In 2017, we told you about the time when David Bowie was in Iggy Pop’s band, specifically the final concert of The Idiot tour. But that’s not the last time Bowie and Pop performed together in public—there would be two additional times. Both moments had the element of surprise.
During the 1979 recording sessions for Iggy Pop’s album Soldier, David Bowie dropped by the studio. Initially there just to offer his moral support, he ended up co-writing the song “Play It Safe,” and singing backing vocals on the track. Iggy’s spring 1980 European tour in support of Soldier included an April 27 club show at the Metropol in Berlin. The city had been the stomping grounds of Iggy and Bowie for a couple of years; the two shared a Berlin apartment, and embraced the city’s culture, frequently attending area bars and nightclubs, as well as art shows and museums. It was an intense period of creativity for them, with Pop’s The Idiot and Lust For Life (both with significant contributions from Bowie), and DB’s Low and “Heroes”, all coming out in a single calendar year (1977).
David Bowie and Iggy Pop in Berlin, 1976.
In April 1980, Bowie traveled to London to finish up Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps). Knowing Iggy was in Berlin, Bowie then made his way to visit his friend and colleague. During Iggy’s set at the Metropol, Bowie stunned everyone by jumping on stage to play keyboards, sitting in for two songs.
Years would pass before the two performed together again—and it would be the last time. Prior to this final occasion, in October 1985, Pop and Bowie met up at the latter’s hotel suite in New York City. They played their new demos for each other, and Bowie was so impressed with Iggy’s stuff, that he offered to collaborate on additional tunes with him, and produce the Ig’s next album. In the end, Bowie and Pop penned over half of that record, Blah-Blah-Blah, with Bowie co-producing it.
On the afternoon of November 19, 1985, Bowie was in a New York studio recording material for the Labyrinth soundtrack. Steve Ferrone was the drummer for the session. At one point, Ferrone mentioned to Bowie that he was going to be filling in for the sick drummer of a local group, Ipso Facto, who had a gig at the China Club in Manhattan that evening. Ferrone also supposedly told Bowie that it was his birthday (he was actually born on April 25), and when the session ended, Bowie suggested they all go to the club to support Ferrone and celebrate his birthday.
Regardless of the exact circumstances, Bowie did indeed turn up at the China Club that evening, bringing along bassist Carmine Rojas, guitarist Carlos Alomar, Steve Winwood, and Iggy Pop. When Ipso Facto wrapped up their set, Bowie proposed to his companions that they keep things going. But first, Ron Wood was phoned and asked if he wanted to participate; he showed up 20 minutes later.
At 2 a.m., members of the small audience (around 200 people) reportedly gasped when Bowie and company hit the stage. With Ferrone back behind the kit, they played for somewhere between 30 minutes and an hour or so. Not everything performed that night is known to us, but they did do the Pop/Bowie song, “China Girl.” Afterwards, the one-off band went to Wood’s apartment to listen to what was going to be on the forthcoming Rolling Stones LP.
As far as photos taken that night, other than the one at the top of this post, only low-resolution images are accessible online. Normally, we wouldn’t include subpar visuals, but considering this is that last time Iggy Pop and David Bowie were on stage at the same time, we’ll make an exception.
Though the two never performed together again, it wasn’t the last time they were in the same place publicly.
Detroit Free Press clipping, June 22, 1990.
Unfortunately, no audio/video circulates from the Berlin 1980 gig, nor the November 1985 jam. But, for your listening pleasure, we’ve got two high quality recordings captured during The Idiot tour.
Mantra Studios, Chicago, March 28, 1977.
Agora Ballroom, Cleveland, March 22, 1977.
Previously on Dangerous Minds:
A merry Iggy Pop talks drugs, blood, and Bowie in obscure 1980s TV profile
A night spent hanging out with David Bowie and Iggy Pop: Ivan Kral tells us what it was like
When David Bowie was in Iggy Pop’s band: Their final concert