Panic in Detroit: Local artists respond to David Bowie's death

By Mike McGonigal

Jan 11, 2016 at 12:01 pm

Audio By Carbonatix

[
          {
            "name": "GPT - Leaderboard - Inline - Content",
            "component": "35519556",
            "insertPoint": "5th",
            "startingPoint": "3",
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "3",
            "maxInsertions": 100,
            
            "adList": [
              {
                "adPreset": "LeaderboardInline"
              }
            ]
          }
          
        ]

click to enlarge

Photo by Scott Spellman (www.ScottSpellmanMedia.com)

Mr. Spellman kindly sent along this image first thing today, with the message: "It is so sad to hear about the passing of David Bowie. The first concert I photographed at the Palace in 2004 for Real Detroit."

It's hard to say anything about David Bowie that's not been said already; at the very least, he was a beacon for misfits throughout his entire career, and a true iconoclast. The singer was so forward-thinking and changed his sound, look, style and personality on such a regular basis while always maintaining a core... Bowie-ness. Listening to his obit on NPR this morning, I myself bristled at his being called a "British singer." "How can you guys be so reductive — the Duke belongs to all of us!," I actually shouted at my radio, startling my dog.

There will be many tributes to his life and work today and for years to come. We thought it might be best to round up some initial posts on social media by artists from the Detroit metropolitan area.

Im Devastated! This great Artist changed my life! First concert i ever saw in Detroit! R.IP. ❤️ #rebelheart pic.twitter.com/hGfxI967Bw
— Madonna (@Madonna) January 11, 2016

MESSAGE FROM IGGY: "David’s friendship was the light of my life. I never met such a brilliant person. He was the best there is. - Iggy Pop"
— Iggy Pop (@IggyPop) January 11, 2016

Bowie's response to his first piece of fanmail from the US in 1967 : pic.twitter.com/K2zAMKyq2j
— John OlsonJOHN FORCE (@olsonpower) January 11, 2016

He's not here to do it for us anymore. We each have to become our OWN Bowie now. You know what to do.
— Mick Collins (@BroknHeadphones) January 11, 2016

#RIPDavidBowie
— Danny Brown (@xdannyxbrownx) January 11, 2016

Some thin-hipped glittering Bowie-being—a Starman Or cosmic ace hovering, swaying, aching to make us see. https://t.co/u0gjJkMDTE
— Third Man Books (@thirdmanbooks) January 11, 2016

pic.twitter.com/TXK9LiDva5
— TRIP METAL™ (@TripMetal) January 11, 2016

David Bowie, 1947-2016 pic.twitter.com/VEmzZymQ7s
— Third Man Records (@thirdmanrecords) January 11, 2016

So lucky to have met you!!!! Hot Tramp I love you So! ❤️ #rebelheart pic.twitter.com/INKPRCeofK
— Madonna (@Madonna) January 11, 2016

A photo posted by Lucy Liu (@lucyliu) on Jan 11, 2016 at 4:14am PST

Tags:

Music News Music

About The Author

Mike McGonigal

Metro Times music editor Mike McGonigal has written about music since 1984, when he started the fanzine Chemical Imbalance at age sixteen with money saved from mowing lawns in Florida. He's since written for Spin, Pitchfork, the Village VOICE and Artforum. He's been a museum guard, a financial reporter, a bicycle...