From Bowie to “The Eternal Return”: Keanan Duffty on Slinky Vagabond’s Evolution
BY BOB GOURLEY | Published on February 5, 2025
Slinky Vagabond’s Keanan Duffty collaborated with David Bowie and has been a regular at tribute events, so it comes as no surprise that there’s a strong Bowie influence on their latest album, The Eternal Return. But just as Bowie constantly embraced new styles without coming across as a copyist, Slinky Vagabond blends post-punk, glam, and psychedelic influences into a sound all their own.
The Eternal Return is the second album from this incarnation of Slinky Vagabond, which teams musician and fashion designer Duffty with Italian multi-instrumentalist and composer Fabio Fabbri. Slinky Vagabond originally began as a collaboration between Duffty and Earl Slick (David Bowie), Glen Matlock (Sex Pistols), and Clem Burke (Blondie). That version didn’t last due to the busy schedules of those involved. Fabbri attended a fashion lecture given by Duffty in 2017, where the two met and began a musical collaboration. At Fabbri’s suggestion, they reactivated the Slinky Vagabond name for their new music. Their first album together was 2021’s King Boy Vandals.
Collaboration remains a key element of Slinky Vagabond, and The Eternal Return sees them working with Mike Garson (David Bowie/Mick Ronson), Ava Cherry (David Bowie/Luther Vandross), Dom Beken (Nick Mason/The Orb), fretless bass legend Percy Jones (Brand X/Kate Bush), and Christian Dryden (The Ritualists).
Over Zoom, Duffty discussed the new album.