Here's the Thing! 07/12/23
Ricky Gervais (Comedian) & David Bowie (Rock God)
Here’s the Thing!
Let's get straight to the point!
Ricky Gervais co-wrote a song with his hero/friend/pen-pal, David Bowie.
(Chubby) Little Fat Man
From an article, entitled ‘How David Bowie influenced my life and work’ published by Ricky Gervais in 2010
“The first time I met David, by the way, was at the BBC. The first series of The Office had just aired and I was invited to a special performance at TV Centre. Afterwards, in the green room, the then director general, Greg Dyke bounced over to me and Jane [Fallon, Gervais’s long-term partner] and said, “Do you wanna meet him?” I said “Oh, I don’t want to pester him.” He said, “No, come on.” He then shouted “Salman! We’re gonna say hello to David.” So there we were, with the head honcho at the Beeb and Salman Rushdie, chatting to Bowie in his dressing room. The next day I was in the pub with a mate and he said, “What did you do yesterday?” and I said, “Uh... Nothing. Just stayed in.” It seemed too weird to tell the truth.
A few years later I emailed David on his 57th birthday. It read: “57???? Isn’t it about time you got a proper job? Ricky Gervais, 42, Comedian.” He replied: “I have a proper job. David Bowie, 57, Rock God.”
I’d say that’s pretty on the money.”
Please note: I have another infotainment channel on Substack, called Unleashed & Unlimited, where I post podcasts, articles and content unrelated to music.🖋🎥🎙
There’s a few other YouTube clips of Bowie talking about Gervais, and vice versa. Bowie’s a natural comedian, perfect timing. And Gervais honestly looks like he just cannot believe that he’s really become a friend of David Bowie’s, his hero...
This was just too much fun, Nic! Obviously, being in the States, I wasn't aware of "Extras." I just finished perusing the series' Wiki entry, and find it interesting it only lasted a baker's dozen of eps. I've always loved Gervais's self-effacing humor, as well as his love of ripping open and exposing the grandiose self-importance of stardom in general, and Hollywood stars in particular (his famous Oscars speech of about a decade ago)!
And, then there's Bowie....his sense of humor and so spot-on sense of self. Only HE could pull off "Rock God" and not sound like the pompous ass anyone else in his sphere would be exposed as, if they dared use that phrase! Thanks for this! An hilarious way to start my Thursday!