Breaking down David Bowie's 'Heroes' – Tony Visconti & Erin Tonkon

This film is an extended version of BBC Four programme Music Moguls: Masters of Pop (Episode 2: Melody Makers).

[reinplat]

Erin is the unsung hero of this video.

[vincentjoyce]

I’m 55. I’ve heard a lot of music. Rock, classical, country, soul, funk. Nothing tops this. All time favorite song. The time these men spent on this song are some of the greatest hours spent by anyone on this earth.

[StinsonTango]

For me, Heroes is the ultimate triumph in popular music. It cripples me every time

[JammastaJ]

Fripp Eno and Bowie are all absolute legends. To have them collaborating like this is remarkable.

[stevenytx]

That man needs to get himself a play button on his console.

[nicocacci]

Tony I sent you a demo tape back in 89 any news ?

[danhuff]

You can see the joy and happiness at the 9:50 mark when all of the backing tracks are played together. You can see the satisfaction on his face. You can kind of see him transported back 40+ years to the first time he heard that sound. It is like he is visiting an old friend that he had not seen (heard) in years. The innocence of hearing something for the first time is something I miss....

[gtaveditorvids]

I never realised there was so much in this song...

[nathalieplum]

This album came out 44 years ago today. Still and forever a masterpiece.

[davemc]

9:52 when he smiles at the genius of the complete overlay, a man who knows he caught lightning in a bottle.

[usetherightbrain.]

Eno is mostly an instinctual musician, and IMO his briefcase synth contribution is the real glue that makes this song work and sound unique right from the very beginning, , , , the mic gates with DB's singing then sends it right over the top

[cathedraldarkness]

I could listen to Eno’s Heroes synth drones on loop for hours

[stevehansen]

I've always thought this song was the ultimate "wall of sound". Now I know it is a very complex wall haha!

[MikeFowlerguitars]

That Brian Eno briefcase synth sound was extraordinary.
And Robert Fripp... My god.
Thanks for uploading this.

[nataskunas]

Tony Visconti did a lot of co-production, probably more than people think.

[johnsrabe]

Love how they clearly PLAYED in the studio. “Hey, let’s try this.”

[vincenteoppolo]

You can really hear the influence of Neu, Roedelius, Möebius and all the other German pioneers.

[DjangoThunders]

Tony was immortalized for his bass playing on The man Who Sold The World!
The man plays some helluva bass!

[velvet]

These stories are just fuckin awesome.

[lull]

Wish with all my heart I could hear that entire Eno synth track in high fidelity. Same with the Fripp tracks. Sounds so good. What a song.