Inspired by the sight of Bowie 's producer-engineer Tony Visconti embracing his lover by the Berlin Wall , the song tells the story of two lovers , one from East and one from West Berlin . Bowie 's performance of Heroes on June 6 , 1987 , at the German Reichstag in West Berlin has been considered a catalyst to the later fall of the Berlin Wall . Following his death in January 2016 , the German government thanked Bowie for " helping to bring down the Wall " , adding " you are now among Heroes "
death
Death of David Bowie
"Heroes" (David Bowie song)