In honor of the fallen star, Warren Haynes posted a blog entry on his website detailing his two intimate encounters with David Bowie.
“I only had 2 experiences with David Bowie and in both cases he showed himself to be a very nice, genuine person. The first was at the Bridge Benefit in 1996 at Shoreline Amphiteater where he was one of the guests performing a rare acoustic set. For 2 days I observed him sitting side stage, intently and enthusiastically watching every performance by every act and chatting with whomever approached him – never retreating to the comfort and security of his dressing room. We had a nice conversation on one of the days but it’s really the next encounter that stands out in my mind.
Fast forward a few years:
My friend Kevn Kinney and myself were walking down the street in New York City when a taxi pulls up and I hear someone call my name. It turned out to be my friend Reeves Gabrels who I only casually knew at that time. He was working in a recording studio close by producing the new (at that time) David Bowie record and invited us to stop by and say “hi”. We spent the first 20 minutes or so in the cutting room, checking out the gear and talking, as musicians do, about guitars and amps etc. David poked his head in the room and asked if we would like to hear some mixes of the songs they were working on in the control room. “Of course” I replied, wanting to hear the new music, but also, having been on the other end of the same situation, not wanting to overstay our welcome. He played us one song, then another, both of which I enjoyed very much-very fresh and new but still possessing the Bowie signature stamp. I thanked him for his hospitality and we stood up to leave to which he replied “would you like to hear another one?”. This went on for several more songs till we had heard 6 or 7 of the new tunes. Feeling a little guilty I finally said we should be on our way and we started heading for the door. As we were about to walk out he asks me (because of my affiliation with the Allman Brothers) if I’m from Macon, Georgia. I tell him “no, I’m from North Carolina” but the conversation turns to Little Richard, who is from Macon, and who is one of Bowie’s favorite all-time artists. I tell him the story of how Gov’t Mule had our picture taken in front of the building in Macon that used to be an all-black club called Miss Ann’s. He was obviously familiar with the Little Richard song MISS ANN (written about the woman who ran the club) and starts singing it and telling us how he learned every sax solo from every Little Richard record, note for note. Reeves chimes in that sometimes when they are hanging out, drinking late at night, they will put on old vinyl recordings of Little Richard and David would sing and play the sax solos.
By now, I’m really feeling like we’re taking up too much of their time-even though, truthfully I could have stayed all night. I thank him again and we head out in to the streets of New York City-worlds away from where we just were, caught up in some Forest Gump moment. I pinch myself sometimes, having had many of these sort of moments, but this one will stand out in my mind.
David Bowie was a major contributor to the world of Rock and Roll and his loss is a big one. He was also, from my perspective, based on those 2 encounters, a genuine human being.”
Thanks for sharing, Warren!