4 of David Bowie’s Biggest Artistic Inspirations

There has never been a major artist out there that wasn’t at least a little bit inspired by someone else. There’s no shame in that; our inspirations shape us into something unique, though keenly aware of other types of art around us. David Bowie was one legend who was inspired by a number of interesting writers, musicians, and artists. Let’s take a deep dive into just four of David Bowie’s biggest artist inspirations!

1. William S. Burroughs

One of David Bowie’s biggest inspirations wasn’t even a musician. He was a big fan of beat writing, particularly from the stylings of author William S. Burroughs. Specifically, Bowie was a fan of Burroughs’ vocabulary and writing style.

“I have always been drawn to the Bill Burroughs of this world, who produce a vocabulary that is not necessarily a personal one, but something that is made up of ciphers and signifiers which are regurgitated, reformed, and re-accumulated,” Bowie once said.

2. Syd Barrett

Who wasn’t inspired by Pink Floyd’s Syd Barrett? Bowie, in particular, loved bohemian culture and counterculture as a whole. So, it only makes sense that he’d gravitate toward the talented songwriter and musician.

Bowie once said that Barett was a “major inspiration” for him and that he appreciated his charisma and originality as a songwriter. He also noted that Barrett was “the first guy I’d heard to sing pop or rock with a British accent. His impact on my thinking was enormous.”

3. John Lennon

The Beatles influenced countless musicians, artists, songwriters, and authors that popped up during and after the 1960s. They aren’t known as the greatest band of the 20th century for no reason! It makes sense why Bowie was a fan of them, particularly the “smart one” a.k.a. John Lennon. Bowie’s praise of Lennon was pretty substantial, and he even said that Lennon was his “greatest mentor.”

“I guess he defined for me, at any rate, how one could twist and turn the fabric of pop and imbue it with elements from other art forms,” Bowie said.

4. Daniel Johnston

Now this is an underrated entry on our list of David Bowie’s greatest inspirations! Daniel Johnston was an underground outsider art icon, and Bowie took notice of him long after he became a world-famous superstar. Perhaps it was Bowie’s hunger for anything that showcased the unique aspects of the human condition that led to his love of Daniel Johnston’s stripped-down, heartwrenching, and untrained musical talents.

Bowie even referred to Johnston as a “one-man Beach Boys” and called his work “beautiful, poignant, sad little pieces.” That’s a great way to describe him, in our opinion.

Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

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