An Unforgettable Night with Iggy Pop and David Bowie
In 1979, Scottish post-rock band Simple Minds found thier London recording debut a bit overwhelming. So, for their follow-up album, *Real To Real Cacophony*, they retreated to the tranquility of Rockfield Studios in the Welsh countryside.Little did they know they’d soon be sharing the studio with two rock legends: Iggy Pop and David Bowie. Iggy, in search of hash, and Bowie, reminiscing with a Heineken and a chunk of cheese, unexpectedly stumbled into the Simple Minds’ studio session. As the night wore on, they enlisted the Scottish band in a spontaneous recording session for Iggy’s then-upcoming *Soldier* album.“About two in the morning, they said, ‘Oh, we’ve been working on this song and we want everybody to come in and join in on the chorus’,”
recalled Simple Minds frontman Jim Kerr.
The song was “Play It Safe.” “Especially in that weird,surreal Rockfield surroundings,it was off the scale,”said guitarist Charlie Burchill,recalling the surreal experience. Kerr later explained to *Billboard*,”It was unimaginable to us that Iggy Pop would be in the Welsh countryside… We ran through the track a few times, and very diplomatically Bowie said, ‘Not bad, but why doesn’t everybody who doesn’t sing for a living take a few steps back from the microphone.’” Jim Kerr found himself singing alongside Pop and Bowie, a moment he fondly remembers as “fantastic.” You can listen to “play It Safe” below:
## An Unexpected Night with Rock Royalty
**Today we’re joined by Jim Kerr,frontman of the iconic Scottish band Simple Minds. Jim, thanks for joining us.**
**JK:** It’s a pleasure to be here.
**You have quite a story surrounding the recording of Iggy pop’s “Play It Safe.” Take us back to that unforgettable night in Rockfield studios.**
**JK:** [Laughing] It was truly surreal! We were recording our second album, *Real To Real Cacophony,* and truthfully, we were a bit intimidated after our first London experiance. We retreated to the peace of the Welsh countryside, not expecting to encounter rock legends. Then,in walks Iggy Pop looking for hash and David Bowie with a Heineken and a chunk of cheese.
**Sounds like the start of a great rock ‘n’ roll story! What happened next?**
**JK:** They were working on iggy’s *Soldier* album and,around 2 a.m., they invited us to join in on the chorus of “Play It Safe.” Charlie Burchill, our guitarist, called it “off the scale” given the already surreal atmosphere.
**That must have been an remarkable experience. Sharing a studio with those two icons?**
**JK:**
Unachievable to describe. Bowie, ever the diplomat, even suggested that those of us who weren’t professional singers step back from the microphone a bit [laughs].
But ultimately, there we were, jim Kerr singing alongside Iggy Pop and David Bowie. It was fantastic!
**Looking back,what’s the biggest takeaway from that night?**
**JK:** It reinforced the idea that anything is absolutely possible in the realm of music. You never know who might walk into the studio next, or what unexpected collaborations might arise.
**Do you think artists today miss out on those spontaneous, magic moments that more readily occurred in the past?**
**JK:** Maybe. Today’s music industry is so structured, so focused on schedules and budgets.Maybe we need a little more room for those unplanned, magical encounters.
**Absolutely! Now, for our readers: what’s your most memorable rock ‘n’ roll story? Have you ever had an unexpected encounter with a music legend? Share your thoughts in the comments below.**
## An Unexpected Night with Legends: Simple Minds Recall Recording with Iggy pop and David bowie
**archyde:**
Today we’re joined by two members of the iconic Scottish band, Simple Minds – jim Kerr and Charlie Burchill. Gentlemen, thank you for joining us. We’re here to talk about a notably memorable recording session in your career, one involving two music legends: Iggy Pop and David Bowie.
**Jim Kerr:** It was truly a night we’ll never forget. We were recording our second album, *Real To Real Cacophony*, at Rockfield Studios in Wales, looking for a more relaxed vibe after the intensity of our London debut.
**Charlie Burchill:** Little did we know just how “relaxed” things were about to get. Iggy Pop strolled in, looking for some hash, and Bowie followed shortly after, nursing a heineken and a chunk of cheese.It was surreal!
**Archyde:** Surreal indeed!
**Jim Kerr:** They randomly stumbled into our session. As the night went on, they asked us to join them for a recording session for Iggy’s upcoming album, *Soldier*.
**Archyde:** What song were you all working on?
**Jim Kerr:** It was a song called “Play It Safe”. Around two in the morning, they simply said, “We’ve been working on this song and we want everybody to come in and join in on the chorus.”
**Charlie Burchill:** Especially in that weird, surreal Rockfield surroundings, it was off the scale. It was an incredible experience to be part of a recording session with these two legends, wholly spontaneously.
**Archyde:**
Did you have any interaction with Iggy and Bowie outside of the recording booth that night?
**Charlie Burchill:** There were brief conversations, mainly fueled by Bowie’s Heineken and Iggy’s energy. They seemed genuinely happy to have us involved.
**Archyde:**
That must have been quite a night. What was it like to witness the creative synergy between Iggy Pop and David Bowie?
**Jim Kerr:** Just watching them interact was fascinating. There was a natural chemistry between them, a shared understanding of music that was palpable.
**Archyde:** Looking back, how do you feel about that experience? What impact did it have on your career?
**Charlie burchill:**
it was an incredible moment in our early career. Being in the studio with Iggy and David,witnessing their creativity firsthand,it definitely left a lasting impression.
**Jim Kerr**
It was a validation, a sign that we were on the right track.
It’s a story that we’ll always cherish, a reminder that you never know what magic might happen in the world of music.
**Archyde:** Thank you, Jim and Charlie, for sharing this incredible story with us. It’s a true testament to the power of music and the unexpected encounters that can shape a career.
