“Fractured words and Branca-sonic”
The first Tin Machine album was released on this day in 1989.
It’s a recording that has an unfair reputation, possibly more to do with lazy journalism and word of (bad)mouth than anything in the grooves.
If Tin Machine is a release you've avoided, give it a try on Spotify now.
More than two decades later, it mainly still kicks bottom somewhat.
“We've got five years, what a surprise”
The BBC’s Ariel page has an item by Claire Barrett entitled David Bowie from the horse's mouth.
It’s a piece which mainly concerns itself with some of the things Director Francis Whately said, by way of introduction, at the preview screening of his David Bowie Five Years film at the V&A.
You can read the item here.
Meanwhile the image here lists comments from many of the reviews that we just so happen to agree with.
We were sad to learn today that Trevor Bolder has succumbed to his fight with cancer at the age of 62.
The Uriah Heep bassist was probably best known to Bowie fans for his work across four Bowie studio albums: Hunky Dory, Ziggy Stardust, Aladdin Sane and Pin Ups.
Trevor also played bass as one of The Spiders From Mars on the attendant Bowie tours along with fellow Spiders, Mick ‘Woody’ Woodmansey and the late Mick Ronson.
David Bowie had this to say about him:
Trevor was a wonderful musician and a major inspiration for whichever band he was working with.
“Five years stuck on my eyes”
Last week we told you that the Radio Times would be publishing a front-cover Bowie feature today, and what do you know? They have.
You can scroll across the images above to view the spreads inside the magazine, but if you want to read the two-page feature about Steve Turner’s personal encounters with a pre-fame Bowie, we’re afraid you’ll have to splash out £1.60 at your local weekly TV listings publication outlet.
Turner’s feature is followed by two pages of contributions from half a dozen folk that crossed Bowie’s path at some point during his career.
In
“Fantastic Voyage”
Frequently referred to by so many as underrated or overlooked, surely Lodger is now appreciated by a much wider audience than it was when it was first released 34 years ago today.
Packed with absolute gems, this Bowie/Visconti-produced album is a true Bowie classic and is the final release in the so-called (albeit misleading), Berlin Trilogy.
If you’re not familiar with Lodger, you really should be and here’s the brilliant evidence why on Spotify.
“Switch on the TV we may pick him up on channel two”
Having enjoyed the preview screening of Francis Whately's Five Years documentary at the V&A last week, we’re pleased to be able to report that the film is a true treasure for all that appreciate the work of David Bowie.
If you think you’re familiar with all the footage of David Bowie that’s out there, then you didn’t reckon on the skill of the researchers for this 90-minute visual feast.
Beautifully edited, in both sound and vision, Five Years is a film you will want to watch more than once and it just confirms how lucky we are to be
“The return of the Thin White Duke”
For those that missed it the first time around and for those that enjoyed it enough to want to go back again, here’s some good news from SNAP regarding the Masayoshi Sukita exhibition of David Bowie photographs.
The exhibition of David Bowie photographs by Masayoshi Sukita was one of the most popular exhibitions we have ever held at the gallery.
“But are you sure that it really was him?”
One week on from its release, there’s a great full-page piece in this week’s NME (May 18) regarding the video for The Next Day.
Headlined The Jean Jesus, the intro goes like this:
It’s a story now sewn into the very fabric of western culture – the outsider whose divine wisdom and messianic magic made worshippers of millions, and whose incredible resurrection wowed the world. But enough about David Bowie – let’s talk about Jesus Christ.
“Friday On My Mind”
The headline pretty much says it and though rumours of this release have been circulating for some time, here’s the official confirmation from Paul Smith.
PAUL SMITH FOR DAVID BOWIE
Music is one of Paul’s great passions. He and David Bowie have been friends throughout their respective careers at the forefront of fashion and music. This year, Paul Smith has teamed up with Bowie for a series of special collaborations to celebrate the musician’s critically acclaimed new album The Next Day, out now on Columbia Records.
The latest instalment of the collaboration is a
“I know you think you’re awful square”
The David Bowie vinyl collectors among you (we know you’re out there), will be pleased to learn that The Next Day gets a physical release as a 45 next month.
The record will be issued as a limited edition white vinyl square, with the same track on both sides.
Stay tuned for further details and meanwhile here are the links to the video again on vevo and on YouTube
