Here is a set of answers to questions sent to Ricky Gardiner re the recording of the David Bowie Low album by French journalist Jerome Solingy. Sadly I do not have the questions but I thought there are a few interesting points in the answers for those who are interested.

I am not sure but the interview may have been related to Jerome’s book about David Bowie https://www.davidbowienews.com/2023/06/david-bowie-rainbowman-1967-1980-by-jerome-soling-published-in-english-this-september/

Answers are printed as found in Ricky’s papers.

Mr. Soligny,

                   My apologies for the tardy response.

1/. Tony was involved (although I have no evidence that he, alone, was responsible for my appearance on the ‘LOW’ album). 

I knew nothing of David’s music at the time so I was neither a big or small fan of his music.

2/. My memories of the ‘LOW’ album mostly involve the other musicians although I do remember David doing Marc Bolan impressions and his, apparently spontaneous, rendering of the vocal to ‘SOUND AND VISION’. It was most impressive!

For me, the recording was completely conventional…It was in the mixing that anything else happened.

I found David easy to work with and yes I enjoyed being part of the project.

3/. Yes. I then toured with Iggy and David. I understand that memory is a construct. However, I remember the two little boys (for such they were) running up the hotel corridor and knocking on my door and asking if my wife, Virginia, was coming out to play? I do not think they were joking.

I remember Hunt and myself laying back on a track so much that it, imperceptibly, slowed down. I do not remember which track it was … or which gig.

4/. I seem to remember that HANSA could be rendered into different spaces by the judicious arrangement of the curtains. It was/is a large space.

Berlin, was very strange then. It had been the capitol of Germany but was now an island of, so called, plenty surrounded by the grey decay of East Germany with colourless posters advertising holidays in Poland…very strange!

Writing with the two boys was easy and plain sailing. David had a small upright piano and I had my unplugged strat and Iggy had a recording device that was beyond description. (I have since used cassette devices to great advantage). 

Working with the boys I took as much space as I needed … I am not greedy.

5/. …

6/. My favourite David album is OUTSIDE.

RICKY