Dead Man Walking (song)

"Dead Man Walking" is a song by English musician David Bowie, released as the third single from his 21st album, Earthling (1997). Written by Bowie and Reeves Gabrels, it was a number 32 hit in the UK.

For other songs, see Dead Man Walking (disambiguation) § Music.

"Dead Man Walking"
Single by David Bowie
from the album Earthling
Released14 April 1997
RecordedLooking Glass Studio, New York City
Genre
Length7:26 (album version)
4:01 (single edit)
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
David Bowie singles chronology
"Little Wonder"
(1997)		 "Dead Man Walking"
(1997)		 "Seven Years in Tibet"
(1997)
Music video
"Dead Man Walking" on YouTube

Background

The guitar riff used in the intro dates back to the mid-1960s when Jimmy Page taught it to Bowie.[1] "Jimmy said, 'I've got this riff and I can't do anything with it. Do you want it?'" Guitarist Reeves Gabrels related: "It does sound fairly Page-y, like a mutated Johnny Burnette Trio thing."[2] Bowie used the riff for "The Supermen" in 1970, and revived it 25 years later for "Dead Man Walking".

Critical reception

British magazine Music Week rated "Dead Man Walking" five out of five, declaring it as "without doubt the best track" on the Earthling album. The reviewer noted that it "demonstrates that Bowie retains a keener ear for contemporary music and a hunger greater than many artists half his age."[3]

Live versions

Bowie played an acoustic version of the song on Late Night with Conan O'Brien with Reeves Gabrels. This was later released on the show's Live from 6A compilation album. When Bowie died in January 2016, Conan O'Brien broadcast the performance at the end of his show in remembrance. Another live version recorded at Fort Apache Studios, 8 April 1997, was broadcast at WBCN. The year after this version appeared on the album WBCN Naked Too. Bowie played a different live acoustic version of "Dead Man Walking" at a concert at Smith's Olde Bar in Atlanta, Georgia on 4 August 1997, which was hosted by Atlanta alternative rock radio station 99X. 99X later included it as a track on their 99X Live X IV "Home" CD. A July 1997 performance at the Phoenix Festival was released in 2021 on Look at the Moon! (Live Phoenix Festival 97).

Versions and remixes
TitleMix and additional productionDuration
Album VersionMark Plati7:26
EditMark Plati4:01
Moby Mix 1Moby7:31
Moby Mix 2Moby5:25
House MixMoby6:00
This One's Not Dead Yet RemixDanny Saber6:28
Vigor Mortis RemixDanny Saber6:29

Singles

Group members
  • David Bowie – production, writing credits, vocals, sampling

Charts
Charts (1997) Peak
positions
UK Singles (OCC)[5] 32

Other releases
  • It was featured in the 1997 film The Saint.
  • Two Moby mixes were released on the bonus disc of the 2004 Digibook Expanded Edition of Earthling.

Use in other media

References
  1. "Changes 2.1" by Joe Gore, Guitar Player magazine, June 1997, pp 45–58
  2. DeMain, Bill (April 2018). "Reeves Gabrels talks about David Bowie". Classic Rock. No. 247. p. 58.
  3. "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 5 April 1997. p. 28. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  4. Discogs - Zachary Alford - (profile & discography)
  5. "dead man walking | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Official Charts. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
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