# Al Capone, prohibition and gun control: the 1929 mobster massacre that influenced a “pretty scary” David Bowie song

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/al-capone-prohibition-and-gun-control-the-1929-mobster-massacre-that-influenced-a-pretty-scary-david-bowie-song/
- Published: 2026-11-11T06:00:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-11T06:23:05+00:00
- Original publisher: Far Out
- Original article: https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/mobster-massacre-influenced-pretty-scary-david-bowie-song/

## Key points

- Bowie’s ‘Valentine’s Day’ was inspired by US school shootings.
- Its title recalls the 1929 massacre of seven gang associates.
- Producer Tony Visconti linked the story to access to guns.

## Summary

David Bowie’s ‘Valentine’s Day’, from his album *The Next Day*, was inspired by school shootings in the US. Producer Tony Visconti said the song explores the shooter’s mindset and mental health, while condemning the acts.

The title refers to the 1929 St Valentine’s Day Massacre, when seven gang associates were killed during Prohibition, an incident thought to have been orchestrated by Al Capone. Visconti said the historical reference and the song’s modern subject matter connect through the danger of guns reaching people who commit terrible acts.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.