Lady Gaga readies experimental Grammy tribute to Bowie

Lady Gaga is promising a technologically ambitious, "multisensory" David Bowie tribute at the Grammy Awards she hopes will befit the famously experimental rock legend, AFP reports.
 

The music industry's biggest night takes place Monday barely a month after the shocking death of Bowie, who over his half-century career became one of the most influential figures in pop culture.

Lady Gaga, known for her brash outfits and sexual openness, is among the contemporary artists who is most obviously inspired by Bowie, the pioneer of glam rock.

Grammy producers have raised expectations for Lady Gaga's tribute, saying it will be groundbreaking.

"I don't know that we've ever done anything quite as elaborate as this," said Eric Cook, the supervising producer of the Grammys.

"This is obviously an ambitious performance and we're all really excited about it," he said in a video preview.

Chip-maker Intel said it developed effects for the performance at the Grammys, which will be broadcast live from Los Angeles.

"We've used technology to almost be an extension of Gaga. As she moves, the environment around her is responding to her, and that's because of the real-time technologies that we've incorporated into it," said Paul Tapp, Intel's director of technology.

The Recording Academy, which stages the awards, said in a statement that Lady Gaga would offer "a multisensory testament to the icon's incredible artistry and limitless creativity."

She will team up with Nile Rodgers of Chic fame, a friend of Bowie who worked with the British singer on his disco-tinged 1983 "Let's Dance" album.