The Jean Genie
Aladdin Sane, 1973
ian paice, Deep purple
“Oh, that’s an easy one. I didn’t like a lot of Bowie’s stuff – it went past me at a time in my life when I was too busy with other things. However, I really love The Jean Genie. The sense of groove is superb, and I’m a sucker for a shuffle.”
BiG Boy Bloater
“People might not think of that as being blues, but I can hear so much Howlin’ Wolf in there. To me it’s an out-and-out blues song. I love that Bowie would add some make-up to it and present it to the public as glam rock. Being able to do that is just pure genius.”
rich roBinSon, the magpie Salute
“Man, the guitar, when it kicks in, the way he phrases. When I was a kid I was like, ‘What’s he talking about?’ I remember first hearing it. The imagery he painted, he painted as a songwriter. And also delivered in that sort of way – using music as a delivery system.
“I met Bowie. We befriended [Tin Machine guitarist] Reeves Gabrels – his wife was Robert Plant’s press agent. We hit it off him with. He was really cool. We were playing in Europe at the end of [The Black Crowes tour] Shake Your Money Maker, and Reeves called and said: ‘Me and David are going to The Edge from U2’s surprise birthday party. Do you and Chris [Robinson, Black Crowes singer] want to go?’ Chris and I were, like, ‘Yeah, we’ll go check it out.’ So a sprinter van showed up, and it was me, Chris, David Bowie and Reeves and the Sales Brothers [Tin Machine rhythm section], going to The Edge’s house.
“We just talked about music, whatever. It was surreal – I’m sitting in the back of a van with
David Bowie and we’re going to The Edge’s house. I remember talking to Bono and Van Morrison that night, and just how bizarre it all was.
“We used to travel with hotel-room stereos, and Chris was trying to get his stereo changed over to British electricity, and Reeves was like: ‘David can do this.’ And David Bowie came up to his room and said: ‘Oh, this is all you have to do,’ and he changed the plug so Chris could listen to his
music. It was kind of funny.”