This is so wonderful. Hikaru Davis is the son of the late session drummer, Dennis Davis, who died in 2016. Among many others, Davis played with Stevie Wonder, George Benson, Roy Ayers, and Iggy Pop. But he is most famously remembered as one of David Bowie’s drummers, playing on Bowie’s 70s records, from Young Americans to Scary Monsters.
When Davis died, his son, then ten (now 13) decided that he wanted to know more about his father and what made him a great drummer by interviewing friends and fellow musicians who’d worked with his dad. The result is HD Projects, a YouTube channel presenting these interview videos as they’re finished.
In the most recent upload, Hikaru interviews producer and longtime Bowie collaborator, Tony Visconti. In the video, Tony breaks down Davis’ drumming on Bowie’s Lodger track, “Look Back in Anger.”
Here is Hikaru’s statement about his documentary project and interviewing Tony Visconti:
After my father’s passing, I didn’t want to hear anybody say his name. It was not because I wanted to forget about him. It was my way of mourning. It made me sad, angry, and depressed to hear his name from someone. I wanted to keep him only inside of me. Maybe I was too selfish. But I was only 10 years old.
After a while, I started looking at social media to see what people were saying about my father. And I saw an article in Rolling Stone Magazine about Dad’s death. That’s when I saw Mr. Tony Visconti’s name for the first time. To be honest, I didn’t know much about my father’s career when he was alive. Dennis Davis was my dad. I used to go to his gigs with him, and watch him set up his drums and play. But wow, Rolling Stone? I know that magazine! And Mr. Visconti wrote such nice things about my father.
When I started this interview series, he was on top of my “I want to interview” list. I nervously sent him a message, and wrote him what I was doing. He generously agreed to do the interview. But he is such a busy person. I had to wait for a year. He invited my mother and me to his studio in New York City, right before my 11th birthday in March 2018. He answered all of my questions in a way I could understand.
Watch additional interviews with Sterling Campbell, Roy Ayers, Carlos Alomar, and others on Hikaru’s channel.
[H/t Danny Frankel]