Panic in Detroit
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Panic in Detroit" is a song written by David Bowie for the album Aladdin Sane in 1973. Bowie based it on long-time friend Iggy Pop's descriptions of revolutionaries he had known as a youth in Michigan.[1] Rolling Stone magazine called the track "a paranoid descendant of the Motor City's earlier masterpiece, Martha and the Vandellas' "Nowhere to Run"".[2]
Musically "Panic in Detroit" has been described as a "Salsa variation on the Bo Diddley beat",[3] and features prominent conga drums and female backing vocals. The lyrics namecheck Che Guevara and are also said to contain references to John Sinclair of the White Panther Party.[3]
Bowie played the song live on tour in 1973, 1974, 1976, 1990, 1997, and 2003-4.
In 2003, Rolling Stone magazine printed its list of The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time. Mick Ronson was chosen as number 64, and this song as his "essential recording".[4]
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[edit] Live versions
- A live version recorded on July 14, 1974 was released as the B-side of the single "Knock on Wood" in 1974. The same version was also released as the B-side of the US-only single "Rock 'n' Roll With Me" in 1974, on the compilation album Rare in 1983, and finally on the re-issued David Live in 2005.
[edit] Other releases
- It was released as the B-side of the Japan release of the single "Time" in April 1973.
- It was released as picture discs in both the RCA Life Time picture disc set and the Fashion Picture Disc Set.
- It also appeared in the Sound + Vision box set (1989).
- A new version recorded in 1979 was issued as a bonus track on the Rykodisc CD release of Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) in 1992. The same recording appeared on the bonus disc of the Heathen Limited Edition double CD, mislabelled an "outtake from a 1979 recording".[5]
[edit] Cover versions
- Christian Death - The Rage of Angels (1994), Death in Detroit EP (1995) and Goth Oddity - A Tribute to David Bowie (1999)
- Shadow Project - In Tuned Out Live 93 (1994)
[edit] Notes
- ^ Nicholas Pegg (2000). The Complete David Bowie: p.160
- ^ Ben Gerson (19 July 1973). "Aladdin Sane". Rolling Stone.
- ^ a b Roy Carr & Charles Shaar Murray (1981). Bowie: An Illustrated Record: p.54
- ^ Rolling Stone (September 2003). "The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time". Rolling Stone (931).
- ^ "Panic in Detroit" at the Illustrated db Discography
