Ricky Gardiner’s Insights from David Bowie’s Low Recording

 A recently discovered set of answers to a Q and A from a Spanish music journalist , which Ricky Gardiner typed out, that give an interesting insight into the Low David Bowie session at the Chateau d'Herouville . Go intuit the questions !
Ricky also took this enigmatic kodachrome image (see below ) of the Brain Eno at the Chateau d'Herouville during these sessions

ANSWERS FOR SPAIN

1: DAVID PHONED ME AND ASKED IF I WOULD GO TO THE CHATEAU AND PUT ON SOME LEAD GUITAR. I AGREED.

2: THE IDIOT TOUR WAS GREAT FOR ME, AFTER BEGGARS OPERA, BECAUSE IT WAS ALL FIVE STAR—— MARVELLOUS.

3: I SEEMED TO FIT IN VERY WELL—- TALKING TO CARLOS, GEORGE MURRAY AND BRIAN ENO WAS A LOT OF FUN.

4: I DID PRETTY MUCH AS I WISHED. DAVID SEEMED TO BE TAKEN WITH THE TREMOLO ARM.

5: BREAKING GLASS. I LIKE YOUR DESCRIPTION ‘ LIKE MECHANICAL FUNK’.

6:’WHAT IN THE WORLD’. YOU SAY IT HAD A POWERFUL RHYTHM. IT SHOULD BE REMEMBERED THAT TONY VISCONTI, BEING A BASS PLAYER, TOOK DRUMMING VERY SERIOUSLY.

7: ‘SOUND AND VISION’. THIS WAS VERY MEMORABLE BECAUSE MARY SANG SO BEAUTIFULLY ON IT.

8: ‘ALWAYS CRASHING IN THE SAME CAR’. THIS WAS THE FIRST OF THE SOLOS I OVERDUBBED. I BELIEVE BRIAN WAS THERE. THEY, DAVID, BRIAN AND TONY, SEEMED TO LIKE IT.

9: ‘BE MY WIFE’. I LIKE THE PIANO AFTER THE INTRO. IT STRIKES ME THAT ROY WAS ON SONG THERE.

10: ‘A NEW CAREER IN A NEW TOWN’. THE THING I TAKE FROM THIS IS GEORGE MURRAY’S RIFF ON THE PRECISION BASS AT TWO MINUTES AND TWENTY THREE SECONDS.

11: CARLOS AND I GOT ON VERY WELL. OUR COLLABORATION WAS VERBAL.

12: THE ‘LUST FOR LIFE’ ALBUM JUST HAPPENED. I DO NOT REMEMBER ANYONE DIRECTING AS SUCH.

Iconic Breakfast Table: Bowie, Eno, and the Low Sessions

This atmospheric picture was taken by Ricky Gardiner at the Chateau D’Herouville during his time at the Low sessions with David Bowie. As you can see Mary Hopkin and Brian Eno are at the far end of the breakfast table. David Bowie is seated at the far right in one of two comfortable chairs. In the other chair is Morgan Visconti, son of Mary Hopkin and Tony Visconti, who kindly revisited this image. I love the vintage paraphernalia at the far end of the room: the old TV, video player, which I believe was used to watch Monty Python, the upturned blue heart on the pink poster and the random potted plants.

I think the person next to Brian Eno may be Pat Gibbons who was David Bowie management at the time

Rare Behind-the-Scenes Photos of David Bowie’s Low Sessions

From David Bowie News – I came across this post today about Ricky’s vintage photos of the Low Sessions at Chateau D’Herouville, Paris 1976 taken on his trusty Nikormat.

There are other great images in the film of the musicians who were there, but this one is especially rare as apparently, according to Tony Visconti, it is the only image there is of David Bowie, Tony Visconti and Brian Eno together.

Ricky Gardiner rip

Ricky Gardiner 1948/2022

It is with deep sadness that we annouce the passing of Ricky Gardiner Guitarist Songwriter/ Composer.
Ricky passed away in his sleep ealry in the morning of Friday the 13th of May. He had been suffering from Parkinson PSP for the last 12 years of his life.
We thank you for privacy at this time and welcome donations to https://pspassociation.org.uk to help to raise awareness of this rare condition.

Love and Light
Virginia and all the Gardiner family

Listen to Ricky’s last work ‘Songs For The Electric’ here: https://www.beggarsopera.co.uk

David Bowie Low Sessions 1976

David Bowie Low sessions at the Chateau d’Herouville 1976, featuring all the band and Tony Visconti and Brain Eno, kids and crew.

Behind the scenes photos by Ricky Gardiner’s Nikkormat camera and Kodachrome film.

Music: Night/ Songs for the Electric Ricky Gardiner and Virginia Scott

Low Chateau session photos 1976

In 1976 Ricky Gardiner played guitar on the Low David Bowie sessions in Paris at the Chateau d’Herouville.
Ricky Gardiner took some photographs in the downtime.

The Pool
The Pool

Denis Davies
Denis Davies

Carlos Alomar Carlos Alomar

Spooky Chateau
Spooky Chateau

Carlos Alomar, George Murray, Roy Young at table and Robin Clarke
Carlos Alomar, George Murray, Roy Young at table and Robin Clarke

Mary Hopkin/ Jess  Tony Visconti and Brian Eno
Mary Hopkin/ Jess Tony Visconti and Brian Eno

Mary Hopkin Brian Eno and David Bowie chilling out.
Mary Hopkin Brian Eno and David Bowie chilling out.

Tony and Morgan Visconti
Tony and Morgan Visconti