Paris (AFP)

David Bowie on keyboards for Iggy Pop on stage? This is one of the facets of their fascinating collaboration, given pride of place with the release of the "Iggy Pop, The Bowie Years" box set on Friday.

Remastered versions of the cult solo albums of "L'Iguane", "The Idiot" and "Lust for Life", co-produced with Bowie (1977), are the pieces of choice from this set of 7 CDs, rich in demos, rarities , and unpublished lives (Universal Music).

"It's a story of admiration, David Bowie always gets closer to people who bluff him, this is the case with Iggy Pop", summarizes for AFP Jérôme Soligny, author of a reference book on Bowie ( "Rainbowman" / Gallimard) whose second volume is expected in the fall.

"The first time Bowie sees him is in a photo, where Iggy literally walks over the crowd in a concert, with his short hair and silver pants. Then he hears it with the Stooges. Bowie loves the + performer + and the lyricist of + No Fun + ". And Bowie will mix "Raw Power" by Stooges (1973).

Then, Iggy hits rock bottom and goes himself to a psychiatric institution, "because he does not feel well, perhaps also to hide from dealers he does not pay," says Soligny. "Bowie is one of the few people who will see him." The author of "Station To Station" then puts the American "in his suitcases", including direction France and Germany. Bowie opens Iggy to European culture, "he educates him", summarizes Soligny.

The song "Lust For Life" was born in Berlin when an episode of "Starsky and Hutch" was preceded by a series of beeps on TV that inspired them. "David (...) immediately found a series of chords (...) and made me + Go ahead, write lyrics on it. You will only have to call this song + Lust For Life + ", relates Iggy in" Rainbowman ".

Crushed by the lack of enthusiasm of his record company to support his album "Low", Bowie then accompanies Iggy for his tour, also an opportunity to "watch" the latter, develops Soligny.

Spectators of "L'Iguane" concerts are therefore surprised to see Bowie sitting on the keyboards in one corner of the stage. "A lot of people don't realize at the start that it is Bowie. The musicians on this tour say that Bowie enjoys this role," says Soligny.

Another beautiful hand extended by the Englishman: he will offer the title "China Girl" (present on "The Idiot") a new life on his album "Let's Dance" (1983). "Bowie thinks, if the album works, Iggy, with the rights, will be immune to the need and may stop his chemical nonsense, describes Soligny. And that's what is happening, the success coming. altruism is not usual in show business. Iggy will be eternally grateful to him. "

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