Born 89 Years Ago Today in the Big Easy, the Forgotten Singer-Songwriter Who Had Bruce Springsteen as His Opening Act and David Bowie in the Audience
Biff Rose was a New Orleans-born singer-songwriter and performer whose mix of music, comedy, poetry and satire drew the attention of prominent musicians, including David Bowie and Bruce Springsteen. His story is notable for the unlikely 1973 concert at which Springsteen opened for him, and for Bowie attending to see Rose, whose song “Fill Your Heart” Bowie had recorded.
Rose released eight albums between 1968 and 1979 and appeared on television programmes including The Tonight Show, American Bandstand and The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. His first two albums charted modestly, peaking at No. 75 and No. 181. In later years he faced criticism for racist, anti-Semitic and homophobic remarks and material; he died of liver cancer at his home in Madison, Wisconsin, in 2023, aged 85.
- Bruce Springsteen opened for Biff Rose in 1973.
- David Bowie attended the show to see Rose.
- Rose later drew condemnation for bigoted remarks.
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Biff Rose was a New Orleans-born singer-songwriter whose performances combined songs with comedy, poetry and satire. He released eight albums from 1968 to 1979 and appeared on several US television programmes, though his records had limited chart success.
Rose’s songs reached other musicians: David Bowie recorded “Fill Your Heart”, and Bruce Springsteen once played as his opening act. Rose’s career is also discussed in light of criticism of racist, anti-Semitic and homophobic remarks and material in his later years.