There were few people in Chatham-Kent sadder than Glenn Smith this week as the news broke about the passing of music legend David Bowie, who died of cancer at age 69.
While many of us listened to Bowie’s music over the years, Smith, a local musician and promoter, had the good fortune of briefly working with the man – making history.
Smith said he produced and moderated a live stream event featuring Bowie that preceded the downloading of “Telling Lies,” the first downloadable music single by a major music artist. That was back in 1996.
“In the 1990s, I had a lot of time on my hands. I got involved with interviewing rock stars over Internet protocol before the World Wide Web was really here,” Smith said. “I worked with CompuServe. I was in charge of their music forum. Because of that position, I interviewed well over 100 rock stars and did text chats.”
He’s interviewed and worked with the likes of Aerosmith, KISS, Michael Jackson, and Mick Jagger as well.
That work with CompuServe connected Smith with Bowie through the performer’s record label.
“I got a call from his record label back in 1996 to participate with this ground-breaking event. Bowie was going to release the very first pay-to-download single via the Internet,” Smith said.
But before the “Telling Lies” single was available, Bowie and two mystery guests were telling lies – well at least the two others were. Smith said they fielded questions from fans, and the fans had to guess which person was the real David Bowie.
According to reports, Bowie placed third.
Smith said his time working and talking with Bowie was very limited, but left a lasting impression.
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“When it (the live stream show) was done, I spent a couple of hours with him and just got to chat with him,” Smith said of Bowie. “He was just a very warm and engaging guy.”
Smith, who became a permanent Canadian citizen in 2011, said his fondest memory of his brief time with Bowie was over music. He asked the rock star what his favourite songs were that he’d written over the years, only to learn that they were two of Smith’s own favourites.
“’Andy Warhol’ and ‘The Bewlay Brothers’ (both off 1971’s Hunky Dory) – these are two songs I play!”
Not all of their time talking centred around music. In fact, a good portion of it related to comedian Soupy Sales.
“Dave was so engaging. He talked to me about anything. He played with a couple of sons of Soupy Sales, the comedian,” Smith said of Bowie’s Tin Machine project, of which Tony and Hunt Sales were members. “I’m from New York. I’m a huge Soupy Sales fan. I was interested in David’s experience with Soupy.
“He’d hang out with them all the time and just crack them up. Soupy was just like I thought he was.”
Bowie had quietly battled cancer for the past 18 months, according to his social media accounts, and he “died peacefully, surrounded by his family.”
“I miss him. It’s a tragic loss,” Smith said.
The Chatham-Kent man respects the way Bowie handled things, right to the end.
“What a way to go out. ‘Lazarus’ (Bowie’s latest single) is his swan song,” he said. “His brand new release went to the top of the charts when it was released and no one knew he was sick.”
Bowe released his 25th studio album, “Blackstar,” on Jan. 8, his 69th birthday.
“He was working right up until the end,” Smith said.
Bowie enjoyed massive critical and commercial success over his career, with such hits as Space Oddity, Changes, Suffragette City, Heroes, and Modern Love.
