Elvis Presley: David Bowie ‘Couldn’t Believe’ They Had the Same Birthday — ‘He Was a Major Hero of Mine’
Elvis Presley and David Bowie shared a birthday. During an interview, Bowie said he had a strong reaction to this. During his Ziggy Stardust era, Bowie watched Elvis perform live. Bowie regretted something about his own appearance during the concert because he felt Elvis might’ve noticed it.
What David Bowie thought of sharing a birthday with Elvis Presley
Elvis was born on January 8, 1935, while Bowie was born on January 8, 1947. According to the book Bowie on Bowie: Interviews and Encounters with David Bowie, Bowie discussed learning he had the same birthday as the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll. “I was absolutely mesmerized by it,” he said, grinning. “I couldn’t believe it.”
Bowie had a favorable opinion of Elvis. “He was a major hero of mine,” Bowie revealed. “And I was probably stupid enough to believe that having the same birthday as him actually meant something.”
What happened when David Bowie went to an Elvis Presley concert
Subsequently, Bowie discussed crossing paths with Elvis. “I came over for a long weekend,” he recalled. “I remember coming straight from the airport and walking into Madison Square Garden very late. I was wearing all my clobber from the Ziggy period and I had great seats near the front.”
Bowie revealed why he regretted his choice of outfit. “The whole place just turned to look at me and I felt like a right c***,” he said. “I had brilliant red hair, some huge padded space suit and those red boots with big black soles. I wished I’d gone for something quiet, because I must have registered with him. He was well into his set.”
The way listeners reacted to the singers in the United Kingdom
Elvis and Bowie were popular in Bowie’s native United Kingdom; however, one of the singers was far more popular. According to The Official Charts Company, 21 Elvis songs topped the charts.
The songs in question are “Can’t Help Falling in Love/”Rock-a-Hula Baby,” “Good Luck Charm,” “She’s Not You,” “Return to Sender,” “(You’re the) Devil in Disguise,” “Crying in the Chapel,” “The Wonder of You,” “Way Down,” “One Night”/”I Got Stung,” “All Shook Up,” “Jailhouse Rock,” “A Fool Such As I”/”I Need Your Love Tonight,” “It’s Now or Never,” “Are You Lonesome Tonight?,” “Wooden Heart,” “Surrender,” “(Marie’s the Name) His Latest Flame”/”Little Sister,” and Junkie XL’s remix of “A Little Less Conversation.”
Rereleases of “One Night/”I Got Stung,” “It’s Now or Never,” and “Jailhouse Rock” topped the chart as well.
Meanwhile, The Official Charts Company reports Bowie had five No. 1 songs in the U.K. Those songs are “Space Oddity,” “Ashes to Ashes,” “Under Pressure,” “Let’s Dance,” and “Dancing in the Street.” Bowie was an Elvis fan and they both found success in the U.K.
