As Rolling Stone reports, the performance took place at pre-Grammy party hosted by producer Clive Davis, with Beck having teamed up onstage with Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl, bassist Krist Novoselic and guitarist Pat Smear. The makeshift supergroup were also joined by a string section.
Grohl, Novoselic and Smear had helped reignite interest in the track, along with the late Kurt Cobain, through an acoustic rendition delivered on Nirvana's early '90s appearance on MTV Unplugged.
You'll find a clip of the song's finale below.
1st #PreGRAMMYGala performance is a tribute to David Bowie: @Beck and the living members of Nirvana (@DaveGrohl!) pic.twitter.com/g0SgrRtug5
— Brian A. Hernandez (@BAHjournalist) February 15, 2016
In addition to Nirvana's old cover of the song, Beck has paid tribute to Bowie before. He had recorded a cover of "Diamond Dogs" for the soundtrack to Moulin Rouge in 2001, had previously delivered an extravagant in-concert version of Low highlight "Sound and Vision," and performed live versions of "Fame" and "Win."
"David Bowie started making records around the beginning of my life, and his career kind of tracks with my life," Beck had told Rolling Stone last month, following Bowie's death. "There's always been a David Bowie record. He's always been doing something. He's always been kind of guidepost or gravitational force for me. He's someone that you set course to or measure what you're doing against."
Beck and Nirvana's "The Man Who Sold the World" was not the only cover of last night's party. Bleachers leader Jack Antonoff teamed up with vocalist Adam Lambert for a rendition of "Let's Dance."
Though the specifics have yet to be revealed, Lady Gaga is expected to perform a medley of Bowie tunes during tonight's Grammy Awards ceremony at Los Angeles' Staples Center.