Earl Slick's Initial 'Freak' Impression of David Bowie
Iconic, legendary, and one-of-a-kind are terms frequently associated with the late David Bowie, but 'freak' is rarely heard. As the 10-year anniversary of Bowie's death approaches, his longtime guitarist Earl Slick is the one person who can brand Ziggy Stardust a freak and get away with it. 'I thought he was a freak,' the 73-year-old musician confessed with a laugh during an intimate Q&A at the famous Regent Sounds guitar shop and studio in London.
The Unconventional Audition That Started It All
Slick described the entire audition process as a 'freak' experience. After receiving a call from Bowie's management to potentially replace Mick Ronson, the then-22-year-old guitarist found himself alone in RCA Studios, not a rehearsal room, playing along to 'some music' for thirty minutes. Bowie was nowhere to be seen initially. 'Nothing happened for about 10 minutes after I finished. And then David walked in the room,' Slick recalled.
The first impression was unforgettable, though not for the reasons one might expect. 'It was quite the sight,' Slick said. 'It was the eyebrows thing that got me. Man had no eyebrows. I almost wanted to ask him, "Did you burn those off? Or do you actually shave them"? I'm serious.' Despite this initial shock, the pair quickly settled into a 'totally normal' conversation with their guitars.
From Nervous Replacement to Trusted Collaborator
During the Q&A, Slick joked about being terrified at the thought of taking over from the much-loved Mick Ronson, saying he was 's**ting in his pants.' He noted the 'hippy' audience smelled of 'weed,' but they received him well. This marked the beginning of a decades-long partnership that saw Slick play on iconic albums like David Live, Young Americans, and Station to Station.
Slick described their on-stage relationship as being like 'brothers,' but off-stage they maintained distance to avoid 'bursting into flames' in arguments. This professional balance allowed their collaboration to thrive through multiple tours and recording sessions.
The Break, The Return, and The Legacy
In the early 1990s, Slick walked away from music entirely after what he described as a 'full-on breakdown.' He became a timeshare salesman in Lake Tahoe, ignoring calls from major artists including Michael Jackson. It took a cryptic request from Bowie himself to bring him back to music. 'I thought, "All right, give it a shot. Let's see what happens." And actually, without a doubt, the best live stuff I ever did with him on stage was in the 2000s,' Slick revealed.
This includes Bowie's legendary Glastonbury 2000 headlining set, widely considered one of the greatest festival performances of all time. Now, Slick and the original band are reuniting for Bowie: Live On The Loch, a two-day charity event at Cameron House in Loch Lomond, Scotland on November 7-8, 2026. The event will feature performances with Mike Garson, Gail Ann Dorsey, Mark Plati, and Sterling Campbell to raise money for Save The Children.
Nostalgia Versus Reality in Bowie's Legacy
While many fans cherish Bowie's Ziggy Stardust era, Slick offered a different perspective. 'I don't have the nostalgia for Ziggy because I wasn't really aware of him back then,' he explained. 'There's nothing wrong with nostalgia, you know. But I understand some of the fans will go, "Well, we don't like anything he did after this." I get it.'
When asked if Bowie's famous reinvention had influenced him, Slick deadpanned 'No,' but admitted the experience made him a better producer. 'It's opened my mind up to get a better understanding of how to deal with artists that I think are really good, that aren't my signature style,' he said. 'I can actually help them get what they need, not what I want them to be.'
The Enduring Bond and Upcoming Reunion
Reflecting on their relationship, Slick acknowledged their 'ups and downs' but emphasized that the best shows of his life were with Bowie. 'The music you do affects people in such a very profound way,' he said. 'At the end of the day, best shows I've ever done in my entire life, I've been with David. Hands down. It always will be.'
Bowie: Live On The Loch represents not just a musical reunion but a celebration of a partnership that began with an eyebrow-raising first impression and grew into one of rock's most enduring collaborations. Tickets are on sale now, with a live-stream available for those unable to attend in person, though they'll miss the exclusive guitar auction.
