Described by Visconti as a Bowie look a like, Zaine Griff was once groomed as the next David Bowie.

He studied with dance and movement teacher Lindsay Kemp and made two albums - 1980's Ashes & Diamonds (co-produced by Tony Visconti) and 1982's Figures which featured fellow mime student Kate Bush on backing vocals for the title track, a tribute to Kemp.

Through Visconti, Zaine met Bowie . Together, they re-recorded three Bowie songs with Griff's band. One of these was the new version of Space Oddity.

Tony Visconti said last year: "The acoustic version of 'Space Oddity' was recorded for the Kenny Everett show later in 1979, and was never meant to be a single. Andy Duncan is on drums and a Bowie look-a-like, Zaine Griff, is on bass. I temporarily forget the pianist. David, again, played 12 string."

I am just wondering if anyone has heard music by this Griff fellow and also whether you might want to speculate what the other two songs were. (I could take a guess at Panic in Detroit but I don't have the S&V liner notes handy).










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Well, this is pretty fascinating because according to this site, the other song they apparantly worked on was an UNRELEASED 1980 VERSION of Rebel Rebel.

(Has anyone even known of the existence of such a track up until now?)

Shortly after Bowie released “Lodger” in 1979 he was introduced to Zaine by Tony Visconti (Zaine’s producer on “Ashes & Diamonds”). Although little is known about the recording sessions Bowie did join Zaine and his band to re-record 3 tracks, “Space Oddity”, “Panic In Detroit” and “Rebel Rebel”. The re-recorded version of “Space Oddity” was subsequently released as the b-side on the 7” and 12” of “Alabama Song” released in 1980. Both “Space Oddity” and “Panic In Detroit” surfaced on the 1992 Sound and Vision CD re-release of “Scary Monsters and Super Creeps” as bonus tracks. Unfortunately this version has been deleted and the bonus tracks do not appear on the recently released remastered version of the album. The version of “Rebel Rebel” that was recorded during this session has never seen and official release although may exist on a bootleg.



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You're sure it's not Nik Kershaw?



And I want to believe
In the madness that calls 'now'

I mentioned this session a couple weeks ago. I have also seen Rebel Rebel listed amongst song owned by people in trading inner circles. I haven't been able to find a copy of the 3rd song from this session.

Exclusing the Outside outtakes, Rebel Rebel was the last studio outtake to be leaked to bootleggers. Otherwise Bowie keeps really tight security on his unreleased recordings.

BFP

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I am just wondering if anyone has heard music by this Griff fellow

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I have a promo release of Ashes & Diamonds but I haven't listened to it in years so I really can't remember what it sounds like.
You can download "Flowers" here. Scroll down to the BV's & Samples section for a complete mp3 of that song.

If you don't have anything nice to say, go to London and say it in front of 2000 people. NM.

I checked out the linear notes of Heathen and it's him allright on Panic in Detroit.
The only thing I know about this guy is that he delivered some backing vocals on Gary Numan's Berserker.

"yes, I think I will experience a light depression around 9:00 Wednesday which will worsen until 13:00, after which I will probably experience an elevation of mood"
StrangeDivine

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The only thing I know about this guy is that he delivered some backing vocals on Gary Numan's Berserker

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Just about sums him up then duznt it , poor guy

______________________
Humming Rheingold
We scavenge up our clothes
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London Bye Ta-Ta...

Thanks for the MP3 link. I will reserve my opinion until I have heard the song a few more times.

Apart from Gary Numan, it should also be noted that Griff played "bass overdubs" on what is widely considered the greatest Kinks album of the last 30 years, 1978's Misfits. What I find extraordinary is this guy who worked with the so many great artists in a short amount of time has seemingly vanished without a trace post 1983. Is he still alive?

Here he is with Steve Strange (left) who appeared in Bowie's Ashes to Ashes video:



And with Mary Hopkin who was married to Tony Visconti:




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How nice, the little dickwad is hurling his petty insults behind my back. DD you little cunt, if you want a genuine shittossing contest then i'm up for it. I can be a hell of a lot nastier than PHOENIX...

I'd love to be like me
If I could feel like you
Give your children a brighter future, bozo Diamondogz74 today! 27 bozos and counting!

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How nice, the little dickwad is hurling his petty insults behind my back. DD you little cunt, if you want a genuine shittossing contest then i'm up for it. I can be a hell of a lot nastier than PHOENIX...

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For goodness sakes it was a joke, have you NO humour ?

And besides this Bowie look-alike is terrible, theres only one Bowie, looking like him gives him NO credence what so ever.

You can be as nasty as you wish? besides you are not even real

______________________
Humming Rheingold
We scavenge up our clothes
______________________
London Bye Ta-Ta...