David Bowie and Placebo: the songs that will unite them forever

Placebo and David Bowie have always been very close, humanly and artistically. The voice of “Heroes”, when he was alive, spent words of appreciation and deep esteem towards Brian Molko's band and played with the group both on stage and in the studio, collaborating on the 1998 track “Without You I'm Nothing”. Bowie influenced Brian Molko enough to make him “a better person,” the Placebo frontman said in an interview with Nme in 2022.

“Although it may seem like an excessive statement, it is the truth: David Bowie taught me how to be a better person, but he passed away so I could really reflect on it. When it was happening I was far too arrogant and drunk to really understand its impact. David treated everyone he met with the same dignity, the same humanity and kindness, regardless of what their status was. Whether it was a waiter or Johnny Cash, Bowie respected you the same,” Molko said. One of the songs that will undoubtedly keep the artist and the band united forever is “Without You I'm Nothing”, taken from Placebo's second album of the same name. “When David heard it he was so enthusiastic about the song that he wanted to either cover it or record it again with the band – recalled Stefan Olsdal – it was very strange, one day he called me and said 'Hey guys, as you know I love what you do and especially that song… I would be happy to record it with you. What do you think?”. The song was re-recorded and released as a single in August of 1999with the collaboration of Bowie, becoming even more powerful and important.

There is another piece that symbolically brought together the destinies of Bowie and Placebo, but this time it's a sort of posthumous tribute. From crises, like the one they overcame before the release of the album “Never Let Me Go” released in 2022, new opportunities may also emerge and symbolic pieces such as “Happy Birthday In The Sky” may emerge. “In recent years several friends have left – Olsdal reminded Rockol – David Bowie is one of those, for us he was something more. He made us better. It is a song in which the guitars have a central role, they are powerful, but not only. It all comes from a particular way of playing by Warren Ellis with Nick Cave: uses his violin as if it were a guitar. I bought all the equipment to do the same. I got inspired by new instruments and the artists I love. Everything can be a source of growth, even the strangest things: I'm reminded of when Ellis, during a Nina Simone concert, took away some of the great jazz singer's chewing gum. The anecdote is remembered in the book 'Warren Ellis – Nina Simone's Gum', which I recently finished reading. However, if we really think of someone when we sing it, yes, David comes to mind…”.