In a candid and emotional revelation, Scottish singing sensation Lulu has confessed to a career misstep that continues to fill her with shame decades later. The story involves none other than the late, great musical chameleon, David Bowie.
A Fateful Phone Call
The year was 1974, and David Bowie was at the peak of his 'Diamond Dogs' fame. It was during this period that he reached out to Lulu with a tantalising proposal. "He wanted to work with me," Lulu recalled during a recent BBC Radio 2 interview. "He phoned me himself."
Bowie's vision was specific and ambitious. He wasn't just suggesting a casual duet; he had a plan to completely reinvent Lulu's sound and image, aiming to propel her into a new artistic stratosphere.
The Decision That Led to a Lifetime of Regret
Despite the incredible opportunity, Lulu, then managed by her brother Billy, made a decision she now deeply regrets. "I was so ashamed after I turned it down," she admitted. The reason for the refusal? A simple, yet devastating, lack of awareness.
"I didn't know who he was," Lulu confessed with palpable remorse. At the time, engrossed in her own career trajectory, she had failed to recognise the burgeoning genius of Bowie. It was a mistake born not of malice, but of ignorance.
A Glimmer of What Could Have Been
The pair did eventually collaborate on one famous occasion, recording a spirited version of Bowie's "The Man Who Sold the World" for a 1974 TV special. This single instance offers a fleeting glimpse into the powerful creative synergy they might have shared.
Lulu now looks back on that TV performance as a bittersweet reminder of a lost future. She described Bowie as "fabulous" to work with, a sentiment that only amplifies her regret over the larger collaboration that never was.
A Lesson Learned Too Late
This story serves as a poignant 'what if' in music history. For Lulu, it's a personal lesson about the importance of recognising opportunity, even when it comes in an unfamiliar form. Her heartfelt confession resonates with anyone who has ever looked back and wondered how different things might have been.
The singer's honesty in sharing this story provides a rare and humanising glimpse into the world of pop stardom, where legendary figures are sometimes just one phone call away from a completely different destiny.
