David Bowie Himself Loved Peaky Blinders So Much He Wanted His Music in the Show
David Bowie’s song made it to Peaky Blinders because the legendary musician was a fan of the show.
It's not uncommon for artists from one industry to admire and draw inspiration from another. It's always a delightful surprise when legendary figures reveal their unexpected fandoms. One such revelation was David Bowie's profound admiration for the hit TV series Peaky Blinders.
David Bowie, the famous iconic pop star, had a vast array of pop culture tastes. While he was known for his mysterious aura, there was one thing he wasn't secretive about: his love for the TV show Peaky Blinders.
Bowie's admiration for Peaky Blinders wasn't just hearsay. The show's creator, Steven Knight, shared (via The Independent) that Bowie was such a huge fan that he sent a unique sign of his appreciation straight to the show's main star, Cillian Murphy.
Imagine Murphy's surprise when he received a photo from Bowie himself, featuring the legendary musician with razor blades in his cap, mimicking the signature style of the series’ characters. This wasn't just a fleeting gesture; Bowie's team confirmed his deep admiration for the series.
Bowie was more than just a regular fan of the show. Before his untimely passing in 2016, he expressed a keen interest in having his music featured in the series. In fact, just days before the release of his album Blackstar, a representative from Sony approached Knight, hinting at Bowie's wish for his songs to be part of the Peaky Blinders soundscape.
Peaky Blinders honored this by adding Bowie's song Lazarus to season 3 of the series. The track perfectly underscored a scene where Tommy Shelby, portrayed by Murphy, grapples with pain and recovery.
Though Bowie didn't live to witness his music become a part of the show he adored, his influence on Peaky Blinders and its cast persisted. The series featured a cover of his song Lady Grinning Soul in its fifth season.
Moreover, Murphy shared in an interview with Vulture that Bowie's look in the late 1970s partially served as a costume reference for Murphy’s role in Christopher Nolan ’s latest movie, Oppenheimer.
Sources: The Independent, Vulture