Tony Visconti on Bowie’s Reaction to Holy Holy and the “Clogged Arteries” of AI

In a recent interview, longtime David Bowie producer Tony Visconti reflected on the formation of the tribute project Holy Holy and Bowie’s own reaction to it. The band, formed by Visconti and Bowie’s former guitarist Mick Ronson, initially performed early Bowie albums live.

Visconti recalled informing Bowie about the venture. “David didn’t seem happy about it,” he said. “I told him he could come with us but he declined.” The producer suggested Bowie’s reluctance stemmed from a desire to move forward, not look back at that specific era of his work.

Now, as Holy Holy embarks on a farewell tour, Visconti also addressed contemporary issues in production. He expressed a firm skepticism towards the use of artificial intelligence in music creation, describing the current influx of AI-generated material as “clogging the arteries” of the business. His comments frame AI as a barrier to authentic artistic flow rather than a tool for it.