David Bowie rejected invite to work with Dave Grohl: ‘I got to be honest, it’s not my thing’

Foo Fighters frontman asked Bowie to contribute vocals to a film project two years ago

David Bowie once turned down an invite to work with Dave Grohl on the music to a film, saying simply: “I got to be honest, it’s not my thing.”

Grohl is joined by Pat Smear for a drive around Bowie’s favourite LA spots in a new video shot by Playboy. The pair discuss their love of the late Bowie, with Smear disclosing that it was him that convinced Kurt Cobain to cover ‘The Man Who Sold The World’ during their time in Nirvana.

They visit Bowie’s Doheny Drive house where he lived during the period he was supposedly existing on “milk and peppers … and cocaine.” They also stop off at glam club Rodney Bingenheimer’s English Disco and the Rainbow Room.

Advertisement

Elsewhere in the clip Smear talks about his other band The Germs stalking Bowie and how it led to them owning a cigarette he once smoked.

However, Grohl got much closer to Bowie and even tried to work with him. Unfortunately, much like Coldplay and Red Hot Chili Peppers, he was rejected by Bowie.

“We played at his 50th birthday party at Madison Square Garden and that was the last time I saw him, so that was in 1997?” Grohl says.

He continued: “About two years ago, I got approached by this movie to do a song for the movie, so I thought, ‘Maybe I’ll have someone else sing, I’ll do the music and then have another vocalist.’ And then I thought, “Maybe I’ll ask and see if David would want to do it.’ So the next day I get an email and it says, ‘David, I watched the movie and I got to be honest, it’s not my thing.’ He said, ‘I’m not made for these times.'”

Grohl and Bowie’s correspondance continued with the Foo Fighters frontman thanking Bowie for considering the offer. In response, Bowie wrote: “Alright, now that’s settled then, fuck off.” Grohl says he isn’t sure whether Bowie was joking or serious.

Watch the clip below:

Advertisement

Beck teamed up with Grohl and his other living members of Nirvana, including guitarist Pat Smear and bass player Krist Novoselic, to pay tribute to David Bowie at a pre-Grammys event on Sunday (February 15). The makeshift band covered Bowie’s ‘The Man Who Sold The World’.

You May Also Like

Advertisement

TRENDING

Advertisement

More Stories