same song twice.
Carmine Rojas: - Bass Guitarist/Composer, who has worked with Bowie, Tina Turner, Eric Clapton, Stevie Wonder, Joe Bonamassa, Julian Lennon and Rod Stewart 83-87 who was his inspiration for the iconic bass line on “China girl”.
Alan Childs: - Drummer, who started playing at 11 years old by ear before learning to read music. He played on Broadway shows like “Hairspray” and “Rock of Ages”.
Mark Plati:- Musician, Producer, Mix Engineer, Song writer and Record Producer, who worked with Bowie, Ruben, The Cure, Robbie Williams, Fleetwood Mac, Natalie Imbruglia and in the 1990s with Bowie.
Donny McClaskin:- Sax, who played on David’s final studio album “Blackstar” in 2016, his father was a vibraphonist nominated for best jazz solo in 2004, best improvised jazz 2013 and 2015.
Tim Lefebvre: - Bass Guitar and Double Bass, who worked with Bowie, Sting, Jamie Cullum and performed on films “Oceans 12”, “The Sopranos”, who played a Moollon Fretless J-classic Bass on the final album “Blackstar”.
Martha Mooke:- Violinist, of classical and popular music , who has toured with Barbara Streisand, Peter Gabriel, Andrea Bocelli, Elton John, Iggy Pop and Tony Bennett.
Mike: “I would do anything to play with us all again, we were supposed to be on the reunion tour but I can’t risk the band and people with the virus. We did 6 shows, the agency wanted us to go to Vancouver I saw danger and I pulled the plug. Kevin Armstrong, David’s other guitar player had the virus but recovered. I think everyone will appreciate the music more, like in Bosnia, we play and they’re so warm. In 1973 Hammersmith and Glastonbury, David wanted me to go out to test the water with the audience with “Greensleeves” and “Foggy Day in London”, I was like a guinea pig, they didn’t want to see me” he laughs. “That was David, when he got on stage he had beingness, like angels, so different, bigger than anything. I miss him, he grew another set of limbs, I miss him there was something magical about him I’ve not seen before. In January its five years I hope to do a concert. I used to play notes to F him off he gave me so much freedom, if I’m trusted, my creativity is 100% if not, its below 0% the further we move from David’s death the more legendary he becomes. I saw something in him, a higher form of music. I’m still learning today, I play the records, they sound better today. He leaves a big blueprint, it was another way of thinking, his chord changes, so unusual. David was an amazing casting director had the best in the business, he never wanted to do anything anyone else had done. He asked me to move to New York, I couldn’t, he was upset I couldn’t do it”.
Mark: “I was an engineer out of film class. “Telling Lies” we worked on, I was like ,who, he’s majestic and how funny he was, can’t believe it, David 5 weeks into Ireland 3 guys in a room it got really funny, one producer couldn’t spell my name, I picked up a cd and threw it around the room, David threw one as well “is this what were supposed to be doing” what a laugh, completely goofy, he was warm and funny, I was directing these guys, can’t believe it happened, I can’t believe I am in the middle of this”.
Martha: “2001 Toni Visconti was my mentor I did string sessions for him. I was doing ASCAP “Through The Walls” ,the cutting room, Toni came “I told my friend David to come watch” at the concert David came with Coco, sits on my table David wants you to put a string quartet together for Carnegie Hall, we rehearsed heroes spectacular experience worked on heather tracks. I did 2 more years at Carnegie Hall he walked in before the show, larger than life, magnificent coat, hair done, face magical, did little boy blue, his scarf got caught on the mike he took the scarf off the mike very elegantly”.
Alan: “We rehearsed 2 months before the tour when I get a call, in the hotel “its David “ I didn’t know a David, “David bowie”, in the band you dummy, he said”, he surprised me calling me like that. I thought he didn’t like me, he must have known what I was thinking he put his thumbs up, he never disliked any thing I did”.
Donny: “Maria a friend said I should help David in the band, we were playing at the 55 bar in new york, Toni Visconti came in with Coco and David. I was a little star struck he was really present put me at ease a gentlemen realising his musical vision he wasn’t settling for anything less. He told me to go “for anything I want “ in regards to playing “a very creative environment” David let all of us have free reign David played sax and other instruments but sadly I never got to hear him play.
Carmine; “I was asked to work for someone, I went into the room, I saw David Bowie, wow, there’s David Bowie, that’s who you’ll be working with, I didn’t know if I should curtsy but he just smiled and I was pulled in, he was majestic, beautiful, what an honour, I couldn’t believe I was hearing this and I was a part of it .He said he was looking for music for the future, I told him he was the future.
Tim: “I was doing a gig at 55 in NY worst gig ever, the electrics blew up, but it was ok. Thought I blew it. But David didn’t care he still wanted me to work with him. It only took two takes on “Blackstar” and “Lazurus” he was a sharp witty guy, he could kick ass but a great guy”.
Upcoming events:
Mike will be doing a concert January 2021 around David Bowie’s birthday. He will resume his Bowie tour when safe.
Words by Annette Valentine
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