Stellar Performance From David At Vh-1/vogue Fashion Awards

Picture: KEVIN MAZUR UMAZ/LFI

Fashion...Turn to your right, Stella...

By now, you will all have heard about DB's surprise appearance at the VH-1 Vogue Fashion Awards held on Friday night at Madison Square Garden. Our man was there to announce the winner of the 'Fashion Designer Of The Year' award, which went to UK designer Stella McCartney for her work with the Chloe fashion house. David made his entrance toward the end of the show to the sound of 'Fashion' (appropriately enough) replicating, rather convincingly, the dance steps of James Brown, (who had just performed a duet with Lenny Kravitz) and receiving a huge roar of couturier approval for his trouble!

Continuing his patronage of designer Alexander McQueen, Mr Bowie cut a dash in a two-piece, dark brown chocolate cashmere suit with thin black pencil stripe, and a regular-collared, chocolate brown shirt. His greeting of "Hello beautiful people...and living skeletons" to a celebrity-heavy audience liberally sprinkled with supermodels, left a look of puzzlement on the faces of only a few of the assembled guests.

After David announced the winner of the 'Fashion Designer Of The Year' award, Stella made her way up to accept the award, but pretending there had been a "bit of a cock-up" and that he didn't in fact have the trophy, David offered a couple of tickets for next year's Zoolander movie (in which he makes a cameo appearance) by way of compensation.

Picture: KEVIN MAZUR UMAZ/LFI

Peter, Paul and Mary...Ooops, I mean Paul, David and Stella!

At this point, and to Stella's obvious surprise, her father, Paul McCartney (who used to be in a band himself, and also enjoys painting...even producing a bizarre painting of a not very well Ziggy!) appeared carrying the trophy. Stella ran over to Daddy McCartney, and was clearly overcome with emotion as they hugged, if not a little embarrassed by the legend on his T-shirt which read: 'About Flippin' Time'...This was in direct retaliation to a T-shirt that Stella wore at her father's induction to The Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame which bore the same words, but employed the shock tactic of a slightly stronger F word.

The VH-1 Vogue Fashion Awards show will be regularly repeated over the coming weeks in the USA, the first repeat is scheduled for 24th October at 4.30 pm on VH1, with no definite date for a UK screening. However, keep your fingers crossed for a glimpse of David's appearance at the ceremony on the Celebrity! programme on ITV in the UK tomorrow (24th) at 5:05, repeated the following day (Wednesday) on the same channel at 1:30 in the afternoon.

Total Blam Blam - (European Correspondent)

Somebody Up There Likes Me!

Hats off to Mikedexter...(aka killer) ...the new BowieNet Member of the Week!

Eno At The Partobject Gallery

Bowie's old friend/collaborator, Brian Eno, is currently showing 87 of his generative pictures at the Partobject Gallery in the North Carolinas. You might like to look at their (very well-organized) website which has about 1000 stills from those pieces. The address is http://www.partobject.com

Ziggy Fix

Psst ... Have you heard the correct version of Ziggy Stardust on disc two of Bowie at the Beeb? As you already know, a computer error during the resequencing of the album's tracks duplicated the first disc's Ziggy and used it again on disc two. While this mistake was resourceful at best, it has deprived fans of some vintage Ziggy. Keep your eyes on bowienet next week to see how owners of the double minted cd can download the missing track for free.

Bowie On Channel 4 Tonight

The 1980 (channel) 4 show...

Don't forget to tune into Channel 4 in the UK tonight at 9:05pm for Top Ten. Apart from contributions from the characters I mentioned yesterday, look out for a great interview snippet of David from 1980 and some very rare footage from David's appearance in The Elephant Man from the very same year.

Speaking of which, watch out for Spaceface's excellent Elephant Man special soon. No, it's not about me, it is about the stage play that portrayed the tragic life of John Merrick. Despite the visual evidence above, David didn't get the part for any obvious visual puns that could be made. Nevertheless, fans helped through puberty by Labyrinth will be pleased to learn that Spaceface's piece will feature more similar poses! };-)

Total Blam Blam - (European Correspondent)

Omikron Revisited

In case you missed these two clips posted earlier this month, here they are togther. These animated concert clips are hidden within the game Omikron, and apparently require quite a bit of gaming skill to reach. Here though, all you have to do is figure out how to work that mouse....

=8-)

Click below depending on your connection speed:

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Fashion Awards

There's still time to vote....

There are still several hours left to vote for David and Iman as the most stylish couple in VH1's VOGUE Fashion Awards! Just log on to the VH1 Website to cast your vote before tonight's awards!

Bowie On Uk Tv Tomorrow

It was twenty years ago today...

...well twenty years and a couple of weeks actually, that 'Ashes to Ashes' reached number one in the UK. The Phill Jupitis presented Top Ten programme (no that's not me above, it's him!), celebrates this and other Bowie achievements (including the release of Scary Monster's (and Super Creeps) and DB's Broadway debut in The Elephant Man) in tomorrow's look back at the year 1980.

Contributors to the show (which airs at 9:05pm on Channel 4 in the UK on Saturday the 21st) include: producer Tony Visconti, who you will know for his work with David on and off for more than 30 years now; Natasha Kornilof, designer of some of the early Ziggy outfits and of the 'Ashes to Ashes' Pierrot costume (or should I say co-designer, we mustn't forget David's own contributions to these creations); Richard Skinner, Radio One DJ for yonks from 1979, and last, Stephen Pafford of unofficial VFM fanzine, Cranking Out, who has rocketed from caption writer of BowieStyle to author for this programme!

Apart from the look back at David's incredible success during the year 1980 in part one of the programme, Top Ten also covers topics from the same year as diverse as Kelly 'I Love To Love' Marie and the phenomena that was Rubik's Cube, which David Bowie never mastered, having more important things to do with his time, probably.

As ever, don't forget to look for hidden click-throughs and mouse-overs that are brought to you courtesy of your friendly neighbourhood European Correspondent!

Total Blam Blam - (European Correspondent)

Emm At The Seattle Asian American Film Festival

Bowie back-up singer Emm Gryner will make an appearance on Saturday October 28that the Seattle Asian American Film Fest and take part in a Q&A sessionwith the crew of the film, "The Debut" after its screening. "The Debut" is a new indie feature film directed by Gene Cajayon and makes its first visit to Seattle in a series of opening nights across the west coast. Emm's song, "Southern Dreamer" is featured in the film. Since the film has only seen the film festival circuit, Emm hopes any Bowienetters out in Seattle will come and check out the festivities.

For more info, check out:

http://www.saaff.com

http://www.emmgryner.com

Cracked Actor's Secret

From the Atlantic City Film Festival comes this rather nice review ofDB's performance in "Mr. Rice's Secret:"

"Music Icon David Bowie is remarkably subdued in a role that conjuresimages of Peter Fonda's Oscar nominated turn in the superb "Ulee'sGold." Bowie's Rice is understated, intelligent and gentle, yet offersan air of mysticism that you can't quite put your finger on."

The whole review (excellent) will appear in the Atlantic City Press onFriday.

It's not too late to see this film at the festival if you're in the area - you can get your tickets here!

Bowie Recommends You Get 'stoned'!

Didn't they teach you to get your haircut at school?...

Published sometime earlier in the year, 'Stoned' by Andrew Loog Oldham was recommended to me by DB, and having read the thing, I feel duty-bound to pass the recommendation on to you. For the youngsters among you, Andrew Loog Oldham was the ultra-hip young genius who took an unknown band of scruffs to world-wide superstardom as The Rolling Stones, and 'Stoned' is his fascinating story.

Apart from Andrew's own unique angle on things, 'Stoned' is punctuated by the words of his contemporaries "captured in seventy original conversations. Mary Quant, Pete Townshend, Vidal Sassoon, Nick Cohn and Lionel Bart are among the colourful cast reassembled for this historic look at one of our era's most influential and elusive figures."

Oh, and David gets a few mentions himself, including his thoughts on cult Rock 'n' Roll singer and all-round fruitcake, Vince Taylor. DB is also credited with the following quote:

"Sometimes it's better not to meet your idols; that way they stay intact."

A piece of advice I have thankfully well and truly ignored. David Bowie remains intact!

Total Blam Blam - (European Correspondent)

Vote Now!

We've only got 36 hours....

...to VOTE on VH1's latest poll for MOST STYLISH COUPLE!

David and Iman have been nominated for the most stylish couple in VH1's VOGUE Fashion Awards, and let's face it, clearly they deserve this one! So come on gang, let's get those mice a-clickin'! Competition includes Madonna & Guy Richie, Brad Pitt & Jennifer Aniston, Sarah Jessica Parker & Matthew Broderick and Julia Roberts & Benjamin Bratt.

When you get to the main page, just look on the bottom for the most stylish couple link!. Just click here, or on the image above.

Art Decade...well Month Actually

The eyes have it...

The overwhelming traffic in the direction of www.bowieart.com as an exclusive free David Bowie print was announced a few days ago, was so extraordinarily heavy that it caused the BowieArt servers to meltdown! You will be pleased to learn that the problem has now been rectified and the print is available again as a downloadable zip file. Click on the detail of the image above to take you there.

BowieArt yesterday also announced the opening of an exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery entitled: Painting the Century which opens next week (26th October) and promises to bring together "over one hundred major portraits, loaned from collections around the world, in what is said to be the most ambitious exhibition being mounted in London to celebrate the new millennium."

The painting above (sorry about the poor quality reproduction) is a portrait of David and Iman by Stephen Finer, which can be seen at the exhibition. Some of you may remember Stephen's portrait of David painted in 1994 (below) that is available in the NPG bookshop as a postcard. For more information on the exhibition and booking details etc, go here: http://www.npg.org.uk/century.htm

While we are on the subject of Bowie paintings, don't forget that David has once again generously contributed towards the ArtAid 2000 art exhibition in support of Crusaid, Britain's national fundraiser for HIV and AIDS. The exhibition currently underway at the Vinopolis Gallery in London SE1, runs from 12th October through to 31st October 2000. David has contributed one of his series of Dheads... Dhead LXIII...(see below) All the works are available for purchase, with all monies raised going towards the Crusaid charity. For further information visit Crusaid Web site.

Total Blam Blam - (European Correspondent)

More Omikron!

Who will you be after you die?

In case you didn't notice, that's the T-shirt David was wearing in the latest viddy crummies from the Who Tribute sessions. Just a bit of trivia. To commemmorate this trivial observation, here is another Omikron clip!

Click below depending on your connection speed:

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Elvis Costello's Top 500

In this month's Vanity Fair, Elvis Costello lists his favorite 500 albums of all time, or, more specifically, "500 Albums You Need." He names four David Bowie albums, which are Hunky Dory, Station to Station, Low and Heroes.

He goes one step further to name his favorite track on each of the albums, which are: Life on Mars, Wild is the Wind, Always Crashing in the Same Car and Joe the Lion.

You go, Elvis!

We Are Hungry Men

Nigella Lawson, the rather lovely brit television cookery programme host, features in the November, MOJO, 'All Back To My Place' section.

She is asked :

What, if push comes to shove, is your all time favourite album?

And her reply:

"Because it reminds me of my youth, something like (David Bowie's) Ziggy Stardust or Aladdin Sane, and I love the Stones' Tattoo You. I was born in 1960 so I remember The Beatles, but I've always been more Magpie than Blue Peter."

Thanks, Spaceface!

Bowie Provides Sample...sordid Details Following

Oh no don't say it's true...

No...Not that sort of sample. Actually I don't think there is a Bowie sample on the recording at all, but it caught your eye didn't it! After all the airplay that it has received, and the fact that BowieNutter Chris Gaffney first alerted me to it at least twenty seven years ago, Samantha Mumba's 'Body ll Body' seems like a Golden Oldie already. But the song that has an 'L Burton, S Skarbek, D Bowie' writing credit is actually released today. For those that don't already know, this sure-fire chart-topper borrows quite heavily from 'Ashes to Ashes', and I for one wish the young Irish lass every success with it!

Total Blam Blam - (European Correspondent)

The Elusive Photo Control Unit!

Here, then, is the final crummie for the moment from David's latest session in the studio working on the Who tribute album with his cover of 'Pictures of Lily'. The previously posted clips are here as well in case you missed them, or just want to replay them all easily.

To read more about the Stylophone, visit the "Official" Stylophone site here!

And finally, David's journal entries about the sessions can be found here.

God Knows I'm Good!

In yesterday's Guardian Observer (October 15), the 300 most powerful people who most influence the lives of the British people this year were listed.

Coming in at number 222 is David Bowie, just ahead of Sam Mendes (American Beauty) and Tiger Woods.

The entry reads:

"222 David Bowie Musician; internet enthusist. Hasadded publishing and online banking and art ventures to hisgroundbreaking back catalogue."

The list is largely populated by computer industry CEOs and politicians, with a smattering of artists, including Tracey Emin, Madonna (who movedto London recently on the front pages of the tabloid press), JK Rowling(author of Harry Potter books) and Alexander McQueen (who designedGlastonbury costumes for Sailor).

Thanks, Nalex!

Super Creep Loves Scary Monsters

He could've been a killer if he didn't walk the way he do...

The current issue of Select (November 2000) has Corey Slipnot of Slipnot choosing the recordings that mean something to him. Sticking out like a sore thumb among the more predictable selections of Rage Against The Machine, Metallica, Motley Crue, Snot and erm...Slipnot, is David Bowie's Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps). The album features under the heading Sex Record, and here's what loveable cutie Corey had to say about the record:

"I love that album man, it's one of my favourites, plus it's not a blatant sex album. It's got good grooves on it, and it's got good undertones. A lot of people will say, 'Whoooooaaaa any good funk album will do'. Well f*** that, man, you've got to have something to put you in the mood and that's a really great f***ing album. The guitar sound? Definitely. You hear the 'Waaaaahhhhh' kick in and it's like, man this isn't no porno, this is my life! I don't need that shit."

Well I'm sure there are some big compliments in there somewhere, but I for one will attempt to immediately internalise the mental image I have of Corey getting down to it to the refrain of: "My mother said, to get things done...", lest it spoils my future enjoyment of the album!

Total Blam Blam - (European Correspondent)