Iggy Join Forces Article: 1977

Bowie & Iggy's 1977 UK Tour Plans

Published in the UK on January 29, 1977, Melody Maker’s article “Iggy Join Forces” reported on plans for David Bowie and Iggy Pop (whom Bowie now managed) to appear in Britain that year. Bowie, whose controversial new album Low was at No. 17 in the MM charts, wanted to tour in the autumn with Brian Eno on keyboards, Tony Visconti on bass, and Ricky Gardiner (formerly of Beggar's Opera) on guitar — all of whom played on Low (co-produced by Bowie and Visconti), with Eno’s ideas strongly influencing the experimental direction. The second side of Low was almost completely electronic, with vocals only on five of the seven tracks on side one. Bowie planned to perform this “mood” music, with affinities to German groups like Tangerine Dream and Kraftwerk, though Eno told MM he had not yet been approached. Bowie would definitely not tour before the summer.

Iggy Pop, a cult hero for his onstage excesses, was due to begin a tour of Europe and America next month, including three dates in Britain. His new album, produced by Bowie at the Château d'Hérouville in France, was titled The Idiot (after a 1906 painting Bowie found of a hunched man resembling Iggy). Visconti said Bowie had been a great influence on Iggy, who lived with him in Berlin: “He's completely off drugs, and he walks about two miles a day. It's a great album, a little like 'Raw Power'.”

Article Overview

Publication Details

Magazine: Melody Maker (UK).

Date: January 29, 1977.

Format: news/feature article.

Legacy

This article is a key early 1977 Bowie press piece — documenting the Berlin era, Low’s experimental shift, and Bowie’s management of Iggy Pop, with The Idiot on the horizon. Original January 29, 1977 Melody Maker issues fetch £30–£80 on eBay (higher if mint). A must-have for Bowie collectors.

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"Bowie, whose controversial new album, "Low", is at number 17 in the MM's charts, wants to do a tour in the autumn with Brian Eno on keyboards, Tony Visconti on bass, and Ricky Gardiner, formerly of Beggar's Opera, on guitar.

All three played on "Low," of which Visconti was the co producer with Bowie, and Eno's ideas are said to have in- fluenced strongly Bowie's decision to make an experimental album. The second side of "Low" is almost completely electronic, and there are vocals only on five of the seven tracks on side one.

On the tour he would like to perform this "mood" music, which has affinities with that of German groups like T. Dream and Kraft- werk, and of Eno's own records. "But I don't think I had such an influence as the press has made out or assumed," says Eno, who told the MM that so far Bowie had not approached him.

However, Bowie will definitely not tour before the summer.

Iggy Pop, who has become a cult hero for his onstage excesses, is due to begin a tour of Europe and America next month, of which three dates should be in Britain.

His new album, produced by Bowie at the Chateau d'Herouville in France, is called "The Idiot" after a 1906 painting Bowie found of a hunched man who is said to look remarkably like Iggy. Bowie produced his last official album, "Raw Power."

According to Visconti, Bowie has been a great influence on Iggy, who lives with him in Berlin: "He's completely off drugs, and he walks about two miles a day. It's a great album, a little like 'Raw Power'."