WEB EXTRA: Adrian Belew Interview - Guitarist For David Bowie

[@GioDeMarco]

What an underrated guitarist and person Adrian Belew is. He has worked with so many music legends and has become a legend himself for his creative, perfect, experimental and challenging guitar playing and solo artist work, plus being an amazing vocalist. His work with King Crimson, especially "Discipline", is incredible. IMHO, there are lots of musicians that are more popular than Belew, who don't have as much experience, creativity and style as he does. "Wicked world we live in"

[@ianandy1234]

Wido De Marco totally agree, I was lucky enough to meet Adrian about 10 years ago, one of my absolute heros. Fantastic guitar player totally underated

[@jamescarter9973]

Belew has been the secret sauce in many bands (don’t forget Talking Heads!) but never quite got there in his solo work. I’ve seen him with KC a few time and very sorry he’s not touring with them now. This interview made me think of Mick Ronson. Another great guitarist who needed someone to play against to be at his best. God Bless David, God bless Mick and I hope Adrian goes on for a long time.

[@buzzfugazi]

As a young wannabe musician, I met him at a Roland event at Gand Music and Sound in Northfield, IL ('83?) and it was one of my favorite experiences. He was very down to earth and seemed to genuinely enjoy talking shop with all of us.

[@stevenorcutt2099]

I really enjoyed his work with the Talking Heads also. A true artist

[@suzycreamchez123]

Gio you took the words right out of my mouth!

[@tedmills]

Is there any guitarist with a comparable track record? Zappa, Crimson, Talking Heads, Laurie Anderson, Bowie? Good lord

[@stephenwhorton4942]

Belew is phoenomenal. Zappa discovered him and launched his career. He taught Belew how to play odd signatures

[@alexmorrison9156]

Maybe a couple. But with his talent? More difficult I think

[@hustler3of4culture3]

Pretty cool stuff

[@mot00rzysta]

and Nine Inch Nails

[@colinwright4139]

Glen Campbell for one. RIP

[@RastaSaiyaman]

The man is being righteous. There was this really funny anecdote about the song "Heroes": Robert Fripp blasting his amplifier full open and him standing in a sweet spot to get that feedbacking droning high A note. Fripp then overdubbed that a couple of times to really get a hypnotic drone going and that's what ended up on the record. Come the tour: Adrian Belew is brought in because of Fripp having other responsibilities demanding his attention. The band is starting rehearsals and Belew starts the high A note drone for "Heroes"; but halfway through the song Bowie and Eno almost fall over laughing. They then tell Belew that it took Fripp a couple of overdubs to get that part right and here Belew is playing all of it on his own.

[@zanichbug]

That's fucking funny!!

[@seanvine39]

callyharley pretty easy to get that tone now. Not so much back in 77

[@RastaSaiyaman]

@@dd-vm1hs No overdubbing is a recording technique invented by Les Paul (Yes THAT Les Paul) where a musician can basically record all the tracks for a song himself. Listen to the Foo Fighters'first album, it is Dave Grohl overdubbing the drums, guitars and bass tracks. He did that entire album by himself. What Fripp did on "Heroes" was to record four versions of that howling siren part which were then laid on top of each other

[@lamecasuelas2]

Haha! And that ladies and getlemen is how you get in King Crimson

[@dudeman5303]

I misunderstood the first sentence of your comment at first because I originally thought you were calling him *self* righteous, I don't know why I took it to mean that at first but I'm happy I kept reading and found out I was wrong

[@edwardkent6831]

Been a fan of Adrian's forever. Probably the greatest guitar innovator of all time.

[@ferdinandbardamu.]

Belew deserves so much more recognition, such a humble man and a really good guitarist

[@KrazeeClark]

Yes he does. 👍

[@tramlad2]

What a lovely man, still humble, and grateful for the job he does, a talented guy, who seems really down to earth to this day, a great showman himself.

[@musicalSFCat]

Stellar interview. One call tell Adrien Belew is a very humble musician. Quite a unique and original guitarist. It was a great pleasure to see him perform with King Crimson, back in '84 & 2000.

[@MishimaToshiro]

Belew shows always on his performances’s smiles all his humbleness and the joy that music brings to him, such an inspiring musician

[@lextual]

I'm glad to have gotten confirmation from Adrian Belew himself that the solos on the "Lodger" album were not played through from start to finish, but edits put together from several takes. For years I've been scratching my head (figuratively) wondering how it was all done.

[@Damage_Kase_99]

lextual Billy Gibbons sorta used the same recording technique for all his guitar tracks on the ZZ Top album Eliminator.

[@leetintary2074]

Absolutely because the playing is mind blowing.

[@octofish]

Met Adrian on a few occasions. He's a genuinely nice man, just like this video. Saw him in concert several times, solo, with the Bears, with Crimson, with Bowie. He's really greatness.

[@olafprot7116]

Love the eye roll when he said "That was one of Brian Eno's ideas"

[@transformationgeneration]

He talks like a guy from just across the Ohio River from Cincinnati, Ohio, a town called, "Ludlow KY." Just a regular, all-round friendly guy who just happens to be one of the greatest guitarists in the history of rock-n-roll music. Thank you, Adrian.

[@BeatlesBowieKrimson]

Wow, excellent interview. Being a huge Belew and Bowie fan, I knew most of the stories already. But it was great hearing them straight from The Man, himself. Thanks, Adrian and David for all the great years of music. I can honestly say that both of you changed my life.

[@atlmswbko4394]

Adrian Belew, thank you for this!

[@MrAxman53]

You know this guy is special when he's playing the Three of a Perfect Pair riff, singing the song at the same time, and smiling and having a good time while doing it! Brilliant talent and seemingly a nice person at the same time.

[@peteytwofinger]

we bought tickets for the 90 DB tour specifically to see adrian play guitar and he did such an amazing job , the whole band , the music was so spectacularly great , BUT seeing david bowie live was something i never experienced , that guy really had something special . i also saw sir paul , but i have to say david bowie was THE top performer i ever witness in the flesh . so lucky . thanks adrian belew for making my life so much more interesting .

[@julio_scissors]

Isn't it nice to hear someone speak so positively? Adrian is a legend in his own right, yet he his humble, respectful and appreciative of his journey.

[@ctmdoh6542]

Great interview, heartfelt...from a great musician who worked with DB. It's so hard to accept this loss. A world without David Bowie is a lot colder and empty..though we do have his music which won't die.

[@v-town1980]

That was really nice. Adrian seems like such a great guy, and his guitar playing in incredible!

[@seanvine39]

Adrian is just a master human being. In a rare class. He does everything on such a high level. And with relative ease.

[@TylerDurden-oy2hm]

what a remarkable man....super talented yet so very humble and approachable...the 2 dont always go together...thanks for sharing this with us

[@roblowy6799]

Embarrassed to say I'm just getting into King Crimson and was stunned by the talent of Adrian Belew. Robert Fripp is great, but Belew is the real deal. Learning more about him every day.

[@BobSacamano666]

Check out his songs with Danny Carey and Les Claypool

[@TC-ps9sd]

I appreciate the respect he shows for David Bowie in this clip. Adrian's time with King Crimson was their best period IMO. He's a super creative guy.

[@FreeBrunoPowroznik]

Whilst Lodger isn't Bowie's greatest album, the small splatterings of Belew's guitar work are incredible

[@SLB4523]

I LOVE Lodger. Such an underrated album.

[@brucema12]

I was lucky to have met Adrian shortly after the 1990 Orlando show. And spent a whirlwind 10 days tooling around the country with him! Amazing man this Adrian Belew is!

[@modestoney1577]

Love this guy. Actually i just recently "discovered" him, you know, i mean there are records and songs you now and really dig, but i don´t usually research every musician who plays on it. So i already liked the stuff he did with Zappa and Bowie, without being aware thet there´s a person called Adrian Belew who was part of it. Then i found out about him watching a ridiculously great live performance of the 80s incarnation of King Crimson: "Elephant Talk" on the show Fridays. Wow. And to find out he is such a cool, nice person as well as an incredibly great, inspiring guitarist just makes me love this guy.

[@susanarosarojas5015]

The same happened to me, although i knew KC Discipline (first time I heard that band) i was the fascinated by the leading vocal but time passed, I grow up, I took distance from music, and almost 30 years later I discovered him. And I learned in a month (thanks KZbin) alomst all about his career. And as all of you here l think he is a very humble genius, funny, real person, great musician. I admired him.

[@gregm6652]

Adrian Belew's tour came through Raleigh, NC in the mid-1980s. They played their tails off! Every guitar player in that room left that show wondering whether it was worth it to keep practicing, the man is THAT good. TYVM for all of the music.

[@13StJimmy]

"Adrian Belew is the most awesome guitarist I've ever seen" - Trent Reznor

[@13StJimmy]

d d you need to listen to more Nine inch nails then, The Fragile is an excellent record Although weirdly enough Belew is on probably one of their weaker albums hesitation marks 🤷‍♂️

[@13StJimmy]

d d I mean the Manson thing I get and makes sense because Manson got is start because of Trent and I get it not every type of music is for everyone 🤷‍♂️

[@alexgovan3785]

@@13StJimmy he's doing the ring mod solo on the becoming off the downward spiral

[@jasondotson]

Adrian seems like such a sweethweart, as the ladies would say. One very cool dude.

[@shroomhilda]

I love the add he did for Digitech where he introduces himself as... "Hi, I'm Adrian Belew, and I'm one of the World's...guitarists."

[@gregmpalumbo]

great great interview...what a great guy Adrian.

[@igorfanta6850]

This guy is a legend!! Superb as singer and guitar player!!! Saw him performing with King Crimson in 2003.

[@ReneAlexisPenalozaMunoz]

A combination of amazing talent, good personality, professionalism and being at the right time in the right place.

[@BlueSkies32]

I’ve listened to a lot of cats, but Adrian Belew has done more to advance the electric guitar than anyone I can think of, sheer creativity in every aspect of his playing and sound, and consistently innovative and new at every stage of his career. Sitting in the front row at the Sunrise Theater in Ft. Lauderdale for King Crimson left me speechless, but the guitar playing and joyful vibe of the Bowie You Tube concert in Germany, with that amazing band, for me is as good as it gets.

[@gustavoheberle6265]

Loved to hear this testimonial ! Great musicians and creative minds ! Thanks for all the wonderful music you guys produced in all those years.

[@BrettHoustonTube]

Adrian has created so many great songs for so many great artists. His Young Lions and Mr Music Head albums were pure freaking genius.

[@SonnySky7]

Great commentary on Bowie. I always had thought Belew was British. Never knew he lives in Mt. Juliet near my old stomping ground in Knoxville! His description of Bowie and his musical influence on the world was completely spot on. I always liked the guitar playing of Belew much more than the guitar style of Reeves Gebrels. At first I didn't like the Lodger album but later on thought it was super creative and original. It wasn't commercially accesible but it had some of the most creative songs that came out in rock music at that time. Belew summed it all up very well on Bowie and the loss of his musical and creative genius. On a personal level, I lived for the day that Bowie would release a new album and tried to predict the next musical direction he would take. The mid to late 70s were incredibly original. Any of those albums were at the height of his creatively.

[@DavidLazarus]

Fantastic interview! I was happy to see Adrian as part of King Crimson in 1995 and solo in 2019. He still sounded amazing at nearly 70 years old!

[@Luisito6119]

He's such a great guitar player, I also when he was plaiyng with Talking Heads

[@JENtrification81]

Fantastic Interview!

[@Jano-po3su]

Thanks for sharing, great insight and musical anecdotes :D

[@NewWaveRadio1983]

YOU were my favorite part of the Syracuse Carrier Dome show for the Let's Dance tour. When I saw your strat from way back, I asked *"Is that Belew?!"* and left my seat to watch you play closer up from an aisle. Big Electric Cat & Elephant Talk were on my cruising mix tape when I graduated in '83. The naughty things you do to guitars man...

[@tkyeo7642]

Thanks for the music Adrian

[@108grog]

I guess many of my favorite bands included Adrian at one point. He is the through-line . The "voice" of an Era, a paint brush on many canvases. He has a direct line to the universal treasury of creativity. And with complete presence and consciousness he channels Wonder and beauty with SUCH a Joy. It's simply awesome to watch him play. It's also infectious. I want to hear interviews with other musicians about Adrian.

[@doesyourdogbite4799]

Full of respect. Very pleasurable to listen.

[@jonesy2111]

I saw the 1990 tour with Bowie in Sacramento... it was one of the best I've ever seen

[@davidhollyfield5148]

I first heard Adrian on the first Bowie tour he did. And I was utterly blown away. He's the guitarist i want to be, but never will be. Him or Fripp, another Bowie favourite. I remember Adrian so well. A tall and wiry dancer with white pleated pants and a Hawaiian shirt and long, lank blond hair that was thinning even then. And he was definitely the second star of the show.

[@zellah]

Will be seeing Adrian Friday night in Chicago. A lovely Bowie tribute.

[@billmay7364]

Below is great. Underrated big time. Multi instrumentist. Guitar drums Cello you name it. Worked with the best. ZAPPA KING CRIMSON TALKING HEADS LAURIE ANDERSON. NIN. TRENT REZNOR. SPEAKS FOR ITSELF. Great Solo records as well. He had admiration for BOWIE. Adrian is one of the good guys. Really down to earth.

[@Eleventhearlofmars]

So how is he underrated when you’ve just listed all that stuff about him and he’s a world famous guitarist/musician?! He is not underrated. 😂

[@markgrudzinski914]

Nice to see his battered, old Strat that used to be his main guitar behind him.

[@Nyama74]

+Mark Grudzinski I was thinking the exact same thing, Mark. Nice to see the old Mustangs, too.

[@jayrobb9]

+Mark Grudzinski Just glad you aren't one of those people who tried to convince everyone it's the (somewhat) famous Hendrix/Zappa strat. Which - for those who will try to tell us it is - IT IS NOT!

[@xander9564]

I once read an interview with Adrian where he described how the Strat used to look pretty new. So as preparations were being made to go off on the Zappa tour, he decided to take out all the electronics and components, and burned it up with a blowtorch and knocked it around a bunch of times just to get that super-relic'd look. He then put it back together. When he went to rehearsal, Frank Zappa saw the Strat and said, "If you wanted your guitar to look like that, you could have just loaned it to a friend."

[@RebelThoughts82]

What a cool guy.

[@BeatlesBowieKrimson]

+RebelThoughts82 Yes, he really is.

[@giantoak4742]

Amazing and so humble. Top guy

[@itsdonaldo]

Adrian Belew co-wrote and plays guitar on "Genius of Love"

[@artlover1477]

And the rumour is he didn't get a penny for it.

[@kevhead1525]

​@@artlover1477 yup. Tina Weymouth blocked his calls. Really rotten.

[@rch6650]

I recently messaged Adrian on Facebook and less than 10 minutes later he responded and answered a couple questions, How cool is that?

[@buckodonnghaile4309]

I've never heard a single bad word said about him by those who have met him. Good on him

[@lamecasuelas2]

oh this makes me feel mixed emotions, on one hand the fondness of Adrian's memories brings a smile to my face, on the other hand it saddens me to think that we lost such a wonderful not only musician but also what seems to have been a great human being

[@alexmorrison9156]

Such a humble guy; love him

[@kiltedcampers]

Excellent interview, thanks Adrian

[@ae5970063]

Saw him in São Paulo -1990- playing along with Bowie, just beyond category, the style, the musicianship, a true artist, an original

[@soulsin97]

I was actually at David Bowie’s sound and vision tour of 1990 at the Oakland Stadium and that was the second time and last time that I saw David Bowie in concert!! One hell of a concert that was I’ll never forget it!!!

[@jipangoo]

Three of a Perfect Pair

[@beekay5914]

Adrian's style and capabilities are so unique, I don't know how King Crimson plays some of their songs without him.

[@radiomindchatter7994]

We used to see his band in Nashville..especially on Rock Nights, which was Sunday nights. They packed 'em in! This was at Flannegan's.

[@gomudhen]

Wow. What humble, fantastically creative guitar player. AB you’re a hero of mine. Thanks for the music.

[@RG-hf4et]

So interesting! I was at the Sound & Vision concert! This was great!

[@tomjones2348]

Fascinating interview.

[@mtnvalley9298]

I saw him play with the Bears in a small bar on Peachtree St. in Atlanta and on tour with Bowie. Absolutely amazing player/performer.

[@sabre6986]

Blows my mind that you didn't even mention David Byrne talking heads some of your best work which wouldn't have been possible without Bowie and Zappa thank you for your work man really appreciated

[@waynelynch3862]

I was just a so-so fan of Bowie at the time, but 'Let's Dance' was a #1 hit and a great dance song, so we went to see him (The 1990's Tour). I also worked at a Hilton, so we got free rooms at any Hilton and there was a Hilton within walking/staggering distance of the concert:) Bowie was the definition of cool. I loved his stage presence and dance moves (rubber legs). Adrian Belew was the guitarist and absolutely TORE IT UP during the solo on Let's Dance!!! Here is the best part. After the show, we were sitting at the Hilton bar and this guy sits down beside me and it was Adrian Belew! Super nice guy & incredible musician. We chatted until he finished his beer and then he went to his room. I partied the night away. It was an incredible show. I rank it in my top 10.

[@spartydave1]

What a down to earth guy. Nice job!!

[@brendanhoffmann8402]

One of my great heroes of music, Adrian Belew. I first encountered him with Zappa but then King Crimson.

[@danielwood4808]

David was a great musician one of the best and many of the musicians he worked with love him to this day and will always miss him.

[@gillyarchtop]

I never heard Adrian’s music but honestly within 30 seconds I like this guy!

[@gurgisjones1120]

Very cool to see this. I'm newer to Bowie - exploring his catalog now - but an old fan of Belew (King Crimson, Talking Heads, solo, Zappa stuff). Great guy.

[@DavidBGoode]

Lovely man... what a career.

[@matiasmoulin2126]

what a great and lovely guy!

[@batzeth]

love you Adrian ♥

[@jayyyzeee6409]

Adrian is such a great guy and an amazingly gifted guitarist!

[@wmtarr886]

what a lovely interview !

[@gmajorspresents]

What a great interview !

[@valerieannshort7109]

Love Adrian Belew!! Always cool.

[@jipangoo]

This guy's a star in his own right

[@deadlegs187]

What a nice person. You can see he really did love the guy

[@analogman9697]

The only guy I know of that brings power tools to the gig. What an imaginative player.

[@cod8140]

Adrian belew such great guitar player and cool guy

[@groverbaker6404]

Adrian is a top 10 guitarist in any world!!! Awesome..thanks

[@Tickbryan]

I saw that Bowie tour with Adrian in Nashville, in 1978 at the Municipal Auditorium. I also saw Adrian when he played with Sweetheart at the Ring Side Seat in Nashville.

[@PNL_King]

Well spoken sir!!! Absolutely true!!!!!!

[@strat0871]

Adrian is such a nice person and a great player, singer, very inventive.

[@geoffreydeane809]

What a delightful man.

[@thepaulmacfarlane]

humble playful GENIUS always moving forward and can play ANYTHING.

[@Alun49]

Adrian is so right. Bowie's influence has been astronomical in its influence on the music of the past fifty years.

[@justiceforall6412]

A great and innovative guitarist/ artist.

[@truemansparks]

Comes across as a really down to earth nice guy absolute legend.

[@marcosbertolucci8868]

Adrian Belew sem dúvidas é uns dos melhores guitarristas do mundo sem dúvidas nenhuma ,assisti ele aqui no Brasil na turne Soud+Vision em 1990

[@reidflemming8458]

Great interview.

[@terrymiller8696]

Saw him in 79 with Bowie still the best I have seen live I compare everyone else to him

[@jamesanderson348]

A really cool Guy and a lucky one at that. Nice stores.

[@devolve42]

Now the lyrics to "May 1 1990" make perfect, beautiful sense.

[@lefkytheshin]

Eno certainly loves that cut-up technique.

[@KAchtchouk6660]

Fantastic

[@casioboy]

yeah just walked off stage from Zappa to Iggy & Bowie. Simple.

[@jayrobb9]

+Steven Quinn It was more like Zappa to Bowie, to Talking Heads. I don't know that he ever played with Iggy.

[@TheA13000]

No he didn't, but in the interview he said that he have seen both bowie and iggy together. Carlos Alomar played for Iggy for one tour I think. Not that much big deal by the way.

[@tmage23]

Zappa never forgave Bowie for taking Belew away from him. After that, he always called him "Captain Tom"

[@5ch3nk]

Zappa was really pissed about Adrian joining David, and felt Bowie was stealing his guitarist. I like Zappa but he really needs to get off his high horse there, and was totally on the wrong side of that. Adrian Belew was basically a session musician, he's allowed to play with who wanted, especially if it didn't contradict with Zappa's schedule. If anything it was probably better for Adrian to do that since he probably learned a lot from working with Bowie, which probably really helped Adrian's musical career and playing style during the 80s.

Cool story...I was wondering about how Frank felt when Adrian was telling his story. When Stevie Ray Vaughan turned down the Bowie's touring offer to do his own style, Frank was probably elated for sure!