In 1975, two of the biggest names in rock history accidentally created a No. 1 hit.
By the mid-'70s, David Bowie was already a global star thanks to albums like The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars and songs like “Space Oddity.” But, he had yet to top the American charts. That finally changed with “Fame," a song born out of an unlikely, almost accidental collaboration with John Lennon.
The story began in 1974, when Bowie met one of his greatest heroes at a party hosted by Elizabeth Taylor. Though Bowie was already a rising legend, he was deeply intimidated by Lennon.
"I think we were polite with each other, in that kind of older-younger way," Bowie later recalled of their first meeting. "I was sort of, 'It's John Lennon!' I don’t know what to say. 'Don’t mention The Beatles, you’ll look really stupid.'"
Despite the awkward start, the two became friends. Months later, Lennon visited Bowie while he was recording Young Americans in New York City, and that's when lightning struck.
Bowie had been working with guitarist Carlos Alomar, who had written a riff they were developing into a new track. When Lennon heard it, he didn't realize it stemmed from an earlier idea and began singing improvised, nonsensical lyrics over the groove. Among the mutterings was a word that caught Bowie's ear: Fame.
That spontaneous moment sparked the concept for the song. Bowie built lyrics around the theme, and although Lennon didn't contribute full verses, Bowie credited him as a co-writer for inspiring the track. Lennon also played guitar and provided backing vocals.
The result was "Fame," released in 1975. The single reached No. 1 on both the American and Canadian charts, marking Bowie’s first chart-topper in North America.
The collaboration didn't just produce a hit; it also left a lasting creative impact on Bowie. Years later, he reflected on songwriting advice Lennon gave him, advice that would factor heavily into his musical reinvention in the 1980s.
"I'll never forget something John Lennon told me; we were talking about writing, and I had always admired the way he used to cut through so much of the bulls***, just come straight to the point with what he wanted to say," Bowie said in 1983. Lennon's guidance was simple: "It's very easy — all you have to do is say what you mean, make it rhyme and put a backbeat to it."
Bowie added, "I keep coming back to that principle as a writer."
What started as an improvised studio jam between two '70s rock legends ultimately became a defining moment in Bowie's career and proof that sometimes, music history is made by accident.
Related: '70s Rock Icon Cancels 2026 Tour Before It Begins
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