David Bowie wasn’t able to go “Ashes to Ashes” when he died all of the sudden from liver most cancers in 2016 at 69.
In actual fact, the rock legend was wanting ahead to the longer term in his remaining dialog with longtime producer Tony Visconti simply earlier than he died.
Visconti — who first labored with Bowie in 1968 till producing his remaining album, 2016’s Grammy-winning “Blackstar” — shares that the Rock & Roll Corridor of Famer nonetheless had massive hopes, desires and plans.
“He said, ‘I’ve got something to tell you.’ And he was whispering to me on the phone,” Visconti, 80, completely advised The Put up. “I stated, ‘I can’t hear you. Converse up!’
“He goes into another room, and he says, ‘I’m going to be a grandfather.’”
Certainly, Bowie was blissfully anticipating the delivery of his first grandchild from Duncan Jones, his son with first spouse Angie Bowie.
Sadly, Bowie — who died on Jan. 10, 2016, simply two days after “Blackstar” was launched — wouldn’t reside to satisfy his grandson, Stenton David Jones, who was named after the artist born David Jones.
Nor did Bowie, chatting with Visconti within the days earlier than his demise, fulfill the musical mission of ending another album.
“He told me that he was going to make another album he started writing,” stated Visconti. “And I said, ‘Oh, I can’t wait to hear,’ and he goes, ‘Yeah, well, right after we get over the holidays, we’ll get together, and I’ll let you hear the music.’ But that was the last time I ever heard from him.”
It was a bittersweet ending to a longtime relationship that started between the Brooklyn-born Visconti and the British Bowie within the ‘60s.
“We met as friends, we were introduced to each other, and I liked him very much, and he loved American music,” stated Visconti. “And to my knowledge, I was the first American he ever met because I was living in London then.”
Visconti would go on to provide Bowie’s 1969 self-titled album and 1970’s “The Man Who Sold the World” earlier than returning for his 1975 soul-man makeover “Young Americans.”
“It’s the one that that people were not expecting. It’s the odd man out, I would say, of all the albums he’s ever made,” stated Visconti of the traditional LP that’s being celebrated with two new reissues because it turns 50 this month.
“He didn’t want to repeat himself. And he sometimes changed at the expense of having a few flop records. So he wasn’t always right, but he did feel that he had to change.”
And “Young Americans” — that includes Bowie’s first No. 1 US hit “Fame” — is a part of the explanation that the rock god will reside ceaselessly.
“I don’t like to think about him dying at all, because, you know, he’s so vibrant, and he’s still alive in spirit and his music,” stated Visconti.
“Generations are going to grow up and rediscover him, his records will keep selling and selling, and young kids will discover and be inspired by him.”
