Another significant player in David Bowie’s musical history and legacy is gone.
Dennis Davis, the drummer on seven Bowie albums released between 1975 and 1980 — including Young Americans, Station To Station, Low, Heroes, Stage, Lodger and Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps) — has died after his own battle with cancer. Davis was a New York native, and also performed on Iggy Pop’s 1977 album The Idiot as well as music by Stevie Wonder, Jermaine Jackson and George Benson.
Earlier today, Davis was honored by longtime collaborator Tony Visconti, who was recently in Boston for the latest leg of the Holy Holy tour. Visconti called him “one of the most creative drummers I have ever worked with”.
Here is Visconti’s message in full:
“Dennis Davis has passed away. He was one of the most creative drummers I have ever worked with. He came into David Bowie’s life when we recorded some extra tracks for Young Americans and stayed with us through Scary Monsters and beyond. He was a disciplined jazz drummer who tore into Rock with a Jazz sensibility. Listen to the drum breaks on Black Out from the Heroes album. He had a conga drum as part of his set up and he made it sound like two musicians were playing drums and congas. By Scary Monsters he was playing parts that were unthinkable but they fit in so perfectly. His sense of humor was wonderful. As an ex member of the US Air Force he told us stories of seeing a crashed UFO first hand by accidentally walking through an unauthorized hanger. There will never be another drummer, human being and friend like Dennis, a magical man.”
Listen to Davis’ work below via a Pitchfork playlist…