June 1977. Lennon was in Hong Kong during a trip to Japan – and Bowie was in town on tour with his band.
They met up in Hong Kong (where Bowie was touring along with Iggy Pop). While there, a tourist approached John and said, “Aren’t you John Lennon?” John replied, “No, but I wish I had his money!” This immediately caused the tourist to say, “Oh sorry – of course you’re not him” and walk away. Bowie witnessed this and thought it was the most brilliant way to keep fans from hounding you for autographs. Bowie started using that tactic himself when he wasn’t in the mood to sign autographs.Two months later back in New York, Bowie is in Soho when he hears a fan behind him say “Aren’t you David Bowie?” Without turning around, Bowie immediately says “No, but I wish I had his money!” To which the guy behind him says, “You lying bastard. You wish you had MY money!”It was John Lennon.Bowie told this story at a graduation commencement speech at Berklee College of Music in Boston in 1999.
