Biography
"Under Pressure" is the 1981 single credited to Queen and David Bowie, a one-off collaboration that grew out of an impromptu jam at Mountain Studios in Montreux, Switzerland.[1] The song is credited to all five musicians: Freddie Mercury, Brian May, Roger Taylor, John Deacon and Bowie.[1] It reached number one in the United Kingdom, giving Queen their second chart-topper and Bowie his third.[1]
The two acts had different histories. Queen formed in London in 1970 and by 1981 were one of the biggest rock bands in the world, while Bowie, who lived near the Montreux studio, had spent the 1970s reinventing himself across glam, soul and electronic music.[2] Queen played it live with Roger Taylor singing Bowie's part, and Bowie later performed it with Annie Lennox at the 1992 Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert.[1]
References
- Under Pressure (Wikipedia) — Release details, credits, disputed bass line accounts, video, live history, chart performance and critical reception.
- Inside David Bowie and Queen's 'Tense' Recording Session (Biography.com) — Context on the collaboration.