conspiracy theories over such a simple guitar riff. i'm going with the obvious choice and official line. david bowie augmented by alan parker.

Rock history is full of non credited real contributors. Ron wood is one of them . The song It's Only Rock 'n Roll (But I Like It) recorded with jagger and bowie in his personnal studio. Keith richard not agree with Mick Jagger and which deleted the Ron wood guitares part and the Bowie backing vocals in studio put his guitare part but forget to remove the track of the twelve string recorded by Ron wood. That no conspiray just a problem of egocentric and paranoïde people at this time which were drugs addict ! Maybe not one of them has memories of nights spent together to jam or selective memory

"I had no bargaining power 'cause Mick was helping me on a song called "I Can Feel the Fire" and he said, 'I tell you what – you keep "I Can Feel the Fire" and I'll keep "It's Only Rock '* Roll"'." The deal got even worse when Keith Richards became involved. "Keith wiped all my guitars off! It's David Bowie and me on backing vocals on the original track and [Faces drummer] Kenney Jones on drums. Keith said [Wood mimics a posh accent], 'I've taken the precaution of wiping all your guitars off'! But I listened to it and said, 'ah but you did leave my 12-string on there'... 'Oh dammit!' [he said]"

Ron wood / Friday 24 February 2012

But I'm agree with you Shooky , leave the credit to Bowie because he is the only one which recorded the song

Ronnie Wood wasn't a member of the Rolling Stones at the time (in fact he wasn't an 'official' member until 1990 - up to that point he was a 'paid' musician) Keith Richards and Mick Jagger ARE the Rolling Stones, if Keith wants to re-record guitars on HIS track in HIS band, that's his bag.

Not sure why the reference to 'Drug Addict', Bowie was off his box for the majority of the 70's, so much so that I'm surprised he could even remember this album.

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As Bowie said in interviews , he knows more things of his past life by his biographers !
Ron Wood wasn't paid to help Mick jagger with his composition that's was an arrangement between them as said Ron Wood and the song was recorded in his personnal studio with bowie. Keith wasn't with them and probably furious that Jagger approaches Bowie and Ron Wood. Everyone has their own vision.

having listened again, the Rebel Rebel riff is played by Alan Parker. happy to accept that Bowie came up with it but he's not playing it. he's more than likely playing the acoustic and rhythm parts though.

apologies to marcio for making a 1984 thread into one about Rebel Rebel, but at least i stuck to the same artist and album!

We'll agree to disagree, very enjoyable debate all the same


Likewise

"Bowie explained to Performing Songwriter magazine in 2003: "When I was high school, that was the riff by which all of us young guitarists would prove ourselves in the local music store. It's a real air guitar thing, isn't it? I can tell you a very funny story about that. One night, I was in London in a hotel trying to get some sleep. It was quite late, like eleven or twelve at night, and I had some big deal thing on the next day, a TV show or something, and I heard this riff being played really badly from upstairs. I thought, 'Who the hell is doing this at this time of night?' On an electric guitar, over and over [sings riff to 'Rebel Rebel' in a very hesitant, stop and start way]. So I went upstairs to show the person how to play the thing (laughs). So I bang on the door. The door opens, and I say, 'Listen, if you're going to play...' and it was John McEnroe! I kid you not (laughs). It was McEnroe, who saw himself as some sort of rock guitar player at the time. That could only happen in a movie, couldn't it? McEnroe trying to struggle his way through the 'Rebel Rebel' riff."

David bowie

John McEnroe also told the same story and bowie in this interview claims he is the author of the riff

Good to see that everybody knows different things about Bowie recordings
I'm still waiting details about songs like ARE YOU COMING? ARE YOU COMING?,
TAKE IT IN RIGHT and a lot of outtakes from 1973(the best Bowie year).
Maybe someday an ANTHOLOGY brings some light.

no, we just copy stuff from books and pretend we're smart!

But read books, collect informations from different sources and to have an objective point of view .That help to be smart . I do not pretend to know the truth but I do not believe everything that is written in a one books or in internet up to find myself more credible informations. In the case of Rebel Rebel and 73/74 bowie's Works... There is surely much to say because this is an important milestone in the choices ahead of bowie and if he was possible for him to be a real solo artist and made an album alone Bowie has never successfully imposed this fact but he put his face on the cover to pretend to be one , he needs always someone to expose his idea or find resources among other musicians or producers. Bowie is a real clever man and maybe the first to exposed and connect ideas as a D.J which mix differents musics which haven't connection and invent "new concept". Bowie is more a plastician that a musicien and it very interesting how Eno help him to accept this fact and help bowie to change his language. After their collaboration bowie talked as a painter : Textures, layers, sound and vision when he composed in 77. Of course In 76 the song station to station was a first attempt isolated composed by bowie but Eno help bowie to continue and accept this way. That's my opinion and everyone is free to have his own or think in different way.

a sense of humour also helps.

Yes Shooky i'm agree with you , Smart people i know have always a great sense of humour

Marcio , Opens a new thread and show off your information about 73/74 recording may be that members will follow. A forum is a place for discussion and debate of ideas. Bowie Works is an inexhaustible source.

Sorry Marcio ! I just realise that you was the author of this thread and not a new thread open by The_Hype and the song : Rebel Rebel