V-2 Schneider
Encyclopedia
"V-2 Schneider" is a largely instrumental piece written by David Bowie
in 1977 for the album "Heroes". It was a tribute to Florian Schneider
, co-founder of the band Kraftwerk
, whom Bowie acknowledged as a significant influence at the time. The title also referenced the V-2 rocket
.
The only words sung are those in the title, initially distorted by phasing
. Musically, the track is unusual for the off-beat saxophone
work by Bowie, who kicked off his part on the wrong note, but continued regardless. According to biographer David Buckley, "One can almost see the Nazis
parading past the control room of the Hansa Studios
as the music – insistent, militaristic – tumbles out of the speakers". The studio itself had once been a dance hall, frequented during the war years
by the Gestapo
.
"V-2 Schneider" achieved considerable circulation as the B-side of "Heroes", released prior to the album, but was not played on the subsequent 1978 concert tour, its first live rendition occurring 20 years after it was recorded (see Live versions).
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
in 1977 for the album "Heroes". It was a tribute to Florian Schneider
Florian Schneider
Florian Schneider-Esleben is one of the founding members of electronic music band Kraftwerk. He left the band in November 2008.-Career:...
, co-founder of the band Kraftwerk
Kraftwerk
Kraftwerk is an influential electronic music band from Düsseldorf, Germany. The group was formed by Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider in 1970, and was fronted by them until Schneider's departure in 2008...
, whom Bowie acknowledged as a significant influence at the time. The title also referenced the V-2 rocket
V-2 rocket
The V-2 rocket , technical name Aggregat-4 , was a ballistic missile that was developed at the beginning of the Second World War in Germany, specifically targeted at London and later Antwerp. The liquid-propellant rocket was the world's first long-range combat-ballistic missile and first known...
.
The only words sung are those in the title, initially distorted by phasing
Phasing
In the compositional technique phasing, the same part is played on two musical instruments, in steady but not identical tempo...
. Musically, the track is unusual for the off-beat saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
work by Bowie, who kicked off his part on the wrong note, but continued regardless. According to biographer David Buckley, "One can almost see the Nazis
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
parading past the control room of the Hansa Studios
Hansa Tonstudio
Das Hansa Tonstudio is a recording studio located on Köthener Strasse in the Kreuzberg district of Berlin, Germany. Amongst English-performing musical acts it used to be known as 'Hansa Studio By the Wall', 'Hansa by the Wall', or 'The Great Hall by the Wall' in reference to the fact that it was...
as the music – insistent, militaristic – tumbles out of the speakers". The studio itself had once been a dance hall, frequented during the war years
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
by the Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
.
"V-2 Schneider" achieved considerable circulation as the B-side of "Heroes", released prior to the album, but was not played on the subsequent 1978 concert tour, its first live rendition occurring 20 years after it was recorded (see Live versions).
Live versions
- A live version recorded at ParadisoParadiso (Amsterdam)Paradiso is an iconic rock music venue and cultural center in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.-History:It is housed in a converted former church building that dates from the nineteenth century and that was used until 1965 as the meeting hall for a liberal Dutch religious group known as the "Vrije...
, AmsterdamAmsterdamAmsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
in June 1997, was released as the B-side of the single "Pallas AthenaPallas Athena (song)"Pallas Athena" is a song written by David Bowie in 1993 for the album Black Tie White Noise.The name is taken from the Greek goddess, Athena, who famously depicted in Athenian statues under the form of Pallas Athena...
" in August 1997, under the name 'Tao Jones Index'. This version also appeared on the bonus disc for the Digibook Expanded Edition of EarthlingEarthling (album)Earthling is an album by David Bowie released in February 1997 via BMG. The album showcases an electronica-influenced sound partly inspired by the Industrial and drum and bass culture of the 1990s.-Album background and development:...
.
Other releases
- It was released as the B-side of the single "Heroes" in September 1977. It also appeared on the German and French versions of the single, and on a four-track Australian single featuring all three versions of "Heroes".
- It appeared on the compilation Chameleon (Australia and New Zealand 1979).
- The film Christiane F.Christiane F. - Wir Kinder vom Bahnhof Zoo (film)Christiane F. - Wir Kinder vom Bahnhof Zoo is a 1981 film that portrays the drug scene in West Berlin in the 1970s, based on the novel of the same name written following tape recordings of Christiane F.-Synopsis:...
and its soundtrackChristiane F. (album)Christiane F. - Wir Kinder vom Bahnhof Zoo is a soundtrack album by David Bowie, released on LP in 1981 by RCA Victor , for the movie about Christiane F...
featured the song. - It was released as a picture disc in the RCA Life Time picture disc set.
Cover versions
- Philip GlassPhilip GlassPhilip Glass is an American composer. He is considered to be one of the most influential composers of the late 20th century and is widely acknowledged as a composer who has brought art music to the public .His music is often described as minimalist, along with...
– "Heroes" Symphony (1996) - Mandarins Drum and Bugle CorpsMandarins Drum and Bugle CorpsThe Mandarins Drum and Bugle Corps are a World Class drum and bugle corps based in Sacramento, California and founded in 1963, and are a member corps of Drum Corps International. The Mandarins were originally founded as the Ye Wah drum and lyre corps, and was renamed to the Mandarins Drum and...
– 2000 repertoire