The classic Rolling Stones single that features David Bowie on backing vocals

12 January 2026, 12:08

Mick Jagger and David Bowie in the mid-1970s. Picture: Alamy

By Mayer Nissim

David Bowie and The Rolling Stones had an interesting relationship.

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The golden era of The Rolling Stones was undoubtedly the 1960s.

From their early hits like Chuck Berry's 'Come On' and the Lennon-McCartney-written 'I Wanna Be Your Man' to Jagger/Richards classics like 'Heart of Stone', '(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction' and 'The Last Time' to their end-of-the '60s classic Let It Bleed, they were one of the biggest and best band of the 1960s.

David Bowie had much more limited success in the 1960s, with his false dawn of an early breakthrough only coming right at the end with his 'Space Oddity' single.

Into the 1970s, Bowie went supernova with 'Starman', ... Ziggy Stardust... and the rest. But even into their second decade, the Stones were still pretty near the top of the tree.

Especially on Sticky Fingers and Exile on Main St, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and the lads were rocking pretty hard, and kept on influencing all those around them.

One of those heavily influenced by the Stones was David Bowie.

Let's Spend the Night Together (2013 Remaster)

As early as 1970, there had the hard-edged rock of The Man Who Sold The World. The influence of Mick (among others) on the Ziggy Stardust character. Together with Lou Reed, Jagger was even snapped at the "farewell to Ziggy" party at the Cafe Royale on Regent Street in July 1973.

It was three months earlier on Aladdin Sane that Bowie covered 1967 Stones hit 'Let's Spend The Night Together'.

So it was maybe no surprise that as Bowie solidified his superstar status, the Stones and Bowie spent a bit of time in the studio together.

'It's Only Rock 'n Roll (But I Like It)' was actually recorded separately from the rest of the It's Only Rock 'n Roll album, being laid down at a home studio over at Ronnie Wood's place.

The Rolling Stones - It's Only Rock 'N' Roll (But I Like It) - OFFICIAL PROMO

Wood wasn't actually a member of the Stones just yet.

At the time, Faces were disintegrating, Wood had released the solo album I've Got My Own Album to Do. He wouldn't replace Mick Taylor in the group till the following year.

That didn't stop Wood playing on the song, along with Faces drummer Kenney Jones. That was in addition to session god Willie Weeks on bass, regular Stones keys man Ian Stewart on piano, plus Mick Jagger on vocals (of course), and Keith Richards on guitar.

And also on backing vocals was David Bowie, making this a real all-star collaboration.

David Bowie and Mick Jagger hanging out at a DB aftershow in 1999. Picture: Getty

It wasn't something Bowie quickly forgot, and he sometimes yelped the title of the song during his performances of 'Diamond Dogs' in 1974 and 1976.

Bowie and Jagger would cross paths again, both with star billing, for their memorable cover of 'Dancing in the Street'.

They rush-recorded their version of the Martha and the Vandellas classic in 1985 as part of the whole Live Aid extravaganza.

The idea came together when it became clear that technical issues would make a live duet from Wembley Stadium (where Bowie was performing) and John F. Kennedy Stadium (where Mick sung) impossible.