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Mike Garson to play Ziggy Stardust global premiere

“We played our songs and felt the London sky…”

On 3rd July, 1973 – with a little encouragement from David Bowie himself – pianist Mike Garson found himself opening what would be Ziggy and The Spiders’ last show on that fateful summer night, by playing a medley of four of David’s most celebrated songs, a medley which included Life On Mars? #4 in the UK chart at that precise moment.

Now, 50 years to the day, Mike will return to that same stage to open the global premiere of the newly restored version of Ziggy Stardust & The Spiders From Mars: The Motion Picture.

Mike will fly in to London specially to perform and will then take part in a panel conversation preceding the screening of the film, which will also be shown in over 600 cinemas throughout Europe simultaneously. Further screenings will also be shown throughout July in the US, Australia, and Latin America.

Stay tuned for further updates shortly.

davidbowie.com/ziggy

📸 by Terry O'Neill / Iconic Images

#Ziggy50 #BowieGarson #BowieHammersmithOdeon50th #AladdinSane50 #DavidBowieTour1973 #ZiggyMoPi

tags: 2023 May
Saturday 05.27.23
Posted by Mark Adams
 

Tina Turner dies aged 83

“I will see you in the sky tonight...”

Sad to hear of the passing of Tina Turner, the legendary singer whose career dated back to 1960 with the release of her first recording: A Fool in Love as Ike and Tina Turner.

In a statement released this evening, her publicist Bernard Doherty said: “Tina Turner, the ‘Queen of Rock ’n Roll’ has died peacefully today at the age of 83 after a long illness in her home in Kusnacht near Zurich, Switzerland. With her, the world loses a music legend and a role model.”

Bowie fans will be aware of the duet she recorded with David for the title track of 1984’s Tonight LP. The Bowie/Iggy Pop penned track was released as a single later that year.

On 23rd March, 1985, at a Tina Turner concert at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham in the UK, Bowie performed the song live with Tina along with a section of the Chris Montez hit, Let’s Dance, segueing into Bowie’s song of the same name.

This live duet of Tonight was released as a single becoming a #1 hit in the Netherlands.

We’ll finish with some words Tina said to The Guardian newspaper in 2020 that despite having some serious health problems, the last 10 years of her life had embodied her ideal vision of happiness.

“True and lasting happiness comes from having an unshakeable, hopeful spirit that can shine, no matter what,” she said. “That’s what I’ve achieved, and it is my greatest wish to help others become truly happy as well.”

#TinaTurnerRIP #BowieTurner

tags: 2023 May
Wednesday 05.24.23
Posted by Mark Adams
 

Ziggy Stardust: UK and Ireland cinema tickets available now

“And the clock waits so patiently on your song…”

As you know, fifty years to the day, Ziggy Stardust returns to The Eventim Apollo Hammersmith (formerly the Odeon) on 3rd July for one night only.

Cinema tickets for the 50th anniversary ‘Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars: The Motion Picture’ are now available for the UK and Ireland.

The 50th anniversary event will include live conversation with Bowie associates and fans, streamed from Eventim Apollo.

There will also be further screenings available soon across Europe, North America, Australia, Asia and Latin America. Stay tuned for updates on the release of tickets.

All tickets available here on davidbowie.com

Direct link for Eventim Hammersmith Apollo tickets here.

#Ziggy50 #DavidBowieTour1973 #ZiggyMoPi #BowieHammersmithOdeon50th

tags: 2023 May
Thursday 05.18.23
Posted by Mark Adams
 

Ziggy Stardust: The Global Premiere on sale now

“Not only is it the last show…”

Ziggy Stardust: The Global Premiere

Fifty years to the day since Bowie’s last show as his famous alter-ego, Ziggy Stardust returns to The Eventim Apollo Hammersmith (formerly the Odeon) on 3rd July for one night only.

For the 50th anniversary, ‘Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars: The Motion Picture’ is digitally restored with never-before-seen footage. The film will be unveiled at a red-carpet global premiere and the screening will be preceded by conversation live on stage with some of Bowie’s famous friends.

Fans will relive that iconic night in music history in the venue where it all happened exactly fifty years ago. The film features the complete set, including a performance by late guitarist Jeff Beck, which was cut from D A Pennebaker’s original version.

The event will be live streamed to cinemas across the UK and Europe, with screenings in cinemas worldwide throughout July.

Tickets for The Eventim Hammersmith Apollo on sale now here at davidbowie.com and cinema tickets on sale from Thursday 18 May also from: davidbowie.com

#Ziggy50 #DavidBowieTour1973 #ZiggyMoPi #BowieHammersmithOdeon50th

tags: 2023 May
Tuesday 05.16.23
Posted by Mark Adams
 

Golden Years (TOKiMONSTA remix) digital single out now

“Yeah, alright, that’ll do...” *

DAVID BOWIE

GOLDEN YEARS (TOKiMONSTA REMIX)

AVAILABLE NOW AS A DIGITAL SINGLE

Parlophone Records proudly announces the digital release of “DAVID BOWIE GOLDEN YEARS (TOKiMONSTA REMIX)”. “GOLDEN YEARS” was initially released in late November 1975 as the lead track from Bowie’s tenth studio album, the seminal STATION TO STATION. Musically, the song continued the ‘plastic soul’ sound of 1974’s YOUNG AMERICANS and was a top ten hit on both sides of the Atlantic. The song has been covered by artists such as James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem. It also appeared in the memorable dance scene in the movie A Knight’s Tale and on the Vol #2 soundtrack for Danny Boyle’s Trainspotting.

“GOLDEN YEARS (TOKiMONSTA REMIX)” was created as part of a trio of new Bowie remixes for a Peloton celebration of Bowie’s legacy and enduring influence around his 75th birthday 2022. TOKiMONSTA, aka Jennifer Lee, a Grammy-nominated Los Angeles based producer and DJ, has collaborated with artists such as Anderson .Paak, and has remixed tracks for Beck, Duran Duran, Disclosure, Sia and worked on the Netflix phenomenon Squid Game.

“DAVID BOWIE GOLDEN YEARS (TOKiMONSTA REMIX)” was mixed in 360 Reality Audio, a new immersive music experience driven by Sony’s spatial sound technology. The content is the latest David Bowie music to be mixed in 360 Reality Audio, following "Heroes", Space Oddity, Reality, A Reality Tour (Live), Heathen, The Next Day, And ★.

Of Bowie, TOKiMONSTA says: “To me, I connect with Bowie as an amazing innovator. He was always reinventing himself and pushing the envelope of music, while somehow never ceasing to be authentically himself. His experimental fashion choices are always a beacon for me to challenge my style and look.”

ABOUT 360 REALITY AUDIO

360 Reality Audio is a new immersive music experience that uses Sony’s object-based 360 Spatial Sound technologies. Individual sounds such as vocals, chorus, piano, guitar, bass and even sounds of the live audience can be placed in a 360 spherical sound field, giving artists and creators a new way to express their creativity. Listeners can be immersed in a field of sound exactly as intended by artists and creators. Music content created in this new format for 360 Reality Audio can be enjoyed through compatible music streaming services Amazon Music HD, Deezer, nugs.net and TIDAL.

* Dialogue at the end of the track

#BowieTOKiMONSTA #Bowie360RA #360RA

tags: 2023 May
Friday 05.05.23
Posted by Mark Adams
 

Iman’s message to David on their 31st anniversary

On April 24th, 1992, David and Iman married at a registry office civil ceremony in Lausanne, Switzerland. Iman marked the 31st anniversary of that event today with a previously unpublished image from the day along with the following online message:

“April 24th You & me... it's a forever kind of thing. #BowieForever”

#imandaily #DavidAndImanAnniversary #EternalLove

tags: 2023 April
Monday 04.24.23
Posted by Mark Adams
 

Aladdin Sane is fifty today

“I had so many dreams...”

Today we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Aladdin Sane.

Regular contributor and all-round good egg, Jason Draper, has pointed us in the direction of another in-depth piece he’s published with Alan York over on thisisdig.

Alan wrote the main feature: ALADDIN SANE: HOW BOWIE KILLED ZIGGY STARDUST FOR HIS FOLLOW-UP ALBUM and Jason is responsible for the track-by-track assessment of the album, and you can read the full thing here.

Good work chaps.

Listen to Aladdin Sane here.

FOOTNOTE: The image we’ve used today is one of the 1973 American adverts making full use of the punning title.

#AladdinSane50 #Bowie2023Anniversaries

tags: 2023 April
Wednesday 04.19.23
Posted by Mark Adams
 

Let's Dance album is forty today

“It's just the power to charm...”

Today we celebrate the 40th anniversary of Let’s Dance.

Once again, Jason Draper has kindly given us the heads up on another in-depth piece he’s written with Joe Tiller regarding the release over on thisisdig.

It’s a track-by-track assessment of the album titled: ‘LET’S DANCE’: HOW DAVID BOWIE CAME OUT FIGHTING WITH A PURE POP ALBUM, and you can read the full thing here.

#BowieLetsDance40 #Bowie2023Anniversaries

tags: 2023 April
Friday 04.14.23
Posted by Mark Adams
 

Rest In Peace Ryuichi Sakamoto

“Here am I, a lifetime away from you...”

Sad to learn of the passing of actor, composer, and producer Ryuichi Sakamoto. The renowned Japanese artist passed on Tuesday 28th March aged 71.

He won awards - including an Oscar, a Grammy and Bafta - for his work as a solo artist and as a member of the Yellow Magic Orchestra (YMO).

He co-starred in the film Merry Christmas, Mr Lawrence with David Bowie in 1983, and today’s lyric quotation is from the song Forbidden Colours (a vocal version of the main theme) which he performed and composed with David Sylvian for the film’s soundtrack.

David and Ryuichi are seen here in a picture taken in Japan by Denis O'Regan in 1983.

#BowieSakamoto #MerryChristmasMrLawrence

tags: 2023 April
Sunday 04.02.23
Posted by Mark Adams
 

Moonage Daydream 3-disc vinyl out now

“Give me your head...”

Following the release of the digital and 2CD versions of the Moonage Daydream album last year, the 3-disc vinyl companion to the critically acclaimed film by Brett Morgan is released today, 31st March, and is available here.

(Image of Bowie during Cracked Actor at the LA Universal Amphitheatre in 1974 by Terry O’Neill)

#BowieMoonageDaydreamAlbum #BowieMoonageDaydreamFilm

tags: 2023 March
Friday 03.31.23
Posted by Mark Adams
 

They said JUMP 30 years ago today

“Look at him climb...”

Jump They Say, a 1993 Top Ten single in the UK and a taster for the upcoming Black Tie White Noise, was released thirty years ago today.

Promoted as a comeback single, the track reached #9 in the UK charts, Bowie’s only Top Ten single between 1986’s Absolute Beginners and 2013’s Where Are We Now?.

According to Bowie, the song tackled his feelings about his schizophrenic half-brother Terry, who had taken his own life in January 1985. The lyrics tell of a desperate man driven to a terrible act by the pressures put upon him. Bowie also cited his own feelings about jumping into the unknown metaphysically. Musically, the influence of Nile Rodgers led to a funk-based sound, though the track was also influenced by contemporary jazz, with a solo from Avant-jazz trumpeter Lester Bowie.

As the first single from the album, Jump They Say received a considerable promotional push with widespread press advertising and a slew of promotional 12" singles. The following year Jump: The David Bowie Interactive CD-ROM was released; wherein endless mixes of the song and versions of the video could be created.

The promotion also included the darkly stylish video directed by Mark Romanek, depicting Bowie as a businessman paranoid of his colleagues, who seemingly conduct experiments on him and force him to jump from the roof of the corporate building.

The video was influenced by Jean-Luc Godard's 1965 film Alphaville as well as Chris Marker's film La jetée and Orson Welles' The Trial - both from 1962. The uniformed women shown looking through high powered telescopes are an homage to the stewardesses in the Pan-Am space plane in Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968). The video was praised by Entertainment Weekly after Bowie passed in 2016, saying: “Bowie is an excellent actor, and this video may be his best character performance in a music video.”

Following Warhol’s lead with his 1962 multiple, Suicide (Fallen Body), the final scene of the Jump They Say video ends with an homage to the tragic Evelyn Francis McHale. Evelyn committed suicide in 1947 by jumping from the 86th-floor observation deck of the Empire State Building. An image captured four minutes after her death by photography student Robert Wiles gained iconic status and became known as ‘The Most Beautiful Suicide’.

The image we’ve used here is from that final scene and you can watch the full video here.

#BowieJUMP #BowieJUMP30

tags: 2023 March
Wednesday 03.15.23
Posted by Mark Adams
 

The Story of Let’s Dance

“The song they’re playing on the radio...”

As you know, today marks the 40th anniversary of the Let’s Dance single.

Jason Draper has kindly given us the heads up on another superb piece he’s written regarding the release over on thisisdig. Here’s his introduction...

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Having released an album almost every year throughout the 70s, David Bowie fell unusually quiet at the start of the 80s. When a new song, Let’s Dance, emerged in March 1983 as the lead single from the album of the same name, it suggested that things would be business as usual for the creative maverick who could bend a range of musical styles to his will – only this time, in league with co-conspirator Nile Rodgers, Bowie let loose a genre-melding song that was also calibrated for success in the pop realm. More than a call to the dancefloor, Let’s Dance knowingly winked at its title’s meaning in vintage slang: an invitation to fight, with Bowie silhouetted in a boxer’s pose on the single’s artwork, the song saw its creator come out swinging as he took on the mainstream. Here is the story of how Let’s Dance turned David Bowie into a global pop icon.

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Read the full thing here.

#BowieLetsDance40 #Bowie2023Anniversaries

tags: 2023 March
Tuesday 03.14.23
Posted by Mark Adams
 

Let’s Dance 40th Anniversary Digital Remix EP

“Under the moonlight…”

Some of you already have on your red shoes and have danced your way into 14th March and the 40th anniversary of David Bowie’s Let’s Dance single.

If so, you may have already happened upon the work of Honey Dijon and the 4-track LET’S DANCE 40th ANNIVERSARY REMIX E.P.

The Let’s Dance (Honey Dijon Moonlight remix) was created as part of a trio of new Bowie remixes for Peloton’s celebration of Bowie’s legacy and his future influence around his 75th birthday last year. Honey Dijon, aka Honey Redmond, the New York based producer and DJ remixed the track and said “My remix was not only influenced by my love of David Bowie, but by being a Peloton Member myself, I thought about what would inspire me to move my body and sweat, similarly to when I motivate a crowd to dance at a club. My interpretation of ‘Let’s Dance’ is a true celebration of music and movement.”

For this special digital-only remix EP, two mixes by Honey Dijon are complemented by two further remixes from the Brazilian Electronic producer RQntz whose mix initially appeared on an especially curated Lady Gaga playlist on Apple Music.

LET’S DANCE 40th ANNIVERSARY REMIX E.P.

1 - Let’s Dance (Honey Dijon Moonlight remix) (4.06)

2 - Let’s Dance (RQntz remix radio edit) (3.29)

3 - Let’s Dance (Honey Dijon Moonlight club mix) (7.14)

4 - Let’s Dance (RQntz remix) (4.23)

Also released tomorrow (14th) are Let’s Dance Club Bolly mixes (2 tracks) and China Girl Riff and Vox mixes (3 tracks).

Stay tuned for more Let’s Dance celebrations.

#BowieLetsDance40 #Bowie2023Anniversaries

tags: 2023 March
Monday 03.13.23
Posted by Mark Adams
 

The Next Day album is ten today

“And the next day, and the next, and another day. Listen…”

Following its exclusive announcement on the official Bowie channels on Bowie’s 66th birthday on 8th January 2013, The Next Day, Bowie’s first new studio album In 10 years, was initially released ten years ago today, followed by staggered releases in various formats in different territories.

Preceded by the haunting Tony Oursler directed Where Are We Now video (released as a single on the same day as the album announcement), The Next Day was made available to stream as a worldwide iTunes exclusive the week before its full release, with the vinyl following later.

The album’s 2nd single, The Stars (Are Out Tonight), was also released ahead of the album with an accompanying video on 26th February.

The release of The Next Day (co-produced by Bowie and Tony Visconti) marked a highly anticipated return for Bowie, who had largely remained out of the public eye for several years. Bowie’s first new material in a decade was met with widespread critical acclaim and entered most charts at #1 on the day of release.

The album was recorded in secret over a period of two years, with only a handful of people aware of its existence. Its sudden release was seen as a bold and unexpected move, generating a great deal of excitement and press attention.

Jonathan Barnbrook’s album artwork featuring a white square obscuring the iconic "Heroes" album cover, was also a topic of much discussion and speculation.

Publicity for the album started with overnight pencil pavement stencils bearing the legend The Next Day and an extensive poster and billboard campaign announcing the album and relevant release date, but initially with no mention of Bowie. Possibly the most prolific Bowie poster campaign, Barnbrook created one of the biggest headaches for completist collectors of Bowie memorabilia.

The Next Day was an undoubted triumph for Bowie, and it served as a reminder of his enduring relevance and influence on modern music. Its release marked a significant milestone in his career, and it remains a highly regarded album among fans and critics alike.

We’ll leave you with critical plaudits for The Next Day taken from the fist reviews:

Q *****

"Start arguing for its merits as an equal to Low or a Heroes."

The Guardian ****

"The Next Day makes you hope it's not a one-off, that his return continues apace: no mean feat, given that listening to a new album by most of his peers makes you wish they'd stick to playing the greatest hits."

The Independent *****

"The greatest comeback album ever."

The Telegraph *****

"An absolute wonder: urgent, sharp-edged, bold, beautiful and baffling.”

The Times ****

"A great album and something that is rare in an age when everything is explained and revealed: a sense of mystery."

Rolling Stone ****

“‘The Stars (Are Out Tonight)’ is one of the greatest songs the man has ever written… a triumphant moment on a triumphant album.”

NME 8/10

"Bright and poppy, these songs feel like stories that insisted on being told."

Billboard 91/100

“[Bowie and producer Tony Visconti] have struck gold in creating a work that is modern and well-connected to the artist’s fabled sonic-past.”

The Quietus

"David Bowie, then. History, but still happening. And the next day, and the next. Greatness. It can't go on. It goes on."

#TheNextDayIs10

tags: 2023 March
Wednesday 03.08.23
Posted by Mark Adams
 

The Stars (Are Out Tonight) video is ten

“We have a nice life…”

Ten years ago today we posted the exclusive first look of the promo video for The Stars (Are Out Tonight) here on the DavidBowie.com home page.

Pictured here are husband and wife, played by David Bowie and Tilda Swinton in the film directed by the brilliant Floria Sigismondi, whose previous Bowie credits included the Little Wonder (1996) and Dead Man Walking (1997) videos.

Here‘s a brief synopsis followed by the cast list and a link to the video:

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The short film "The Stars (Are out Tonight)" accompanying David Bowie's eponymously titled single released February 26, 2013, features David Bowie and Tilda Swinton as a happily married couple.

Their world is disturbed and then re-arranged by the intrusion of a celebrity couple played by Andrej Pejic and Saskia De Brauw.

Directed by Floria Sigismondi and shot by Jeff Cronenweth, this story at once captures a twenty first century moment in its convergence of age, gender and the normal/celebrity divide.

The Stars (Are Out Tonight) - Cast List

David Bowie - Husband

Tilda Swinton - Wife

Saskia De Brauw – Celebrity 2

Andrej Pejic – Celebrity 1

Iselin Steiro - Vocalist

Yves Berlin -Guitar

Folake Olowofoyeku - Bass

Randy Michael - Drums

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Check out the video here.

#BowieTheStars

tags: 2023 February
Sunday 02.26.23
Posted by Mark Adams
 

A Divine Symmetry vinyl LP out now

“Lay me place and bake me pie, I'm starving for me gravy...”

A quick reminder that the A Divine Symmetry (An Alternative Journey Through Hunky Dory) vinyl album is released today, Friday 24th February. It’s a great standalone LP that does what it says in the title.

The tri-fold insert has three portraits from the Brian Ward cover session on the outside, with the lyrics and credits on the inside.

We should point out that the sepia image here isn’t part of the release, but we hope you agree it’s a cracking shot, nevertheless.

Kudos to Ken Scott and Parlophone for a stellar job on this release.

We’ll leave you with the tracklisting and a link to a Spotify playlist to give you a digital flavour of it.

A DIVINE SYMMETRY (AN ALTERNATIVE JOURNEY THROUGH HUNKY DORY) VINYL LP

Side 1

1 Changes (2021 alternative mix) (3.38)

2 Oh! You Pretty Things (BOWPROMO mix) (3.12)

3 Eight Line Poem (BOWPROMO mix) (2.52)

4 Life On Mars? (original ending version) (4.01)

5 Kooks (BOWPROMO mix) (2.53)

6 Quicksand (2021 mix – early version) (5.01)

Side 2

7 Fill Your Heart (2021 alternative mix) (3.12)

8 Bombers (2021 alternative mix) (2.42)

9 Andy Warhol (original mix)

10 Song For Bob Dylan (2021 alternative mix) (4.22)

11 Queen Bitch (BOWPROMO mix) (3.16)

12 The Bewlay Brothers (2021 alternative mix) (5.26)

2, 3, 5, 9 and 11 Produced by Ken Scott (assisted by The Actor). Recorded, engineered, and mixed by Ken Scott at Trident Studios, London

1, 4, 6 – 8, 10 and 12 Produced by David Bowie and Ken Scott. Recorded and engineered by Ken Scott at Trident Studios, London

Mixed by Ken Scott, October/November, 2021

A Divine Symmetry playlist on Spotify.

Here’s a link for all your Divine Symmetry needs.

#BowieADivineSymmetry #BowieDivineSymmetry

tags: 2023 February
Thursday 02.23.23
Posted by Mark Adams
 

V&A secures Bowie’s archive for The David Bowie Centre for the Study of Performing Arts

“Waiting for the gift of sound and vision…”

Major gift and donation to help V&A secure David Bowie’s archive for the nation:

Over 80,000 items spanning six decades of the cultural icon’s career to be made available to the public for the first time.

Today, the V&A announces it will secure the archive of David Bowie for the nation – revealing the creative processes of one of the most pioneering and influential figures in the history of live and recorded music, film, fashion and beyond. From 2025, the archive will be made available to the public, from fans to school children and researchers, through the creation of The David Bowie Centre for the Study of Performing Arts at V&A East Storehouse, in Stratford’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. The acquisition and creation of The Centre has been made possible thanks to the David Bowie Estate and a generous donation of £10m from the Blavatnik Family Foundation and Warner Music Group.

Encompassing more than 80,000 items, the archive traces Bowie’s creative processes as a musical innovator, cultural icon, and advocate for self-expression and reinvention from his early career in the 1960s to his death in 2016. Alongside the creation of the new Centre, the gift will support the ongoing conservation, research, and study of the archive.

Dr Tristram Hunt, Director of the V&A, said: “David Bowie was one of the greatest musicians and performers of all time. The V&A is thrilled to become custodians of his incredible archive, and to be able to open it up for the public. Bowie’s radical innovations across music, theatre, film, fashion, and style – from Berlin to Tokyo to London – continue to influence design and visual culture and inspire creatives from Janelle Monáe to Lady Gaga to Tilda Swinton and Raf Simons. Our new collections centre, V&A East Storehouse, is the ideal place to put Bowie’s work in dialogue with the V&A’s collection spanning 5,000 years of art, design, and performance. My deepest thanks go to the David Bowie Estate, Blavatnik Family Foundation and Warner Music Group for helping make this a reality and for providing a new sourcebook for the Bowies of tomorrow.”

Spanning Bowie’s career, the archive features handwritten lyrics, letters, sheet music, original costumes, fashion, photography, film, music videos, set designs, Bowie’s own instruments, album artwork and awards. It also includes more intimate writings, thought processes and unrealised projects, the majority of which have never been seen in public before.

Highlights include stage costumes such as Bowie’s breakthrough Ziggy Stardust ensembles designed by Freddie Burretti (1972), Kansai Yamamoto’s flamboyant creations for the Aladdin Sane tour (1973) and the Union Jack coat designed by Bowie and Alexander McQueen for the Earthling album cover (1997). The archive also includes handwritten lyrics for songs including Fame (1975), “Heroes” (1977) and Ashes to Ashes (1980), as well as examples of the “cut up” method of writing introduced to Bowie by the writer William Burroughs. Additionally, the archive holds a series of intimate notebooks from every era of Bowie’s life and career.

The archive also includes a photo collage of film stills from The Man Who Fell to Earth (1975-76), directed by Nicolas Roeg and featuring Bowie, and over 70,000 photographs, prints, negatives, large format transparencies, slides and contact sheets taken by some of the 20th century’s leading photographers from Terry O’Neill to Brian Duffy and Helmut Newton. Among other highlights are instruments, amps, and other equipment, including Brian Eno’s EMS Synthesizer from Bowie’s seminal Low (1977) and “Heroes” albums and a Stylophone – a gift from Marc Bolan in the late 1960’s, used on Bowie’s seminal Space Oddity recording.

Sir Leonard Blavatnik, Founder and Chairman of Access Industries, and the Blavatnik Family Foundation, said: “We are very proud to support the V&A and allow for the creation of this irreplaceable archive to preserve and showcase David Bowie’s iconic career. His influence on music and popular culture throughout the world cannot be overstated.”

Max Lousada, CEO, Recorded Music, Warner Music Group, said: “As the stewards of David Bowie’s extraordinary music catalogue, we’re delighted to expand our relationship with his estate through this partnership with the V&A. This archive promises to be an unparalleled display of individual artistic brilliance, invention, and transformation. Bowie’s influence only grows in stature over time, and this will be an enduring celebration of his profound legacy.”

A spokesperson from the David Bowie Estate, said: “With David’s life’s work becoming part of the UK’s national collections, he takes his rightful place amongst many other cultural icons and artistic geniuses. The David Bowie Centre for the Study of Performance – and the behind the scenes access that V&A East Storehouse offers– will mean David’s work can be shared with the public in ways that haven’t been possible before, and we’re so pleased to be working closely with the V&A to continue to commemorate David’s enduring cultural influence.”

Nile Rodgers, said: “I believe everyone will agree with me when I say that when I look back at the last 60 years of post-Beatles music that if only one artist could be in the V&A it should be David Bowie. He didn’t just make art, he was art!”

Tilda Swinton, one of David Bowie’s friends and collaborators, said: “In 2013, the V&A’s David Bowie Is… exhibition gave us unquestionable evidence that Bowie is a spectacular example of an artist, who not only made unique and phenomenal work, but who has an influence and inspiration far beyond that work itself. Ten years later, the continuing regenerative nature of his spirit grows ever further in popular resonance and cultural reach down through younger generations. In acquiring his archive for posterity, the V&A will now be able to offer access to David Bowie’s history – and the portal it represents – not only to practicing artists from all fields, but to every last one of us, and for the foreseeable future. This is a truly great piece of news, which deserves the sincerest gratitude and congratulations to all those involved who have made it possible.”

V&A East Storehouse will be a new type of museum experience designed within and around the V&A’s stored collections. Taking visitors behind the scenes, it will enable unprecedented access to the nation’s collections, in a new purpose-built home for over 250,000 objects, 350,000 books and 1,000 archives. V&A East Storehouse brings together conservation labs, working stores, research and reading rooms with galleries, display and performance spaces and creative studios – brought together through an extensive public network centred around the Collections Hall, to create a unique experience for visitors. At The David Bowie Centre for the Study of Performing Arts at V&A East Storehouse, from 2025, fans will be able to get up-close and gain new insights into Bowie’s creative process like never before.

The David Bowie Archive joins the V&A’s Theatre & Performance collections, which includes the archives of influential individuals and organisations, from Vivien Leigh to Peter Brook, Akram Khan Dance Company, The Royal Court Theatre and Glastonbury Festival. The acquisition follows the V&A’s ground-breaking 2013 exhibition, David Bowie Is…, which marked the first time a museum had been given unprecedented access to the David Bowie Archive. The exhibition was seen by over two million people around the world as part of its international tour, becoming one of the V&A’s most popular exhibitions of all time.

#BowieArchiveVAM

tags: 2023 February
Wednesday 02.22.23
Posted by Mark Adams
 

Moonage Daydream 3-disc vinyl due next month

“Just like the film...”

Following the release of the digital and 2CD versions of the Moonage Daydream album last year, we now have a date for the 3-disc vinyl release.

This companion to the critically acclaimed film by Brett Morgan will be released on 31st March and can be pre-ordered here.

We’ll leave you with the vinyl tracklisting for each of the six sides:

+ - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - +

Side 1

“Time… one of the most complex expressions…”

Ian Fish U.K. Heir (Moonage Daydream mix 1)

Hallo Spaceboy (remix Moonage Daydream edit)

Medley: Wild Eyed Boy From Freecloud

All The Young Dudes

Oh! You Pretty Things (live)

Life On Mars? (2016 mix – Moonage Daydream edit)

Moonage Daydream (live)

Side 2

Medley: The Jean Genie / Love Me Do / The Jean Genie (live) (featuring Jeff Beck)

The Light (excerpt)

Warszawa (live Moonage Daydream edit)

Quicksand (2021 mix – early version)

Medley: Future Legend / Diamonds Dogs intro / Cracked Actor

Side 3

Rock ‘n’ Roll With Me (live)

Aladdin Sane (Moonage Daydream edit)

Subterraneans

Space Oddity (Moonage Daydream mix)

V-2 Schneider

Side 4

(CD break)

Sound And Vision (Moonage Daydream mix)

A New Career In A New Town (Moonage Daydream mix)

Word On A Wing (Moonage Daydream excerpt)

“Heroes” (live Moonage Daydream edit)

D.J. (Moonage Daydream mix)

Ashes To Ashes (Moonage Daydream mix)

Move On (Moonage Daydream a cappella mix edit)

Moss Garden (Moonage Daydream edit)

Side 5

Cygnet Committee/Lazarus (Moonage Daydream mix)

Memory Of A Free Festival (harmonium edit)

Modern Love (Moonage Daydream mix)

Let’s Dance (live Moonage Daydream edit)

The Mysteries (Moonage Daydream mix)

Rock ‘n’ Roll Suicide (live Moonage Daydream edit)

Ian Fish U.K. Heir (Moonage Daydream mix 2)

Side 6

Word On A Wing (Moonage Daydream mix)

Hallo Spaceboy (live Moonage Daydream mix)

I Have Not Been To Oxford Town (Moonage Daydream a cappella mix edit)

“Heroes": IV. Sons Of The Silent Age (excerpt)

★ (Moonage Daydream mix edit)

Ian Fish U.K. Heir (Moonage Daydream mix excerpt)

Memory Of A Free Festival (Moonage Daydream mix edit)

Starman

“You’re aware of a deeper existence…”

Changes

“Let me tell you one thing…”

“Well you know what this has been an incredible pleasure…”

+ - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - +

MOONAGE DAYDREAM

MUSIC PRODUCED BY TONY VISCONTI

RE-RECORDING MIXERS PAUL MASSEY DAVID GIAMMARCO

SUPERVISING SOUND EDITORS JOHN WARHURST NINA HARTSTONE

RE-RECORDING ENGINEER BILL STEIN MIXING ENGINEER JANNEK ZECHNER

MUSICAL MASH-UPS DESIGNED AND EDITED BY BRETT MORGEN

#BowieMoonageDaydreamAlbum #BowieMoonageDaydreamFilm

tags: 2023 February
Friday 02.03.23
Posted by Mark Adams
 

Rest In Peace Lisa Marie

More sad news with the passing of Lisa Marie Presley who suffered cardiac arrest yesterday. (12th Jan)

The daughter of Elvis and Priscilla was just 54 and had been seen in public with her mother only two days earlier on 10th Jan at the 80th Golden Globe Awards.

She is pictured here with David and Iman at Radio City Music Hall in NY in 2005.

#RIPLisaMariePresley #BowiePresley

tags: 2023 January
Friday 01.13.23
Posted by Mark Adams
 

Farewell to Jeff Beck

“But boy could he play guitar...”

Sad to hear about the passing of guitarist Jeff Beck who died aged 78 on Tuesday after “suddenly contracting bacterial meningitis”.

Our thoughts are with his family who have asked for privacy during this sad time.

Jeff is pictured here with David at Les Paul’s 95th Birthday in NY on 8th June 2010.

Among other things Jeff is probably known best to Bowie fans for his guest appearance in the live medley of The Jean Genie/Love Me Do and Round And Round recorded live at the final Ziggy Stardust concert at Hammersmith Odeon in 1973, as featured in the recent Moonage Daydream film.

#RIPJeffBeck #BowieJeffBeck

tags: 2023 January
Wednesday 01.11.23
Posted by Mark Adams
 
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