Panic in Detroit

Song infobox
Name = Panic in Detroit


Artist = David Bowie
Album = Aladdin Sane
Released = April 13 1973
track_no = 4
Recorded = Trident Studios, London
9 December 1972 -
24 January 1973
Genre = Rock
Length = 4:25
Label = RCA
Writer = David Bowie
Producer = Ken Scott, David Bowie
prev = "Drive-In Saturday"
prev_no = 3
next = "Cracked Actor"
next_no = 5

"Panic in Detroit" is a song written by David Bowie for the album "Aladdin Sane" in 1973. Bowie based it on long-time friend Iggy Pop's descriptions of revolutionaries he had known as a youth in Michigan.Nicholas Pegg (2000). "The Complete David Bowie": p.160] "Rolling Stone" magazine called the track "a paranoid descendant of the Motor City's earlier masterpiece, Martha and the Vandellas' "Nowhere to Run"".cite journal | last = Ben Gerson | title = Aladdin Sane| journal = Rolling Stone | date = 19 July 1973 | publisher = Rolling Stone | url = http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/davidbowie/albums/album/283449/review/6067692 ]

Musically "Panic in Detroit" has been described as a "Salsa variation on the Bo Diddley beat",Roy Carr & Charles Shaar Murray (1981). "Bowie: An Illustrated Record": p.54] and features prominent conga drums and female backing vocals. The lyrics namecheck Che Guevara and are also said to contain references to John Sinclair of the White Panther Party.

Bowie played the song live on tour in 1973, 1974, 1976, 1990, 1997, and 2003-4.

In 2003, "Rolling Stone" magazine printed its list of The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time. Mick Ronson was ranked at #64, and "Panic in Detroit" as his "essential recording". [cite journal | last = "Rolling Stone" | authorlink = Rolling Stone | title = The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time | journal = Rolling Stone | issue = 931 | month = September | year = 2003 | publisher = Rolling Stone]

Live versions

A live version recorded on July 14, 1974 was released as the B-side of the single "Knock on Wood" in 1974. The same version was also released as the B-side of the US-only single "Rock 'n' Roll With Me" in 1974, on the compilation album "Rare" in 1983, and finally on the re-issued "David Live" in 2005.

Other releases

* It was released as the B-side of the Japan release of the single "Time" in April 1973.
* It was released as picture discs in both the RCA "Life Time" picture disc set and the "Fashion Picture Disc Set".
* It also appeared in the "Sound and Vision" box set (1989).
* A new version recorded in 1979 was issued as a bonus track on the Rykodisc CD release of "Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)" in 1992. The same recording appeared on the bonus disc of the "Heathen" Limited Edition double CD, mislabelled an "outtake from a 1979 recording". [ [http://www.illustrated-db-discography.nl/SongPR.htm#P "Panic in Detroit" at the Illustrated db Discography] ]

Cover versions

* Christian Death - "The Rage of Angels" (1994), "Death in Detroit EP" (1995), "Goth Oddity - A Tribute to David Bowie" (1999), and "Starman: Rare and Exclusive Versions of 18 Classic David Bowie Songs", CD premium from the March 2003 issue of "Uncut" magazine
* Shadow Project - "In Tuned Out Live 93" (1994)
* The Aries Parallel - "Diamond Gods: Interpretations of Bowie" (2001)

Notes