Dirty Boys

Album: The Next Day (2013)
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Songfacts®:

  • This bump 'n' grinder finds Bowie heading off to "Finchley Fair" in search of excitement. "When the sun goes down and the die is cast," he croons, "and you have no chance. We will run with the dirty boys." Producer Tony Visconti told NME: "That's probably looking back at glam rock. Not him - the other dirty boys!"

    The Finchley Fair is a large fun fair that has been held every year in Victoria Park, Finchley each July, dating back to 1905.
  • The song features Steve Elson's sleazy baritone sax. Visconti told Rolling Stone: "It's dark and it's sexy. There's a fantastic sax solo. You know, David plays baritone sax, but he invited his friend Steve Elson to do the baritone on this album. I think Steve was in the Saturday Night Live band. He's a little guy, and he's got a huge baritone sax, and he plays this dirty solo in it that sounds like stripper music from the 1950s. Old bump-and-grind stripper music . . . It wouldn't be out of place on Young Americans."

    Veteran saxophonist Steve Elson joined Bowie's band on his 1983 Serious Moonlight Tour and also appeared on his Let's Dance, Tonight, Never Let Me Down and Heathen albums.

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