David Bowie’s Real Indulgence After Getting Sober

In the wild days of the ’70s, David Bowie didn’t shy away from experimenting with various illegal substances, as confessed by his long-time guitarist Earl Slick in his new book, Guitar.

Reflecting on those times, Slick reminisces:

“We’d sit in the control room and blow our brains out and not start working ’till hours later. Sometimes days later.”

Fast forward to 2013, when Bowie and Slick reunited for sessions that birthed The Next Day. Slick notes a significant shift in their approach, saying:

“We were older, obviously, and there was no dope – none. By 2012, we had long-time sobriety. It wasn’t even a part of our lives anymore. But what we were doing then was hammering espresso.”

Their more responsible indulgences included enjoying toasted almond biscotti from a local bakery during rehearsals. Slick fondly recalls Bowie’s penchant for these treats, sharing:

“David would smash a whole box of them. He’d kill them along with his espresso, of course.”

Bowie’s Smash Hit After a Decade

The Next Day marked Bowie’s triumphant return after a decade-long hiatus, topping charts in the U.K. and landing at No. 2 on the Billboard 200. Recorded secretly between May 2011 and October 2012, the album’s sessions were characterized by a cozy studio setup where Bowie and Slick felt right at home. “We had a very big control room, and we made ourselves at home and were like pigs in shit,” Slick quips, comparing their current state to their past hedonistic escapades.

While The Next Day celebrated Bowie’s resurgence, his subsequent album, Blackstar, released in 2016, took on a more somber tone as it arrived just days before his untimely death at 69. Despite the changes in lineup and circumstances, Bowie’s legacy endures, leaving an indelible mark on music history.