Add Trainspotting to the long list of projects that David Bowie turned down over his career, most of which were revealed following his death. Reportedly, Bowie denied the use of his track “Golden Years” to be featured on the official soundtrack.
Trainspotting was released in 1996 and was directed by Danny Boyle. It also starred Ewan McGregor as an heroin addict. The soundtrack was comprised of songs from names Underworld, Lou Reed and Iggy Pop. According to Tristram Penn, a former EMI A&R representative who helped compile the soundtrack, “Lust For Life” by Iggy Pop was only used when Bowie turned them down.
“Boyle and Macdonald told me of the difficulties they were having clearing tracks for the film - David Bowie turned them down for example,” Penn said in an interview with Dazed. “Andrew and Danny were desperate for Bowie - if memory serves, they wanted ‘Golden Years’ for the toilet scene.”
But Trainspotting is not the only project that Bowie turned down during his lengthy career. According to NME, Boyle was also denied use of the music to in order to make a biopic of Bowie.
One notable celebrity turned down by Bowie was Dave Grohl, who had asked for help on a song he was composing for a movie. According to Grohl, the two had an email exchange about the project, but Bowie expressed no interest. “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 in the email. “So thanks, but I’m gonna sit this one out.”
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