Legendary Sex Pistols drummer Paul Cook was a prominent attendee at the opening night of the David Bowie: You're Not Alone exhibition at Lightroom in London. The 69-year-old rocker, accompanied by his wife Jeni, walked the red carpet and shared candid reflections on his decades-long career and the evolving music landscape.
Growing Disdain for the Industry
While speaking with press on the red carpet, Cook did not hold back his feelings about the music business. "I'll tell you where it's going, I just hate the industry more and more the older I get!" he declared with a laugh. This blunt statement highlighted his frustration with changes he has witnessed over the years, though he did not specify details about what aspects he finds most troubling.
Bowie's Enduring Influence
Cook spoke earnestly about David Bowie's significant impact on his own career and music in general. "He was one of us, really. He's a London boy, and we all felt he was one of us. And he'll always be a really important influence on lots of people forever. I think Bowie, it will never go away. He'll always be there," he explained.
He elaborated on Bowie's legacy, noting that the glam rock era was influential during his youth, but his personal favorites were the later works. "The Bowie legacy, oh, just a massive influence when we were growing up with him and all the rest of the glam rock artists. He was the one, different. He was the one. Yeah, he was the man," Cook said. He specifically praised Bowie's Berlin period, which produced albums like Low, Heroes, and The Lodger. "When he moved to Berlin and made those three albums, when he moved on from his glam rock, that was my favourite. Well, never heard anything like it before, really from a pop artist superstar, he just went off, changing a totally different direction, and it was brilliant."
Celebrity Connections and Tributes
Cook and his wife were photographed with Boy George at the event, reflecting long-standing ties as Jeni was a backing singer for Culture Club, and Boy George is godfather to their daughter Hollie. Boy George also paid tribute to Bowie, stating, "I always think, what would he do? When Bowie approached drum and bass or disco, he did it in a very unique way, and I think that's what I've tried to do. I learned from my most influential hero."
He added, "Listen, Bowie was a straight guy in makeup. So for a gay boy to be influenced so heavily by straight people, Mark Bolan and David Bowie, so many people from the 70s that were really basically straight guys, but they understood that sexuality was an interesting place to play around with. He was such a great ally and person to inspire." This touched on Bowie's complex public persona regarding sexuality, as he came out as bisexual in the 70s but later described himself as "a closet heterosexual" in the 80s, often remaining ambiguous on the topic.
Event Highlights and Exhibition Details
The opening night attracted other notable figures from music and entertainment, including:
- Noel Gallagher of Oasis
- Jake Shears from Scissor Sisters
- Damian Lewis, actor from Homeland
- Indira Varma, star of The Other Bennett Sister
David Bowie: You're Not Alone is available to experience at Lightroom in London from April 22 until June 28, offering fans an immersive look into the iconic musician's life and work.
