Bowie posts up a new DavidAsks question, asking for your thoughts on the
rays of positive possibility that illuminatethis bleakness.
A Message From David
Like all of you, nothing has prepared me for the horrors of the last twenty-four hours. Like you, I never thought I would see anything like this in my lifetime. Our world will never be the same. The streets are empty downtown except for the few who live there, trancelike, going about their day to day lives, walking their dogs, going to work, or just walking. At some ghostly unseen signal everyone turns his or her heads, crane their necks, looking to the patch of sky where, twenty-four hours ago, the mountainous peaks of those two towers stood. The sunrise was seen earlier today. No obstruction.
The likelihood of survivors is paltry. Two friends of mine offered to give blood yesterday only to be told that it was not necessary, as there weren't going to be enough survivors to warrant it. A doctor, on his way to one of the makeshift morgues, suggested the victims would number many thousands. The emergency services are listening for the ring of cell phones or cries from the acres of rubble. When buildings of this size collapse, the cinder blocks sometimes form small pockets of space in the crush. It is possible some may survive this way.
The area of New York below fourteenth street has been declared a no-go section this morning. Lonely old sidewalk crazies, a permanent fixture of this city, who yesterday were crying aloud "where are all these people running to?'" are today asking, "where are all the people?"
Small mercies for me. My family and friends are safe. At this moment in time I have no personal knowledge that acquaintances or friends may have been killed. My heart goes out to those of you who do have family or friends missing. I hope beyond hope they are found.
Life here will continue. New Yorkers are a resilient and fast thinking people. In this way they really do resemble my own Londoners. They came together quickly in massive community support and silent determination. There has been no over-panicking. Over the next few days that calm may surely turn to anger. But today, there is just numbness, a horrible silence.
David B
Our Thoughts Are With You All
From UltraStar and BowieNet, our thoughts and prayers are with you all on this tragic day.
Reminder -trivia Chat
Join us for the next installment of BOWIE TRIVA CHAT...The Trivia Frenzy starts Wednesday, September 12th at 5pm EST. We'll be giving away prizes like Ziggy 2002 autographed/numbered posters, copies of Emm Gryner new CD, T-shirts, CD's plus lots of bonus points. Special Grand Prize to include actual clothing worn by David! Dry cleaning not included!!Do you know what Bowie album was released on Sept. 12th? Bone up on your Bowie Now! Join us in the Chat Room on Wednesday Night. See you there!
All Saints In Top Ten Instrumental Albums
All Saints is number three in a list of the Top 10 instrumental albums, published yesterday in The Sunday Times, Culture Section. David's taste and influence pervade the list which includes Eno's Music for Airports at number one; Aphex Twin, Selected Ambient Works at five; Air, Moon Safari at seven and Neu, Neu 2 at nine.
The list in full :-
1 Brian Eno - Music For Airports
2 Aerial M - As Performed by Aerial M
3 David Bowie - All Saints
4 Mowgai - Young Team
5 Aphex Twin - Selected Ambient Works
6 Plastikman - Comsumed
7 Air - Moon Safari
8 Biosphere - Substrata
9 Neu - Neu 2
10 Harold Budd - Luxa
You can read the article online, here.
:))
Almost Famous Dvd And Video Out Today
'Almost Famous' Region 2 video
When you see a famous smile...
Already available back in March in the US, Cameron Crowe's superb 'Almost Famous' is now available to buy in Europe. Complete with a new cover, the film is released on Video and Region 2 DVD today. Most of you are familiar with the film and its soundtrack, which includes the 1972 Santa Monica recording of 'Waiting For The Man' by Ziggy and the Spiders, and numerous references to David Bowie, including a flash of a Bowie look-a-like being bundled into a lift.
The film tells the story, (based on Crowe's own experiences) of William Miller (Patrick Fugit), a naive 15-year-old boy who wants to write about rock music, and who ends up on the road with fictional band Stillwater, as a reporter for Rolling Stone magazine in the 1970s. Despite his mother's best efforts, Miller's innocence is gradually eroded by firstly, legendary Creem editor, Lester Bangs (Philip Seymour Hoffman), and then groupie extraordinaire Penny Lane (Kate Hudson)...that's her on the cover.
A most moving account and a subject clearly close to Crowe's heart, 'Almost Famous' is a must-see. The video retails at around £75, but as my mate Rus says, you may be better off saving your cash toward a DVD player if you don't already have one. The DVD retails at £19.99 but you should be able to pick it up online for as little as £15.99
On a final note we also have Mr Crowe to thank for the infamous Playboy interview with David back in 1976, not much of which is printable on a family site such as this. But here is a little insight into a 29-year-old Bowie through the eyes of a teenage Cameron Crowe:
"My talks with Bowie began as far back as early 1975. Few of our sessions were marathon affairs. No matter how stimulating the conversation, after any longer than an hour of sitting still, Bowie could barely contain himself. 'Can we just take a short break?' he'd blurt. Not waiting for a reply, he would then shoot to his feet and dart in another direction: sometimes to write a song or two, other times to dash off a painting. In one instance, he ended a session by asking for a random list of 20 items. I gave it to him. He studied the list for ten seconds, handed it back and recited it from memory. Backward and forward."
Thanx again to Rus for the pointer.
Luke Oxley Enters The Tardis
So Good Looking, The Competition Can?t Stand The Sight Of It
Look out your window I can see his light...
Luke Oxley will be the fourth artist in the Window Pain (sic) Project at the Tardis Studios window space situated at 52-56 Turnmill Street, London, EC1. Taking over from 360 Corp from next Monday the 10th September, Luke's piece will be on show through till the 5th October 2001.
Luke is exhibiting 'So Good Looking, The Competition Can?t Stand The Sight Of It', an installation using ultraviolet light. The text, based on an old advertising slogan, is explained in this excerpt from the press release:
"The text implies the boastful messages offered by commercial companies while at the same time hinting at the more sinister and aggressive implications of advertising. At the same time the use of ultraviolet light alludes to the all-pervading nature of ads as it illuminates the whole work, the space and the viewer of the piece."
And:
"Oxley playfully and critically re-works the visual and abstract signs that our consumer society bombards us with daily. In so doing he confuses our taught reading of the world and the language and meaning of commercialism, furthermore through exploiting mass production techniques and industrial materials the artist brings into question the status of the art object while distorting ideas of authenticity, simulation, originality and replication."
"Locating this piece on street level and outside the confines of the gallery further challenges the work as an art object. In spite of this the text evokes the relationship between artists, artwork and viewer, commenting on the ego of the artist and the often-confrontational relationship between the artist and the participating viewer."
As you all know,
The Kids Are All High Again
David Bowie around the time he consumed
a lot of the old white stuff...erm, milk that is!.
Though I'll never fly so high, I'm smiling...
Tune in to BBC Radio 2 this evening at 20:00 (GMT) for the second and final part of
Again, no reason why you should expect any mention of David Bowie, but the programme does cover the period that David allegedly saw some drugs at somebody else's house, and it's always nice to hear John Peel's voice anyway.
Classic Bowie Image For Absolut Vodka Campaign
The original Aladdin Sane album cover, and
the ABSOLUT VODKA version...look closely.
Who'll love Aladdin Sane...
The latest
Bearing the legend, "ABSOLUT BOWIE - DAVID BOWIE Looking Absolut-ly Fabulous", the ad is part of the 'Absolut Album Covers' campaign which will also be utilising album covers by John Lennon ('Two Virgins', rear view thankfully), The Velvet Underground and Judas Priest! All of the ads incorporate the shape of the ABSOLUT VODKA bottle, and in the case of the 'Aladdin Sane' version the teardrop on Bowie's shoulder is replaced by aforementioned shape. Clever eh?
Rex Ray Show In London Tonight
UK BowieNet poster by Rex Ray
Put your Rex Ray gun to my head...
As promised yesterday, here's some more stuff on tonight's
Gotham (020 7243 0011)
17 Chepstow Corner
Notting Hill
London
W2 4XE
Something (020 7229 9944)
1-3 Chepstow Road
London
W2 5BL
Broadbent (020 7229 8811)
25 Chepstow Corner
Chepstow Place
London
W2 4XE
Visitors can reserve tickets to the event on any of the above numbers.
The launch event will run from 7.00 - 10.00pm tonight, (Thursday 6th September) and takes place in all three venues. The event will introduce artists Susan Freda, Henry Jackson,
David Bowie Spotted In London, Not!
'A Foggy Day In London Town' - Traffic going
past the Houses of Parliament recently, including
a metallic blue Ford without David Bowie in it!
Came to London town...
Occasional sightings of David Bowie in London over the last couple of weeks have been mentioned on the MBs, but have now reached silly proportions with a bit in today's Daily Mirror. In its surveillance section the paper reports that David Bowie was spotted: "driving past the Houses of Parliament in a metallic blue Ford." Regular visitors to
It seems some people see what they want to see. David has not visited London in recent months, and nor does he plan to any time soon.
Rex Ray Show In London Tomorrow
Eupepsia, 20" x 30" Iris print by Rex Ray
A London boy, oh a London boy...
Lock up your copies of 'No Pussyfooting',
If you would like to attend the event and "Coast The Triangle", there is a minimum donation per person of £25. Worth the money just to meet Rex Ray in my opinion, and who knows who else may be there? No, not David, before you get the wrong idea, but, you know...other folk. If you would like to lend your support tomorrow, you should be OK to get a ticket on the door, but it may be sensible to call 020 7243 0011 for availability first.
I will post more information, including venue details tomorrow.
Two Versions Of Training Day Out Next Week
D Bowie and P Diddy, that's P on the right,
New York, July 22nd 2001. © Mission Pictures.
I'll stay clean tonight...
One week to go before 'American Dream' is released on the 'Training Day' soundtrack on September 11th via Priority Records (released the following week in the UK on the 17th through Virgin). There will be both a 'clean' version (for the more gentle among us) and an 'explicit lyrics' version available (for those that enjoy ****ing swearing).
Pssst...wanna copy of the 'explicit lyrics' version?
Hear a 30 second preview clip of 'American Dream' by P. Diddy and the Bad Boy Family featuring David Bowie, by visiting the Priority Records web site. We are hoping to run some sort of competition to tie in with the release next week. So stay tuned kidz!
Moulin Rouge V.2 Out Now
Nature Boys keep swinging...
While we're on the subject of two versions, (see above, and: 08/27/01 NEWS: TWO BOWIE TRACKS ON INTIMACY SOUNDTRACK) you may have noticed a revamped Moulin Rouge soundtrack in your local gramophone recordings outlet. This new version of the CD, (released yesterday here in the UK in what seems to be an attempt to capitalise on the success of the number one single, 'Lady Marmalade') now has a different cover (see above) and another version of aforementioned smash hit tacked on the end...that version being the 'Thunderpuss Radio Mix' to be precise.
As if this new 16-track re-launch wasn't enough, there seems to be yet another version circulating, possibly French, that has a 'Josh G. Abrahams' mix of the Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor performance of 'Come What May' included as a bonus track instead of the 'Lady Marmalade' re-mix! There is no change on any of these versions to David's two versions of 'Nature Boy'. There are also rumours of a karaoke version of the album to come later in the year! Confused? You am be.
Db On 30th Anniversary 'old Grey Whistle Test'
In a recent article in The Independent I was quietly thrilled to learn of the return of several classic episodes of The Old Grey Whistle Test, the programme which "will always have a special place in the heart of British music fans, as it was the programme that established serious rock music on our TV screens", to BBC2 in the UK this autumn. The show will feature many memorable studio performances, including those from David Bowie, Elton John, John Lennon, Patti Smith and Talking Heads.
This story also has an eight page spread in the September 01 edition of Record Collector, which features a black and white screen grab of David and Mick, appearing in the first series on 02/08/72, and captioned : Show includes the classic performance of 'Five Years', 'Queen Bitch' and 'Oh You Pretty Things' taped just two days before the start of the very first Ziggy Stardust UK tour. For the evening transmission, only the first two tracks are aired. There have subsequently been several opportunities to see the recording of 'Oh You Pretty Things', but there are still some versions of these tracks which have never been aired.
For those (including me) who have always been puzzled by the origins of the show's title, Richard Williams (presenter of the first series) gave Record Collector this explanation : "Before a new record is released, a rough mix is played to the grey haired doorman. If he can whistle the tune after hearing it once, it passes 'The Old Grey Whistle Test' and is released."
The presenter of the second and many subsequent series, and the man whose name is synonymous with the show, and indeed with Rock TV altogether, 'Whispering' Bob Harris, has completed his autobiography to co-incide with the 30th anniversary celebrations, and also, his website tells us, with a 'Whistle Test Week' on BBC 2, a six part 'Whistle Test Years' series on Radio 2 and a double DVD release containing over six hours of sessions, interviews, clips and commentary from the entire 15 year history of the show...
More details as we get them...
:))
Iman In Today's Uk Sunday Times
Take a look at today's Sunday Times magazine, which features a five page spread and some wonderful photographs of Iman. She talks in-depth about her whole life, and there are some lovely quotes about life with David and Alexandria.
Outside office hours, nothing interests her more than domestic life in Chelsea with her new baby... She and Bowie feel they have tasted enough showbiz parties to last a lifetime.... "David is as reliable as the sun. I'm very fiery, but I married a calm, consistent Englishman. I throw plates at him when we row, and he just stands there saying, 'Darling, shall we discuss this calmly?'.....David is a good daddy. She (Alex) sits on his lap while he's working at the computer, transfixed by what he's doing; he swears she's going to be a singer..... I fell in love with an open, outgoing and hysterically funny guy - every morning with him is like a cabaret"..... The nomadic David's thoughts have been turning to home, and though she feels little enthusiasm for our (UK) chilly climate, his wife will be at his side if he decamps.
The story about the rest of Iman's life is also a fascinating taster for her forthcoming book, I Am Iman, which we featured recently in our news (08/10/01 NEWS: NEW IMAN BOOK!).
For those of you outside the UK, the article is also available online, here.
:))
Fittnb Or John Peel, The Choice Is Yours
Things get tense between Simon (Nick Ingram) and Angie (Katie Lewis),
as Mrs McCarrick, (Lynne Austin) faints to the whirling wooden floor...
It's a god-awful small affair, To the girl with the mousy hair...
There are some tickets still available for the final run of 'From Ibiza to the Norfolk Broads'. If you're interested in catching tonight's or either of tomorrow's performances, call this number: 020 8449 0049. If you're going tonight, we'll see you there.
If on the other hand you want a quiet night in, you could do worse than tune in to BBC Radio 2 this evening at 20:00 (GMT) for
Your Chance To Strip For Spencer Tunik
'Naked and wired' - Spencer's London invite
Bashful but nude...
We are pleased to announce that you are cordially invited to get your kit off in the middle of London, sometime in September, with 299 complete strangers, whom you will lay on the floor with while somebody takes a photograph of you. You'll get a print of the shot for your embarrassment, just like those school line-up ones you've got rolled up in the attic, except this is all in the name of art. What am I on about?
Well, controversial photographer, Spencer Tunick, is planning another "large nude performance" in London later this month, sponsored by David Bowie and
"Since 1994, Spencer Tunick has received wide acclaim for his group photographs of hundreds of people lying naked on the ground in public places. He describes these works as performance sculptures through which human bodies form abstract landscapes. Rather than soliciting a confrontational exchange between performers and viewers through a highly stylised composition of naked bodies, Tunick?s naked ?performers? lie in states of passivity which are either haphazard or strictly formal and repetitive.
Last year Spencer won a first amendment lawsuit against the city of New York and was granted permission to stage his large photographic shoots. In May 2001 Tunick received international notoriety when he staged his largest group photographic shoot in Montreal, Canada. Over 2,200 people turned up to participate in the shoot.
For his first UK shoot, Tunick will be looking to enlist over 300 participants. In the tradition of Tunick?s projects of a similar scale, the exact location of the performance will not be disclosed until two weeks before the shoot, which takes place at dawn and lasts for 15 minutes of which the participants will be naked for only 5 minutes. In return for involvement, each participant will receive a special edition print.
?Spencer Tunick ? London? has been made possible by the generous support of Deptford X, Bowieart.com and I-20 Gallery, New York."
It doesn't say here whether David intends to fly over to take part in the shoot or not, but if YOU would like to participate, you must RSVP [ASAP] to nudeadriftuk@hotmail.com and the organisers will contact you with date/time/place instructions. In return for posing you will receive a limited edition print of the art event.
BowieNet would love to hear from any member (snigger) that manages to take part in this unique event.
Ticket Winners For Fittnb Home Run
The long suffering voice of sanity, Angie (Katie Lewis) and
her even longer suffering mother, Mrs McCarrick, (Lynne Austin)
face a few home truths. Picture by Total Blam Blam
But her mummy is yelling "No"...
Nikkie@davidbowie.com and Malone@davidbowie.com are the two winners of the FITTNB competition we posted on Wednesday. (08/29/01 NEWS: WIN TICKETS FOR FITTNB HOME RUN) Both of you correctly stated that the chap who play's the lead character of Martin is the very talented Alex Clarke.
For those of you that didn't win, but still fancy attending this final run of Adrian Berry's production, go
Meanwhile, If you two winners would like to mail me at MrTotalBlamBlam@AOL.Com with a subject heading of: 'FITTNB Barnet ticket winners', I'll give you details of how to get your tickets. See you there tomorrow!
Bowie In Xfm X-list Top Ten Again
Original UK 7" picture cover of 'Life on Mars?' from 1973,
and 28 years later the French CD release of same.
Is there life on Mars?
Well, we all knew that the French Post Office had their finger on the pulse when they chose to use 'Life On Mars?' in a recent advertising campaign, and now it seems their good taste has been endorsed by the UK's ultra-hip Xfm radio station with the publication of its annual X-list.
The X-List 2001 is a poll of around 15,000 Xfm listeners' three favourite tracks in attempt to determine the best 104 recordings of all time, and David Bowie's 'Life On Mars?' is in the top ten for the second year in a row.
Taken from the 'Hunky Dory' album, this classic Bowie track was first released as a single in the UK, complete with a beautiful picture sleeve (see above), during the Aladdin Sane tour in June 1973. Backed with 'The Man Who Sold The World', 'Life On Mars?' reached #3 on the UK singles chart just in time for Bowie to retire Ziggy at London's Hammersmith Odeon.
While the track has slipped from last year's position of two to number six in this year's list, David is still one of only three artists in the list that started recording during the 1960s, the others being The Beatles at number eight with 'Revolution', and Jimi Hendrix at 56 with 'All Along The Watchtower'. Just goes to prove the kids still have taste, and it's further confirmation of the popularity of 'Hunky Dory' to the youngsters who are just discovering the music of David Bowie.
See below for the artists that occupy the top ten positions this year, last year's positions are bracketed.
01. Nirvana - 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' (25)
02. Radiohead - 'Creep' (36)
03. Stone Roses - 'I Am The Resurrection' (4)
04. Clash - 'London Calling' (10)
05. Smiths - 'How Soon Is Now' (34)
06. David Bowie - 'Life On Mars' (2)
07. Blur - 'Song 2' (14)
08. Beatles - 'Revolution' (15)
09. Radiohead - 'Just' (1)
10. Strokes - 'The Modern Age' (New)
Thanx to Chris of Man of Music for the La Poste link and to BowieNetter Paul McFarlane for alerting me to a report about this story at dotmusic.com. Paul is a man even happier than I to see The Strokes straight in at number ten with their first single, 'The Modern Age', and I'm over the moon!