John Lennon co-wrote and provided vocals on David Bowie’s “Fame.” The song was recorded in January 1975 at Electric Lady Studios in New York and became a standout track on Bowie’s album Young Americans.
Lennon was visiting the studio during a session involving Bowie and guitarist Carlos Alomar. Alomar had developed the distinctive guitar riff, and Lennon improvised the word “aim” over it. Bowie transformed that vocal idea into the hook “Fame,” then developed the song with Lennon and Alomar. Lennon’s voice can be heard throughout the recording, including the repeated falsetto refrain.
“Fame” reflected Bowie and Lennon’s dissatisfaction with the pressures and distortions of celebrity life. The collaboration also gave Lennon an unusual songwriting credit outside his Beatles and solo work. Released as a single in 1975, it became Bowie’s first number-one hit on the US Billboard Hot 100. Lennon also played rhythm guitar on Bowie’s version of “Across the Universe,” recorded during the same broader period.