The iconic David Bowie — or Ziggy Stardust, as one of his onstage personas was called — passed away on Monday, after a protracted battle with cancer. Leading musicians in India reflected on his incomparable legacy — and how it influenced them:
Vishal Dadlani: When I heard the news this morning, it was like a kick in the back. Because he was one of the most remarkable artists ever, not just in his music, but his song-writing, the visual element, everything he did was pioneering. Take the example of Ziggy Stardust: His style was all-pervasive and he was the one who first took theatrics to a whole new level and that is what gave rock and roll its identity. For people my age, the impact of songs like The Man Who Sold The World is unimaginable. There can only be one MJ, one David Bowie or Freddie Mercury. There will be a number of great artists that will come, but there can only be one David Bowie.
Ehsaan Noorani: David Bowie was a trendsetter in every sense of the term. He was a chameleon — with every album, he came up with new sounds, new records, which is a stark change from how the music industry works today. I have heard great reviews even for his latest album, Blackstar, and that again is said to introduce new sounds.
I would like to remember him most for his songwriting. Some of the songs penned by him put you on the edge and that really shows his growth as an artiste... One album that stands out for me is The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. To me, he was an entertainer in every sense of the word.
Uday Benegal, Indus Creed: David Bowie’s influence on music has been unquestionable. He constantly battled conventions and emerged victorious. He dabbled with many genres, be it pop or rock, and even abstract, but he made these mainstream. He was peculiar in his music, and yet he appealed to everyone. I wasn’t a huge fan, I just heard a few of his songs. For instance, Let’s Dance isn’t something I heard as a rocker, but it has grown on me. My interest in him has been far more recent.
