Dave Grohl: David Bowie Turned Down Collaboration for Movie Song

Nirvana may have covered David Bowie's "Man Who Sold the World" in their legendary MTV: Unplugged setlist, but that's as far as Dave Grohl ever got to working with the legendary rocker. In a new video with his Foo Fighters bandmate Pat Smear, Grohl revealed that Bowie turned him down for help on a movie project.

In a new Playboy video posted by Entertainment Weekly, Grohl and Smear drive around and pay homage to some of Bowie's favorite spots. In the middle of the road trip, Grohl described emailing the "Lazarus" singer two years before his death and asking him to collaborate on a song that he was composing for a movie.

“We played his 50th birthday at Madison Square Garden in 1997,” Grohl said. “And that was the last time I saw him.”

The two then had an email exchange about a potential collaboration, but Bowie was not interested. “I watched the movie and I got to be honest, it’s not my thing… I’m not made for these times,” Bowie reportedly wrote to Grohl. “So thanks, but I’m gonna sit this one out.”

Bowie then replied with a, “Alright, well that’s settled, then. Now f*ck off,” when Growl thanked him for considering the project.

Grohl was not the only musician that the Bowie turned down during his time in the music industry. Following his death, multiple artists came out to reveal that he turned them down on musical projects, including Red Hot Chili Peppers and Coldplay.

Bowie was reportedly contacted to work on their 2002 album By The Way as well as their 2006 album Stadium Arcadium.

But bassist Flea doesn’t seem to have any hard feelings towards Bowie for turning the band down, as he got the legend’s name tattooed on his arm with the signature flash logo following Bowie’s death.

Tags

Dave Grohl, David Bowie