FAME
A Project conceived by
MICHAEL D. MELDRU
Producer at DOAMAI (Dead Or Alive Media Arts International)
Using an analogue safety copy of the original recording, made in 1975, written by David Bowie, John Lennon and Carlos Alomar. The tracks were performed by:
• David Bowie – lead vocals, guitar
• John Lennon – backing vocals, guitar, production, tape loops
• Carlos Alomar – guitar
• Emir Ksasan – bass
• Dennis Davis – drums
As Chris O’Leary states in “Pushing Ahead of the Dame”;
“There are no horns, no backing chorus singers (just Lennon’s squeaked-out “fame” and the varispeed vocals at the end), no keyboards save for a backwards piano track that appears in the intro and briefly shows up later.”
Our intent is to add these missing pieces, backing chorus, horns, keyboards, and strengthen the guitars creating a version that whilst holding on to the raw primal energy given in the session itself, to give it some flesh, some meat, a body that dances with abandon.
SUMMARY:
Dead Or Alive Media Arts International (DOAMAI) proposes:
To produce a remake a derivative work of the original 1975 recording of “Fame” by David Bowie.
A collective project amongst artists and individuals who have worked with him throughout his career using a 2 inch, 24 track safety copy of the original recording with David Bowie and John Lennon.
To invite nominated emerging artists to participate alongside the veteran artists as a way of showing their support for the new generation of musicians coming onto the scene.
To issue a single of this production for airplay, sales, distribution and download within the parameters of modern downloading through iTunes, and other download platforms.
To produce a video of the production process, further enhancing the scope of the production, allowing viewers to see and meet those artists that have been integral in the making of this product.
To make this video available for sale as a documentary, and for download on all selected pay to play platforms.
To donate a part of the receipts from this project to Cancer Research in Bowie’s name
WHO WE ARE
Michael Meldru:
Michael’s work includes video, film, digital and traditional photography, theatre, site specific performance / installation, sound and music.
“I am a sound artist who trained as a musician since the age of five. All of my teachers beneficially informed me and raised my awareness of my identity as both creator of noise and as composer of music. I studied Classical Piano administered by Catholic nuns, Spanish Classical Guitar with Ben Caserta, who studied with Segovia, these giving me discipline. Charlie Cooley, who toured and played guitar with Duke Ellington, smoothed me out with jazz, swing and bebop during my early teens. Russ Faith who scored many successful films guided me on composition and harmony, all very fortunate encounters.”
Michael similarly works as a photographer, and as a video artist and audio / video engineer. He began his career in New York, toured throughout the Americas in the seventies and early eighties as an A/V engineer, and eventually settled in Europe in the late 1980’s. Michael has worked with highly acclaimed international artists such as:
Blood Sweat and Tears, Chaka Khan, Aretha Franklin, Patti La Belle, Marvin Gaye, Jess Roden, Niominka Bi N’Diaxas Band, Pentangle, Court of Miracles, Iggy Pop, Life After Bob, The Fugitives, Uprising (Barbados), Bobby Colomby, Marina Moreno
He has worked across Europe, Asia and the USA in a variety of roles and projects throughout the 80’s, 90’s, and now in the new century. Michael has collaborated with many artists from all ranges of art forms, this owing to the extensive nature of his work and career. Among the bodies that have commissioned projects or shown works having benefited from Michaels’ participation and input:
South West Arts, Watershed, Electric Pavilion, Electric December, Arnolfini Live, Bristol City Council, Venice City Council, Maison de Radio France, FR3 (France), Canal+, WWF (World Wildlife Foundation), Galleria 3D Venice, University of West of England, Tate Liverpool
Bernard Indeau:
Bernard is first and foremost a musician, fluent on many instruments, guitar, violin, bass, accordion, all electronic keyboards, drums, percussion, and many folk instruments from the early 17th century. He has an extensive knowledge of R&B, Soul, Reggae, and traditional French folk music. He is a producer, engineer and arranger.
It is on the eastern heights of Périgord near Hautefort (Boisseuilh), that Bernard Indeau laid down his suitcases as a musician and built the Studio des Collines. It is situated in a natural setting, providing a peaceful environment, in a spacious and comfortable recording studio with the acoustics favouring a 'live' recording process. The sound recording room is 50m2 under 4m50 of ceiling, the control cabin of 20m2. Rather dedicated to analogue recording, it is also equipped with digital equipment. Bernard lets you enjoy his experience on both sides of the console and everything is done here for the musicians' comfort. The studio website: www.studiodescollines.com
Bernard and Michael have been associated in many different aspects of their professional lives in both recording and touring. They have jointly engineered and mixed Niominka-Bi N'Diaxas Band – Fati Yoon (Marchons Ensemble). Over a period of ten years they frequently toured together, Bernard on guitar as band leader, and Michael as FOH engineer. Early on they worked together at Studio de Manoir to produce an album authored and composed by Bernard, “Le Monde Est Un Oiseau Blessé”. Throughout their long association they have performed together as musicians, and have been involved in many productions in various roles with artists throughout Europe and further afield.
THE PROJECT:
We are in possession of a Copy of the original recording of “Fame” by David Bowie, particularly the Safety Copy #05, of the 1975 recording on 2 inch 24 track. It has 16 tracks of musical information and one track of SMPTE time code printed on it. It is in pristine condition and can be digitised and/or synced with another 24 track machine using the original timecode, therefore providing additional space for tracks to be recorded. We have two Otari MX80 machines available to work with in the Studio des Collines, in Hautefort (Boisseuilh), France.
Having been fortunate enough to have found this gem of a recording, we have decided that this is an occasion to re-unite so many of the artists that have worked with Bowie throughout his career. In the spirit of David Bowie’s interest of working across platforms our goal is to create an exciting testament of his artistic contribution to the world we have lived in, are living in and the future that we consider to be framed, shaped and influenced by his genius. We have envisioned collaboration amongst these various artists, paying tribute to the man who has influenced so many of the musicians, producers, artists and performers throughout the course of the past 40 years and more. In addition we would also like to extend the opportunity to a select few emerging artists who would be nominated by the record companies that will be participating in this venture. The resulting product would then be issued as a single, ideally with a video produced that would be a narrative and a biopic of the process, thus an enhancement to the collaboration and single issue.
In addition, we would like to donate a part of the monies generated from this project to help victims of cancer live a more comfortable and sustainable life.
Artists with whom we would like to extend an invitation to participate are as follows:
Adrian Belew, Brian Eno, David Sanborn, Earl Slick, Gerry Leonard, Iggy Pop, Ken Scott, Marianne Faithfull, Mick Jagger, Mick Ralphs, Mike Garson, Tony Visconti, Nile Rodgers, Peter Frampton, Reeves Gabrels, Robert Fripp, Scarlett Johansonn, Tina Turner, Trent Reznor.
This is not an exhaustive listing, there is scope for inclusion within this list of choices for all interested parties to nominate artists to us, Bernard Indeau and Michael Meldru as producers of this thrilling project.
