During his decades-long career, David Bowie created numerous personas for himself. But who knew he also excelled at adopting other people’s personas?
Nearly two weeks after the “Ziggy Stardust” legend’s death of cancer at age 69, newly unearthed audio of the singer impersonating a number of other musicians has emerged. In the recording, Bowie can be heard mimicking Bruce Springsteen, Tom Waits, Iggy Pop and Lou Reed.
According to Talkhouse, the spoofs were captured during a 1985 recording session for the soundtrack of “Absolute Beginners.”
Zach Staggers, of the band The So So Glos, said that the recording had come from family friend and record producer Mark Saunders. Staggers’ father “recovered it from an old iPod” following the singer’s death.
Bowie is clearly having fun as he wraps his vocal chords around the stylings of the Boss and others; “I’m just fucking about now,” he jokes before launching into his Tom Waits impression.
Listen to Bowie make like a chameleon once again below.