"Tin Machine" is a song by Anglo-American hard rock band

Tin Machine Tin Machine were a British–American rock band formed in 1988, and fronted by English singer-songwriter David Bowie. The band consisted of Bowie on lead vocals, saxophone and guitar; Reeves Gabrels on guitar and vocals; Tony Fox Sales on ba ...

, and the song from which they took their name, a track from their debut album, also of the same name. It was released as a single in September 1989, as a double A-side with a live cover of Bob Dylan’s “

Maggie's Farm "Maggie's Farm" is a song written by Bob Dylan, recorded on January 15, 1965, and released on the album '' Bringing It All Back Home'' on March 22 of that year. Like many other Dylan songs of the 1965–66 period, "Maggie's Farm" is based on elect ...

”.

Song development and live performances

According to guitarrist

Reeves Gabrels Reeves Gabrels (born June 4, 1956) is an American guitarist, songwriter and record producer. A member and guitarist of British band the Cure since 2012, Gabrels worked with David Bowie from 1987 to 1999, and was a member of the band Tin Machine. ...

, naming the band after the song was the idea of the Sales brothers, who reasoned "It’s like having your own theme tune". "Maggie’s Farm" and the other live tracks were recorded at the band’s gig at

La Cigale La Cigale (; English: ''The Cicada'') is a theatre located at 120, boulevard de Rochechouart near Place Pigalle, in the 18th arrondissement of Paris. The theatre is part of a complex connected to the Le Trabendo concert venue and the Boule No ...

, Paris on 25 June 1989. Both songs had videos – "Tin Machine" featured in an excerpt from Julien Temple’s promotional film as a mock performance where the fans stormed the stage, leaving lead vocalist

David Bowie David Robert Jones (8 January 194710 January 2016), known professionally as David Bowie ( ), was an English singer-songwriter and actor. A leading figure in the music industry, he is regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the ...

with a nosebleed; and "Maggie’s Farm" was recorded live. Despite this, the double-A side entered the chart at its UK No. 48 peak. The live version of "Bus Stop" (also released as the Country version, or Live Country version) would later appear as a bonus track on 1995

Virgin Records Virgin Records is a record label owned by Universal Music Group. It originally founded as a British independent record label in 1972 by entrepreneurs Richard Branson, Simon Draper, Nik Powell, and musician Tom Newman (musician), Tom Newman. It ...

reissue of ''

''.

Track listing

7" version # "Tin Machine" (Bowie, Gabrels, Sales, Sales) – 3:34 # "

" (Live) (Dylan) – 4:29 12" version # "Tin Machine" (Bowie, Gabrels, Sales, Sales) – 3:34 # "Maggie’s Farm" (Live) (Dylan) – 4:29 # " I Can't Read" (Live) (Bowie, Gabrels) – 6:13 CD version # "Tin Machine" (Bowie, Gabrels, Sales, Sales) – 3:34 # "Maggie's Farm" (Live) (Dylan) – 4:29 # "I Can't Read" (Live) (Bowie, Gabrels) – 6:13 # " Bus Stop" (Live) (Bowie, Gabrels) – 1:52

Credits and personnel

Producers *

Tim Palmer Timothy J. Palmer (born 4 October 1962, in North Shields) is an English record producer, audio engineer, guitarist and songwriter of rock and alternative music. He mixed Pearl Jam's debut album '' Ten'' (1991) and tracks on U2's album ''All T ...

Musicians *

– vocals, guitar *

– lead guitar *

Hunt Sales Hunt Sales (born March 2, 1954) is an American rock drummer, who has played with Todd Rundgren, Iggy Pop and Tin Machine with David Bowie. He has often worked with his brother Tony Sales, a bass guitarist. Personal life Hunt Sales is a son o ...

– drums, vocals *

Tony Sales Tony Fox Sales (born September 26, 1951) is an American rock musician and composer. Normally on bass guitar, Sales and his brother, Hunt Sales, have worked with Todd Rundgren, Iggy Pop, and in Tin Machine with David Bowie. Early life and career ...

– bass, vocals Additional musicians *

Kevin Armstrong Kevin Armstrong (1922–1992 ) was a dual player who played Gaelic football, football and hurling for his local club O'Connell's GAA, O'Connell's and for the Antrim GAA, Antrim senior inter-county teams in both codes from the 1940s until the 19 ...

– rhythm guitar

References

*Pegg, Nicholas, ''The Complete David Bowie'', Reynolds & Hearn Ltd, 2000,

External links

* {{Authority control 1989 singles Tin Machine songs Songs written by David Bowie Songs written by Reeves Gabrels 1989 songs EMI Records singles Music videos directed by Julien Temple