Rolling Stone is releasing a David Bowie tribute issue filled with interviews and pieces reflecting on the tremendous life of the late experimental pop genius. In advance of that issue, the magazine has released letters and interviews from Mick Jagger, Nine Inch Nails' Trent Reznor, Metallica's Kirk Hammett and Bowie's bassist, Gail Ann Dorsey.
Jagger and Bowie famously paired up for "Dancing in the Street," for Live Aid in 1985, but the two were good friends well before then -- even if Jagger can't remember where and when they met. They both had unique senses of fashion and would copy one another's style and on-stage moves.
"He used to copy me sometimes, but he'd be very honest about it," Jagger told Rolling Stone. "If he took one of your moves, he'd say, 'That's one of yours -- I just tried it.' I didn't mind sharing things with him, because he would share so much with me -- it was a two-way street."
Reznor shared touching, personal thoughts on touring with Bowie, whom he considered a hero. Reznor recounts how honored he felt to share the stage with him in the '90s, but says Bowie's greater impact was as a motivator for him to get sober.
"There were a number of times where the two of us were alone, and he said some things that weren't scolding, but pieces of wisdom that stuck with me: 'You know, there is a better way here, and it doesn't have to end in despair or in death, in the bottom,'" Reznor said. A year later Reznor said he hit rock bottom and Bowie's words came back to encourage him. Read the full interview on Rolling Stone.
Hammett told stories about geeking out with Bowie on his tour bus; Bowie even offered the band a ride.
"We go up the steps, turn into the lounge and there's David with a huge grin on his face saying, 'Sit down, Sit down.' Rob [Trujillo, Metallica's bassist] and I sat down, once again the fanboy stuff came out," Hammett wrote.
