If I have to pick out one favourite song from the latter part of David Bowie’s career, it’s gotta be this one from his 1997 album, Earthling. Written by Bowie and Brian Eno, the song went through at least six different remixes that were mostly the work of Trent Reznor. The video shows a frightened Bowie (a European) in New York who is being menaced by a freaky-looking Reznor (the representative American who is named Johnny.)
As a Bowie fan, I can’t imagine how Trent must have felt working with Bowie, especially during a time when Trent was in the throes of all sorts of addiction. And later, he got to perform the song live with Bowie. I seem to recall a tour when Nine Inch Nails opened for Bowie, and this song provided the segue between Trent’s set and Bowie’s performance. Trent would start it, Bowie would join in, and then Trent would leave the stage as Bowie’s set began. Or am I imagining things?
© 2025 Corus Radio, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
Ad Choices