The story behind the record cover: Heroes (1977) - David Bowie
"You know that you are working on something unique, together with your musical friends Bowie and Eno. You are a long way from home in Berlin. A city that has been torn apart by a wall. The music studio is 50 meters from the wall. From the window you can see the guard post with East German soldiers. You feel the vibe all day long. There is something wonderful in the air that can make you a real hero. Then it is time for a break. You go outside to smoke a cigarette. The German backing singer Antonia Maass accompanies you. Her English isn't very good, but you get to talking and start flirting a bit. Before you know it, you are kissing her intensely. You think no one sees. You are standing against a gigantic wall. You feel great, the ultimate experience. But how are you going to explain this to your wife, at home with a child in London? Ratio quickly takes over once again. The album has not been finished yet and work continues. Yet, you feel like a hero... for one day.
David Bowie was struggling with the last verse for the song "Heroes". The songs were recorded layer by layer. First the rhythm sessions, then the solos. The vocals only came at the end. Instrumentally you already got goosebumps from the song. Especially when Brian Eno had hired crazy Robert Fripp for the guitar solos. What a freak, but amazingly brilliant. But the last verse just didn't go smoothly. During a break, Bowie looked out the window. Suddenly he saw his friend and technician Tony Visconti kissing the German backing singer. "Look at Tony," Bowie thought with a smile. "He's married, isn't he?" But Bowie had a sense of humor about it. He himself was also known to venture beyond borders, at times. He picked up a piece of paper and a pen and within five minutes the last verse for "Heroes" was finished. The rest is history. "Heroes" became one of Bowie's greatest songs ever.
That bliss during the recording of this album continued. Bowie had gone to Berlin a few years earlier with his best friend Iggy Pop. They knew that if they stayed in Lost Angeles, they would undoubtedly die from cocaine. Meanwhile in Berlin, they had managed to kick the habit. "Low", the first from Bowie's Berlin albums series was a success. David Bowie and Iggy Pop were quite anonymous in Berlin. They could quietly go to museums and enjoy the nightlife. They came into contact with artists who were supporters of the German expressionist art movement "Die Brücke", which originated in Dresden in 1905. These paintings often consist of contrasting color combinations red-green or blue-orange. Erich Heckel's painting 'Roquairol' appealed enormously to Bowie. When he and Iggy Pop went to the "die Brücke" museum, Iggy jokingly stood in front of the painting in the same pose. "This is going to be an album cover," Bowie said to himself. Eventually there were even two: Iggy Pop was working on "The Idiots" and Bowie was still looking for an idea for "Heroes".
In the days that followed, Japanese pop photographer Masayoshi Sukita did a photo session with both musicians. They struck various "Heckel" poses. Bowie's album cover has become iconic. Iggy Pop's has remained in the shadows somewhat. "Heroes" became a top notch album, one of Bowie's best. Iggy Pop became a cult hero in the post-punk scene. He still performs half naked. Last year he performed at Lowlands, 72 years old. Fantastic.
What happened to Tony Visconti and his marriage? I have not investigated the matter. That is private business and these types of heroes are entitled to their privacy. As a music fan I don't need to know everything. No matter how spicy some of these stories are. Antonia Maass has fallen into oblivion. She made another single "Ich brech alle Brücken ab". Very appropriate, but the single was a flop. Still a pity. She was a beautiful girl with a stunning voice. I can imagine Visconti's actions when he stood at the Berlin wall. I've also been tempted like that, but hey, I'm just a henpecked husband. And the Berlin wall? Hansa studios, where the album was recorded, still exist. I was there two years ago, but there is not much left of the unique atmosphere and the division. It has become a posh district, with capitalist shopping mall Sony Center just a stone's throw away.
The Berlin Wall no longer exists. Today's heroes will have to find another spot for their ultimate experience."
By Gerrit-Jan Vrielink
Translation: Alex Driessen
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