Author's Note: This story is completely fictional and did not happen. All characters and names are fictional and were made up.
This story is a tribute and dedication to David Bowie's memory. Rest in peace, you were an inspiration and will forever be missed.
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Los Angeles, California
The lights flickered before shining a round flare over a center stage. A black stage was set, a wall of black 'Marshall' vintage style amplifier cabinets sitting behind the drum set. Soon, guitar chords rang out and the lights moved to the center revealing a man holding a guitar in front of a microphone stand. His look had avoided touching the more common clichés of the 'rock star' image. His hair was short, dyed in a flaming orange. Over his body he wore a white button up shirt with the sleeves rolled up, only with a black vest underneath to match the black pants. Over his face was the paint of a lightning bolt in blue and red. This was a specific look from the clothes to the face paint that he was paying tribute to. Over his shoulder was a guitar strapped and cradled in his left hand. This was showtime, all waiting to strike the first chord with his pick after he turned up the volume knob to the music making machine in his hands.
The guitar's body was painted in a red sparkle known as 'Candy Apple Red' and a white pickguard. Beyond the body, was two single coil pickups in the neck and middle, and a humbucker in the bridge area. The neck of the instrument was fit with a rosewood fingerboard and 21 frets. The headstock of the guitar had one of most well known company names in music, there was no mistaking this guitar: The Fender Stratocaster. When the strings rang out through the wall of amps behind him, the lights moved and revealed more bodies on the stage. Off to the left, a man with long blonde hair stood in a gold costume with a different guitar strapped over his body: a Les Paul Custom. The body of the guitar was stripped of it's original black paint, revealing a natural finish. On the right side, was a man standing in a blue outfit with a bass guitar over his neck. The bass was in the shape of an 'SG', and finally: a drummer sat at a station behind the three men.
A riff was played by the singer voicing over his guitar. After the first time, the drums kicked in and the bass followed behind the riffs. It wasn't until the riff was repeated at the first chord did the second guitar become heard, playing right on key for dual leads. The riff was repeated again and then the singer stood in front of the microphone and closed his eyes. The drums and bass played rhythm, just as he sang the opening lines of the song.
"Ziggy played guitar, jamming good with Weird and Gilly!
The spiders from Mars. He played it left hand, but made it too far...
Became the special man, then we were Ziggy's band..."
Away from the stage was an empty auditorium. This was all only a rehearsal for the bigger picture at works. In the front row of seats sat a man in a suit watching his actors at work. The past four months had been filled with endless work of teaching actors, training them for musical performance. The director was Ken Maslin who sat emotionless, watching them play through the song. They moved from the early riffs, to the bridge and the chorus. Flawlessly, the band performed right on tempo and key to the song. Across from the director sat an actress with blonde hair, her attention had been grasped. For her, this was the movie dream of a lifetime after this year. Right now, she couldn't move her eyes off the singer as the song was played.
"Making love with his ego, Ziggy sucked up into his mind!
Like a leper messiah...
When the kids had killed the man I had to break up the band!"
The song was moving to a close, reverting back to the infamous riff that ran through the song after the final chorus. Still, the woman couldn't move her eyes from the singer. His name was Mike but none of that mattered at the moment. The song was coming to a close and she could not wait until the next one was playing. After the last words were spoken and the final notes to the song began to ring out, the director stood up and clapped his hands. Ken was impressed with the performance, a great improvement over last week's rehearsal.
"Yes, yes! Very good job gentleman, that will be all for today!"
From the stage, the singer took a sigh before nodding his head and replying through the microphone at the director.
"Alright, thank you."
Stepping away from the microphone now, he followed the rest of his co-stars who put down their instruments on guitar stands next to the wall of amplifiers. A minute later, they formed a line to walk out of the door on the back end of the stage and leave. The woman from the front row of the audience got up out of her chair, rustling her leather jacket before stomping her heels down on the floor. Her shoes echoed a loud thump as she made her way to the back exit walking alone. She didn't need anyone to go with her, for the person she wanted to see would be all alone. The woman was Scarlett Johansson of all bombshells in Hollywood.
The buxom blonde actress walked, swaying her hips in a pair of black jeans. Over her body was a leather jacket, unzipped to reveal a black low cut T-shirt revealing her sexy cleavage. She had been cast in the film to play the lead romance, a dream role for her since the film would be dedicated to tribute to the music of David Bowie. Scarlett had once said that Bowie was her first crush, she had nothing but respect for him. Even in her own musical ventures, she received the honor of having him work alongside her in the studio. The film was a loosely based fiction tale about a struggling rock band, all playing covers of the legend's finest work. Scarlett was cast as the lead girlfriend alongside the singer, just the role she wanted in the film.
Once she made it backstage to where the costume rooms were, it was time to hunt down Mike. He was an upcoming actor in the business, just turning 30 years old a couple months ago. Scarlett found herself quite attracted to the man. It helped on one hand that he was playing a character on screen based off her favorite rock star, but he also had the handsome looks she preferred. Stomping her heels down the halls, she turned to find his specific room and walked on in. There he sat, the makeup removed from his face while he sat in a chair with the guitar unplugged in his hands practicing short riffs. Scarlett smirked as she looked down to greet him.
"Hey there, Mike...You were great on stage, as usual."
His eyes looked up to see the buxom beauty. Scarlett's hair had been cut a little short for this movie, giving her a 'punk' look in fashion. Mike gave her a smile before replying, the guitar rested in his hands.
"Thanks Scarlett, it was better than the last few takes...I don't think I sing as good as him though."
"Pretty difficult to top a legend, but you're doing a good job so far with our tribute."
"I can't wait till we get to playing my favorite Bowie song..."
She looked down at him before smirking.
"Oh yeah? You never told me what song that is."
Without answering her, Mike moved his hands over the guitar and then began to slowly play the notes ringing out over the unplugged instruments. Once he played the riff, Scarlett called out to him.
"Rebel Rebel!"
He nodded to her, smiling big while she spoke again.
"I should've guessed, since you always love playing the riff to that...Doo, doo, doo, doo..."
"Yep, it's my favorite Bowie song. I can't wait to do it on film..."
She smirked at him, crossing her arms over her chest. Mike's eyes wandered from her face down to the ample view of her amazing cleavage. Scarlett was definitely tease him, all for a reason. After months on the set working together, it was time to finally get to know each other off work.
"How about you come to my place tonight, Mr. Rock And Roll Star?"
Mike's eyes looked up at her with a shocked expression, was she serious?
"Really?"
