Music legend David Bowie died Sunday after a battle with cancer.
Ex-Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony expressed his condolences today on his Facebook page, and in doing so, revealed that David Bowie’s treatment of a Kinks song was the reason Van Halen covered the song.
So surprised and saddened to hear about David Bowie’s passing. He was a big fashion and musical inspiration to everybody on the Sunset strip including Van Halen when we were playing the Hollywood clubs in the mid to late 70s.
We even covered his version of “Where Have All The Good Times Gone” live and recorded it for the Diver Down album.
My thoughts and prayers for his family. RIP David.
So, it was David Bowie’s version of The Kinks’ “Where Have All The Good Times Gone” that inspired Van Halen to cover the song. This little tidbit was never known to Van Halen fans until today.
Below, you can listen to two covers of The Kinks’ “Where Have All The Good Times Gone.” David Bowie’s cover (from his 1973 “Pin Ups” album) which inspired Van Halen’s cover, also below.
After that, you can listen to Van Halen cover David Bowie’s “The Jean Genie,” performed at the Pasadena Hilton in 1976. Great stuff!
Van Halen Covering Bowie’s “The Jean Genie:”
“David Bowie died peacefully today surrounded by his family after a courageous 18-month battle with cancer. While many of you will share in this loss, we ask that you respect the family’s privacy during their time of grief,” read a statement posted on the artist’s official social media accounts.
The influential singer-songwriter and producer excelled at glam rock, art rock, soul, hard rock, dance pop, punk and electronica during his eclectic 40-plus-year career. He just released his 25th album, Blackstar, Jan. 8, which was his 69th birthday.
R.I.P., David Bowie. What an incredible, unforgettable artist!