David Bowie was the original choice for the Trainspotting soundtrack

The soundtrack for Trainspotting is arguably revered as much as the film itself, but it could have been oh-so-different had director Danny Boyle got his original choice onboard.

Number one on his wish-list? The late David Bowie, according to Tristram Penna, a former A&R for EMI. He told Dazed that Boyle and producer Andrew McDonald wanted to use the singer's 'Golden Years' for that scene where Ewan McGregor's Renton finds himself diving deep into the worse toilet you've seen in your life. Bowie wasn't having it, though, and they couldn't get clearance for his tracks to be used.

Penna said: "David Bowie had turned them down. For example, Andrew and Danny were desperate for Bowie – if memory serves, [they wanted] ‘Golden Years’ for the toilet scene (Brian Eno’s 'Deep Blue Day' was ultimately used).” Not exactly a terrible second choice, really, was it?

Regarding Iggy Pop's 'Lust For Life' (produced by Bowie) soundtracking the film's opening, Penna claims he suggested using it because Boyle and McDonald were "continually upset that Bowie had turned them down" in terms of solo work being used.

We wonder who's down for soundtracking the sequel, featuring the original cast, that's due later this year.

Dave Turner is Mixmag's Digital News Editor, follow him on Twitter here