Some artists don’t just make music — they define entire generations. John Lennon and David Bowie were two such figures. Together, they represented everything powerful about fame in the late 20th century: creativity, freedom, rebellion, and influence. They were talented, fearless, and endlessly talked about. But behind all that glory, both men also understood the darker side of being famous.
By the time the world entered the 1970s, Lennon and Bowie had already experienced what it meant to live under constant attention. They were celebrated everywhere, yet trapped by their own success. Every move they made was watched, every word analysed. Fame gave them power, but it also took away privacy, peace, and sometimes even control over their own lives.
For John Lennon, this pressure started early. During the height of Beatlemania in the 1960s, he became one of the most recognised people on the planet. Millions loved him, but few truly understood what that level of attention did to a person. You can hear his emotional struggle in The Beatles’ song “Help!”, which sounds cheerful but carries a message of loneliness. Over time, that quiet sadness grew stronger.
By 1970, Lennon openly confronted these feelings in his solo song “God.” In it, he stripped away everything society expected him to believe in — fame, idols, and false security. It was the sound of a man trying to free himself from the prison of celebrity. Because of this journey, Lennon entered the 1970s with a rare kind of wisdom about the music industry and fame itself.
At the same time, the music world was changing fast. Excess was everywhere. Drugs, bad contracts, and greedy management became common problems for young artists. Many musicians didn’t realise they were being taken advantage of until it was too late. Lennon, having already lived through these mistakes, became someone others could learn from.
One artist who needed that guidance was David Bowie. Bowie’s fame was rising rapidly, and unlike Lennon, he didn’t have a stable band around him to help share the pressure. He was creative, ambitious, and vulnerable — a dangerous mix in an industry that often prioritised profit over people.
When Lennon and Bowie crossed paths in the mid-1970s, their connection went beyond music. During studio sessions, they talked openly about fame, business, and control. These conversations inspired their collaboration on the song “Fame.” While the track became a major hit, its message was clear: fame is not something to worship. It can chew you up if you’re not careful.
The lyrics of “Fame” reflect exhaustion, frustration, and the feeling of being owned by the industry. It was a warning disguised as a funk song. For Bowie, the track became a reminder of what he never wanted to lose — his independence.
Lennon also gave Bowie direct advice about management. He told him that relying on one powerful manager could be dangerous. This advice stuck. In 1975, Bowie ended his relationship with his manager Tony Defries. While Defries had helped Bowie reach global success, the partnership had also become limiting. Bowie decided to take more control of his career by hiring people for specific roles instead of handing everything over to one person.
In the end, “Fame” stands as more than just a song. It represents a moment where two legends shared hard-earned truths about success. Lennon passed on wisdom born from pain, and Bowie used it to protect his future. Their story reminds us that fame may look glamorous — but understanding it is what keeps artists truly free.