John Lennon

Lore & Background

The collaboration between John Lennon and David Bowie occurred during Lennon's "lost weekend" period of estrangement from Yoko Ono, shortly after he reunited with her. The pair jammed together, leading to the session at Electric Lady Studios. There, Carlos Alomar had developed a guitar riff for Bowie's cover of "Footstompin'" by the Flares, which Bowie thought was "a waste" to give to a cover. Lennon, who was in the studio with them, came up with the hook when he started to sing "aim" over the riff, which Bowie turned into "Fame." According to Marc Spitz, Bowie wrote the rest of the lyrics to the song with Lennon. However, according to biographer Peter Doggett, Lennon made the "briefest lyrical contributions" that was "enough" to give him co-writing credit. Lennon stated in a 1980 interview: "We took some Stevie Wonder middle eight and did it backwards, you know, and we made a record out of it!"

In Their Own Story

In January 1975, at Electric Lady Studios in New York City, John Lennon joined David Bowie and Carlos Alomar for a one-day recording session. Alomar had developed a guitar riff for a cover of "Footstompin'" by the Flares, but Bowie felt it was "a waste" to give to a cover. Lennon, present in the studio, began singing "aim" over the riff, which Bowie transformed into "Fame." Lennon's falsetto "Fame" interjections became a signature element of the song. According to Bowie, Lennon was the "energy" and the "inspiration" for the track. Lennon also played rhythm guitar on Bowie's cover of "Across the Universe" during the same session. The resulting song, "Fame," became Bowie's first number 1 single on the US Billboard Hot 100 in September 1975.

Reader's Guide

John Lennon's role in David Bowie's career is defined by their collaboration on the 1975 song "Fame." Lennon co-wrote the song with Bowie and Carlos Alomar, providing the hook by singing "aim" over a guitar riff. He also sang falsetto interjections of "Fame" throughout the track. The song was recorded at Electric Lady Studios in New York City in January 1975, during Lennon's "lost weekend" period. Lennon's contributions were described by Bowie as the "energy" and "inspiration" for the song. Lennon also played rhythm guitar on Bowie's cover of "Across the Universe" during the same sessions. "Fame" became Bowie's first number 1 single on the US Billboard Hot 100, displacing "Rhinestone Cowboy" by Glen Campbell during the week of 20 September 1975.

Did You Know?

• John Lennon came up with the hook for "Fame" by singing "aim" over a guitar riff developed by Carlos Alomar.
• Lennon stated in a 1980 interview: 'We took some Stevie Wonder middle eight and did it backwards, you know, and we made a record out of it!'
• Lennon's falsetto in "Fame" expands three octaves, from 'Yoko Ono soprano' to 'Johnny Cash basso profundo'.
• Lennon played rhythm guitar on Bowie's cover of "Across the Universe" during the same January 1975 sessions at Electric Lady Studios.
• "Fame" became Bowie's first number 1 single on the US Billboard Hot 100, displacing "Rhinestone Cowboy" by Glen Campbell on 20 September 1975.