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5 Profound Ways John Lennon Became David Bowie's 'Greatest Mentor'

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The relationship between David Bowie and John Lennon remains one of rock's most fascinating and influential friendships, a bond forged in the chaotic mid-1970s New York music scene. As of late 2025, retrospective pieces continue to highlight the profound impact Lennon had on the younger, still-evolving 'Thin White Duke' persona, an influence Bowie himself never understated.

This unlikely pairing—the former Beatle in his "Lost Weekend" era and the reigning king of glam rock—resulted in a US No. 1 hit and, more importantly, a mentorship that fundamentally reshaped Bowie's approach to music and fame. Bowie consistently cited Lennon as his "greatest mentor," an admission that speaks volumes about the guidance he received during the pivotal transition from *Diamond Dogs* to the 'plastic soul' of *Young Americans*.

The Architects of Glam and Revolution: A Dual Profile

To truly appreciate the dynamic between David Bowie and John Lennon, one must first understand the towering legacies they brought to their 1970s collaboration. Their meeting was a collision of two musical titans from different eras, each at a crucial inflection point in his career.

David Bowie (David Robert Jones)

  • Born: January 8, 1947, Brixton, London, England.
  • Died: January 10, 2016, New York, New York, U.S.
  • Key Eras: Ziggy Stardust, Aladdin Sane, The Thin White Duke, Berlin Trilogy.
  • Genre Evolution: Folk, Glam Rock, Art Rock, Soul/R&B (Plastic Soul), Electronic.
  • Key Album at Time of Meeting: *Young Americans* (1975).

John Lennon (John Winston Ono Lennon)

  • Born: October 9, 1940, Liverpool, England.
  • Died: December 8, 1980, New York, New York, U.S.
  • Key Affiliations: Founder and leader of The Beatles.
  • Solo Career Highlights: *Plastic Ono Band*, *Imagine*, *Mind Games*.
  • Context at Time of Meeting: The "Lost Weekend" period (1973–75), a separation from Yoko Ono and a prolific, yet tumultuous, time in New York.

1. The Witty, Terrifying First Encounter

David Bowie’s initial interaction with John Lennon was, by his own account, an awkward and nerve-wracking affair. Bowie, despite his global fame as a 'musical chameleon' and a glam rock icon, was reportedly "terrified" of meeting the former Beatle.

Their first meeting was set up with the intention of a musical collaboration. However, the tension was quickly broken by Lennon's signature wit. Bowie recounted a famous anecdote about a phone call where he initially tried to deny his identity.

Lennon's iconic retort, which immediately disarmed Bowie, has been widely quoted:

"I was in NY and a voice says 'Are you David Bowie?' And I said 'No, but I wish I had his money.' 'You lying bastard. You wish you had my money.' It was John."

This exchange set the tone for a friendship based on mutual respect and a sharp, cynical sense of humor, allowing Bowie to drop his guard and accept Lennon’s guidance as a peer and mentor.

2. The Three-Step Songwriting Philosophy That Stuck

Beyond the legendary collaborations, Lennon imparted a simple yet profound piece of advice that Bowie credited with shaping his approach to writing for decades. This mentorship was not about complex music theory, but about fundamental communication.

Bowie revealed that Lennon boiled down the entire process of songwriting into three core "rules," which Bowie kept returning to throughout his career, even when working on his later, more experimental albums like *Outside*.

Lennon’s three rules for songwriting were: "It's very easy, all this. All you have to do is say what you mean, make it rhyme, put a backbeat to it."

This deceptively simple principle—combining direct lyrical honesty ("say what you mean") with pop structure ("make it rhyme") and rhythmic drive ("put a backbeat to it")—was a crucial lesson for Bowie as he moved away from the complex narratives of his glam rock personas toward the funk and soul influences of his 'plastic soul' period.

3. Forging a US No. 1 Hit: The Birth of 'Fame'

The most tangible result of their friendship was the song "Fame," which became David Bowie's first US No. 1 single in 1975. The track was co-written by Bowie, Lennon, and guitarist Carlos Alomar, and originated from a spontaneous jam session during the recording of the *Young Americans* album.

Lennon was originally invited to the studio to contribute guitar to Bowie's cover of The Beatles' "Across the Universe." After that session, a jam session began, centered around a guitar riff Alomar had been working on.

Lennon’s influence was instrumental in shaping the song’s cynical, funk-infused lyrical content, which directly addressed the hollow nature of celebrity. Lennon contributed the famous high-pitched vocal line, "Fame, what you need, you got it," and his presence shifted the song's energy.

The track’s success was a pivotal moment for Bowie, cementing his move into American soul music and helping him break through into the mainstream US market in a way his European glam rock had not.

4. The 'Plastic Soul' Transformation and 'Across the Universe'

The decision to cover "Across the Universe" for the *Young Americans* album was a direct nod to Lennon's earlier work and a significant part of Bowie's 'plastic soul' transformation. Bowie described the original track as a "flower power sort of thing," but he always thought it was "fabulous."

Bowie and Lennon completely reimagined the song. The original ethereal, psychedelic ballad was stripped down and re-recorded with a distinct, soulful New York sound, complete with Lennon's guitar and backing vocals. This cover, along with the co-written "Fame," showcased how Lennon’s direct, rhythmic approach—the "backbeat" philosophy—was being integrated into Bowie's production style by producer Tony Visconti.

The collaboration on the *Young Americans* sessions was more than just a musical partnership; it was a cultural passing of the torch, where an icon of the 1960s British Invasion helped an icon of 1970s glam rock find his footing in the American musical landscape.

5. The Enduring Quote: 'Brightest, Quickest Witted, Earnestly Socialist'

Decades after Lennon’s tragic death in 1980, David Bowie continued to speak about his friend with immense reverence and clarity. His most famous quote about Lennon distills the essence of the man beyond his musical genius, focusing instead on his character and intellect.

In a 1995 interview, Bowie was asked about his late friend, and he offered this definitive tribute:

"He was probably one of the brightest, quickest witted, earnestly socialist men I’d ever met."

This statement highlights the intellectual and political kinship they shared, showing that their bond transcended the recording studio. The influence of Lennon’s sharp political commentary and social activism, alongside his musical mentorship, solidified his role as Bowie's "greatest mentor."

The legacy of their collaboration endures not just in the grooves of the *Young Americans* album, but in the countless interviews where David Bowie consistently acknowledged the profound, life-altering impact John Lennon had on his career, proving that even rock's greatest chameleons need a mentor to help them find their true voice.

david bowie on john lennon
david bowie on john lennon

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