Fifty years worth of a musical, and to a much lesser extent movie career, is a lot to write into one post, so this will be split across a few. I was introduced to David Bowie's music in 1986 and have been a firm fan of his ever since, discovering his back catalogue and following his career throughout. In these posts, I will document his legacy.
Growing Up
David Robert Jones was born January 8th, 1947 in Brixton, South London and developed an interest in music from a young age. Although his voice was described as adequate in the school choir, his talent with the recorder was above average. David acquired the reputation as a gifted, albeit single minded child and a bit of a brawler at age six. By age nine he took to dancing at school. His teachers said he was extremely artistic and had great poise for a child.
Around this time he was introduced to rock and roll music by his father: artists such as Fats Domino, Little Richard, and Elvis Presley, the latter having a profound impact on the young boy. His thirst for music drew David to learning to play the ukelele and piano, joining local skiffle bands with friends. At public school young Master Jones studied music, art, and design. During the summer of 1962, David was involved in a fight over a girl. His friend, George Underwood, punched David in the left eye, causing severe damage that never completely healed, despite several operations. This left him with a permanently dilated pupil, giving the impression that his left iris was a different color. Despite the fight, they remained best friends, and George even created the artwork for some of David's early albums.
Early Career
In 1962 David Jones, 15 years old, formed his first band called the Konrads. They played rock and roll at youth clubs and weddings. When he left school at 16, David informed his mother he was going to become a pop star. Horrified by this, she found him employment working with an electrician. He left the Konrads and joined the King Bees, playing blues numbers. He put out his debut single, 'Liza Lane' with the King Bees, but it didn't receive any success. He quit the King Bees and joined another blues band, the Manish Boys. This incorporated some folk and soul music. Receiving no more commercial success with the Manish Boys, David left to join the Lower Third. He later went on to join the Buzz and then Riot Squad, before going solo.
Lift Off
David Jones changed his name to save confusion with Davey Jones of The Monkees. He chose Bowie, after the American pioneer James Bowie and the Bowie knife. In 1967 David Bowie enrolled at the London Dance Center and studied dramatic arts, mime, dance, and theatre. It was there that his interest in self-image grew and a fascination for changing his persona.
His first album, self-titled David Bowie, was a commercial flop. Two years passed and five days before the launch of Apollo 11 in 1969, David Bowie released Space Oddity - his first commercial success.
His second album was originally also confusingly called David Bowie in the UK but was renamed internationally as Space Oddity. Around this time he met Angela Barnett, who was to become his first wife.
David Bowie's third album was The Man Who Sold The World (1970). It featured a heavier guitar rock sound rather than the folk style of Space Oddity. On the cover Bowie appeared in a dress, exploiting his now famous androgynous appearance, something of a shock to the industry and public alike.
To promote the album, Bowie and his band toured America in 1971. It was during this time the concept for his most famous alter-ego, Ziggy Stardust, began to develop. Ziggy was a nod to Iggy Pop and, during the tour, he was given a record by the Legendary Stardust Cowboy.
Hunky Dory followed in 1971. At the time it did not enjoy much success, although Life on Mars was to be rereleased in 1973 as a single, reaching number three in the UK charts.
On May 30th, 1971 David and Angie Bowie had a son they named Zowie Bowie. At age 13, he changed his first name to Duncan and took his father's true surname Jones.
Angie, Zowie and David Bowie
Ziggy Stardust
In a pub on 10th February 1972, the world was introduced to a bold figure dressed in a dazzling costume and sporting bright red hair. Bowie's damaged left eye added to his otherworldly look. Ziggy Stardust had arrived with his Spiders From Mars. This persona catapulted Bowie to stardom, and the album Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars became a hit, containing classics such as Starman, All The Young Dudes, and Suffragette City.
Aladdin Sane topped the UK music chart in 1973. Most famous tracks from this album include Drive-In Saturday and The Jean Jenie. My personal favourites were Cracked Actor and Lady Grinning Soul.
Bowie lived the Ziggy Stardust persona and it's quite telling that this last album from the Ziggy era had the title it did. Later in life David admitted he had doubts about his sanity during this period of his life.
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