V-2 Schneider

"V-2 Schneider" is a largely instrumental song written by David Bowie in 1977 for the album "Heroes", and released as the B-side of "'Heroes'". The song was not played on the subsequent Isolar II Tour and its first live rendition occurred in 1997, 20 years after it was recorded.^[1] Mojo magazine listed it as Bowie's 95th best track in 2015.^[2]

"V-2 Schneider"
Single by David Bowie
from the album "Heroes"
A-side	"'Heroes'"
Released	23 September 1977 (1977-09-23)
Recorded	July–August 1977
Studio	Hansa Studio by the Wall (West Berlin)
Genre	Art rock electronic
Length	3:10
Label	RCA
Songwriter	David Bowie
Producers	David Bowie Tony Visconti
David Bowie singles chronology
"Be My Wife" (1977) "'Heroes'" / "V-2 Schneider" (1977) "Beauty and the Beast" (1978)

Background

The song was a tribute to Florian Schneider,^[3] co-founder of the band Kraftwerk, whom Bowie acknowledged as a significant influence at the time.^[4] The title also referenced the V-2 rocket, the first ballistic missile, which had been developed for the German Army during World War II, and whose design (and engineers) played a key role in the American space program.^[5]

The only words sung are those in the title, initially distorted by phasing.^[1] Musically, the track is unusual for the off-beat saxophone work by Bowie, who kicked off his part on the wrong note,^[6] but continued regardless.^[7]

Live versions

A live version recorded during the Earthling Tour at Paradiso, Amsterdam in June 1997, was released as the B-side of the single "Pallas Athena" in August 1997, under the name Tao Jones Index.^[8] This version also appeared on the bonus disc for the Digibook Expanded Edition of Earthling.

Other releases

• It appeared on the compilation Chameleon (Australia and New Zealand 1979).
• It was featured in the film Christiane F. and its soundtrack.
• It was released as a picture disc in the RCA Life Time picture disc set.
• It was included on the Bowie instrumental album All Saints.

Cover versions

• Philip Glass – "Heroes" Symphony (1996)
• Mandarins Drum and Bugle Corps – 2000 repertoire
• Shearwater – as part of a live performance of the entire Berlin Trilogy for WNYC (2018)^[9]