Here’s a nice glimpse into rock history on this mournful day. In 1996, David Byrne inducted David Bowie into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Byrne does a fantastic job summing up Bowie’s legacy in American music and culture. 

“When David Bowie came along, rock ‘n’ roll needed a shot in the arm,” Byrne said.  “And when I first saw him, it was a shock and yet it was very familiar. It was very necessary.”

Go listen to Black Star today too.

YouTube video

This article appears in The Comics Issue.

Eric Sandy is an award-winning Cleveland-based journalist. For a while, he was the managing editor of Scene. He now contributes jam band features every now and then.