Word In Your Ear How Tony Visconti keeps the Bowie flag flying
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Apr 2, 2026 
Tony Visconti, legendary record producer and musician who shaped David Bowie’s sound and founded the Bowie celebration band Holy Holy. He recalls early London gigs, forming instant bonds with Bowie, secret-making around The Next Day and Blackstar, life at Haddon Hall, and how Holy Holy keeps Bowie’s live magic alive with a new tour and singer Glenn Gregory.
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How A 20 Minute Arrangement Opened Doors
- Tony Visconti describes arriving in London in 1967 and quickly getting studio work with Denny Cordell, writing a 20-minute arrangement that launched his UK career.
- He recounts recording at Phil Ramone's studio and being 21 when he threw his score in front of the band, which led to sustained arranging work for AdVision sessions.
First Glimpse Of The Middle Earth Phenomenon
- Tony recalls seeing Tyrannosaurus Rex at Middle Earth and recognizing a reverent audience of kids sitting cross-legged like a congregation.
- He realized instantly it was a phenomenon and connected with that intimate, almost church-like performance vibe.
How A Walk And A Film Cemented A Friendship
- Tony describes meeting 19-year-old David Bowie after listening to his demo at Essex Music and instantly hitting it off over shared interests like Tibetan Buddhism.
- They left the office, walked Oxford Street, ended in Chelsea and watched Polanski's A Knife in the Water the same night.