"Heroes" (David Bowie song)
"'Heroes'" is a song by the English musician David Bowie from his 12th studio album of the same name. Co-written by Bowie and Brian Eno and co-produced by Bowie and Tony Visconti, the song was recorded in mid-1977 at Hansa Studio 2 in West Berlin. The backing track was recorded fully before lyrics were written; Bowie and Eno added synthesiser overdubs while Robert Fripp contributed guitar. To record the vocal, Visconti devised a "multi-latch" system, wherein three microphones were placed at different distances from Bowie and would open when he sang loud enough. Like other album tracks, he improvised lyrics while standing at the microphone.
One of the A-side labels for the UK vinyl single
Bowie composed the song with multi-instrumentalist Brian Eno (pictured in 2008), who had the word heroes in mind for the initial chord sequence.
Co-producer Tony Visconti (pictured in 2007) devised the "multi-latch" system used to record the lead vocal and sang backing vocals.
The song features guitar lines from Robert Fripp (pictured in 2007).
"Heroes" (David Bowie album)
"Heroes" is the 12th studio album by the English musician David Bowie, released on 14 October 1977 through RCA Records. Recorded in collaboration with the musician Brian Eno and the producer Tony Visconti, it was the second release of his Berlin Trilogy, following Low, released in January the same year, and the only one wholly recorded in Berlin. Sessions took place in mid-1977 after Bowie completed work on Iggy Pop's second solo album Lust for Life. Much of the same personnel from Low returned for "Heroes", augmented by the King Crimson guitarist Robert Fripp.
The guitar playing of Robert Fripp (pictured in 2007) greatly influenced the songs on "Heroes".
"Heroes" marked the second collaboration between Bowie and Brian Eno (pictured in 2008). Compared to Low, the sessions saw the use of Eno's Oblique Strategies cards, which were intended to spark creative ideas.
American composer Philip Glass (pictured in 1993) adapted "Heroes" into a classical music symphony in 1997.