We are delighted to announce that the Q&A we started with Coco Schwab just over three weeks ago is now complete! In it, Coco talks about herself, her role as David's close friend and personal assistant, life "back in the day" with David, Brian Eno's secret studio effect and much more. Just follow the link from the Mutations Box in the home page, or click here!
Don't miss this historic exchange!
We are delighted to announce that the Q&A we started with Coco Schwab just over three weeks ago is now complete! In it, Coco talks about herself, her role as David's close friend and personal assistant, life "back in the day" with David, Brian Eno's secret studio effect and much more. Just follow the link from the Mutations Box in the home page, or click here!
Don't miss this historic exchange!
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Above, some of what the artist said to the rock star in The Guardian
(Exactly) As the artist said to the rock star
As promised yesterday, here is the complete transcript of David's e-mail discussion with Tracey Emin before some sub-editor at The Guardian got their hand's on it. The piece has sparked some activity on the MBs , with a couple of responses from David himself.
While we're at it, here is the It's Art Jim, but as We Know It piece, that we also mentioned yesterday, from the October 1997 edition of Modern Painters, and jolly fascinating it is too.
Turn to the left, turn to the right, beep beep!
And me, I'm on a radio show...
Those of you that didn't win in our recent 'All Saints' competition (07/02/01 NEWS: ALL SAINTS RE-ISSUE WINNERS) will be pleased to learn that today you have another chance. For this very afternoon, between 13:00 and 15:00 GMT, five copies of 'All Saints' will be up for grabs on the world-famous Mark & Lard show on Radio 1 here in the UK...and each of the five winners will have their CD signed personally to them by Mr David Bowie!
It'll be interesting to see if the crazy couple will actually play a track from the CD...can't be many of the recordings on 'All Saints' that have enjoyed exposure on national daytime radio here in the UK, or anywhere else for that matter.
Please Note: Details of how to enter the competition will be announced on the show. Please do not attempt to contact the show before the details are announced.
Meanwhile, praise for the album continues, this time in the shape of a review on Q4music.com. Here's a bit of David Quantick's review:
"All Saints moves from the thunderous V2-Schneider to the foothills of A Sense Of Doubt via rarer stuff like the fine Ian Fish UK Heir (it's an anagram of Hanif Kureishi) from the Buddha Of Suburbia soundtrack (and, for some reason, Philip Glass's version of Some Are). Bowie may well be the only person other than The Shadows to suit an instrumental compilation, such is the quality of this stuff."
Don't forget that the competition we set to win copies of the impossibly rare original 'All Saints' CD (06/29/01 NEWS: WIN ALL SAINTS ULTRA-RARITY), runs until the end of the month.
The August issue of Guitar World magazine features a discussion with Perry Farrell, who is currently on tour once again with Jane's Addiction. In the piece Perry talks about David Bowie, and about the song 'Rebel Rebel:'
"Where melody is concerned, Bowie's voice is like a divining rod. Bowie discovers all that's beautiful, sad, bittersweet and bizarre in his voice and he brings it out. And the way he performs - his live vocals, his ideas for the stage - is amazing. He is one of the innovators who refined the art of playing live. And to me, the ability to do that, in a certain sense, is the best thing you can do as a musician."
The tragically hilarious Nat Tate
Don't fake it baby, lay the real thing on me...
I'm sure you all recall the furore that surrounded the publication back in 1998 of 'Nat Tate - An American Artist: 1928 - 1960'. The book, written by William Boyd and published by 21 Publishing, was launched in NY on April 1st 1998 when David Bowie read excerpts at the launch which was held in the studio of Jeff Koons.
People who clamed to be familiar with the tragic artist and his paintings (Nat Tate ended his life after burning nearly all of his work), were left more than a little embarrassed when the UK newspaper, The Independent, exposed the book for the hoax that it was. Nat Tate never ended his own life in 1960, because he never had a life to end.
William Boyd discusses the whole hilarious episode tonight on Channel4 at 23:40 GMT in the series Identity Crisis. Tonight's episode is called 'Lies'.
Thanx to Rochelle for the pointer.
...a sailor with a girl...
This morning's Guardian newspaper here in the UK has in its G2 pullout section a wonderfully entertaining e-mail correspondence between David Bowie and Tracey Emin. The "edited transcript of their correspondence" is explained thus: "When David Bowie decided to set up a virtual gallery for art students, he began an email discussion with Tracey Emin about art, drugs and fame."
We will be posting David's full unedited text tomorrow, but in the meantime here follows a few excerpts from the Guardian piece:
Bowie on "Popping out": "For me, living in downtown New York and without the all-pervading British press on 24-hour call, it's a non-existent problem. "Popping out" is carried out several times a day hereabouts, though of course I do find it expedient to have a train of Lincoln town cars following me at a crawl in case I get a sore ankle."
Bowie on fatherhood and Alex's effect on his "golden years": "She's already affected them. The added dimension to life, of course, is inescapable. Thinking for and on Alex's behalf. Trying to second-guess how she will develop. Continually looking for ways that I can help her. All that."
Bowie on fame: "I certainly fancied my own spoonful of it when I was young. I was more than downcast to find that fame brought nothing more than good seats in a restaurant. There is nothing there to covet."
Bowie on drugs: "Mmm... having experienced drugs, the work is never the same again. Station to Station was a drug album. Low and Heroes were not. Never Let Me Down was. It's all contradictory."
Emin on Bowie: "Throughout my life your music has had a big influence on me. I remember at the age of 14 vomiting at the end of Rock 'n' Roll Suicide after drinking a bottle of sherry, and in later years sailing down the Nile listening to Young Americans on a Walkman full blast." To which David replied: "I also remember vomiting at the end of Rock 'n' Roll Suicide. I remember vomiting at the end of quite a few songs."
David and Tracey have been friends for some time, and you may remember David's piece about Ms Emin for Modern Painters back in the October 1997 edition of the magazine, entitled: "It's Art Jim, but as We Know It", written around some chats in Dublin with Tracey. Anyway, you can read the full transcript of today's Guardian piece here.
At the end of the piece is a plug for the Bowieart Window Pain Project and The Goldsmiths visual arts postgraduate degree shows 2001, which run from 20th - 23rd July. Visit www.goldsmiths.ac.uk for details. The Goldsmiths visual art postgraduates can be seen on BowieArt from tomorrow.
On a final note, the cover of G2 has a piece entitled 'The Man Who Fell To Earth', but be warned, this harrowing and tragic story doesn't deal with the trials and tribulations of TJ Newton, but with the horrific story of Mohammed Ayez, who, after freezing to death as a stowaway in the wheel bay of a London-bound Boeing 777, ended up an unrecognisable mess in a superstore car park in west London. Mohammed Ayez's body fell from the wheel bay as the aircraft started it's decent to Heathrow. His was the fourth body to be found in the area in similar condition, and no doubt, will not be the last.)
One more, weekend, of lights and evening faces...
Fancy an evening out with a few fellow BowieNetters in London? Well we're giving away a pair of tickets for the pre-Edinburgh run of 'Darkness and Disgrace'. The winner will have the choice of one of three evenings next week at the Rosemary Branch Theatre, Shepperton Road, London N1 on Thurs 26th, Fri 27th or Sun 29th July at 8pm. These performances will be the slightly abridged one hour Edinburgh festival versions, reflected in the reduced ticket price of only six quid.
One pair of tickets will be waiting at the venue for the lucky BowieNetter who can tell me what Bowie song was the inspiration for the show's name. Yes, it's that easy. If you need clues (yeah, right) you could do worse than checking out previous mentions of this stunning show here on BowieNet. (01/17/01 NEWS: BOWIE GETS THE CABARET TREATMENT IN LONDON - 01/23/01 NEWS: DARKNESS AND DISGRACE ENDS SUNDAY - 05/25/01 NEWS: TWO BOWIE-RELATED SHOWS AT EDINBURGH FESTIVAL)
When you think you know the answer, and you are SURE you can actually attend the show, send your answer to me at MrTotalBlamBlam@AOL.Com with a subject line of: "I wanna spend the night with Blammo!" and the date of the show you would like to attend. The winner will be announced this coming Saturday morning.
If you don't fancy your chances in the competition, I should warn you that places are going fast, but you can reserve tickets on 0207 704 6665. Tickets for the Edinburgh Festival run between 13th-27th August can also be purchased now on 0131 226 0000.
FYI, I will be joining SusanS, Spaceface, Rednik and hopefully a couple of ladies from across the pond in the shape of Leeza and H2 for Friday's show on the 27th, just in case you wanted to avoid us. If on the other hand you'd like to join us, I'll be the fat bloke with a bunch of weirdoes!
For those of you outside the UK, here is an update on Tony Perry's performance last Saturday. Unfortunately, he didn't win the overall competition, which was won by "Dusty Springfield" with a dead-on rendition of "Son Of A Preacher Man".
Once again, however, Tony did us proud, and I, for one, enjoyed a great Saturday night's TV! Tony looked like he was really enjoying himself, and after all, it was a wonderful achievement to get into the last 10 from the 30,000 people who auditioned for the show.
Here is what he had to say about the night :-
Appearing on the show has been a great experience, I've met some lovely people and achieved something that 30,000 other hopefuls dreamt of when they applied for the last series. I was lucky and got through the auditions. The other performers were all lovely people and ALL just as overwhelmed by the whole thing as myself. It was brilliant!!
On a positive note 35,000 people voted for me in the Live Final, I won my heat, and I got to appear on national TV twice in 6 months. I have had the support of my friends and family, local and national press and radio as well as Bowienetters and Wonderworlders.
There is only one David Bowie, but its great fun pretending.
Little Wonder are playing in St. Albans on Thursday which we are all looking forward to. We had a great time there last May and as I got to keep my outfit, I think I will probably wear the shoes again for the second time this week.
Tony, you did a great job! We wish you every success for the future.
:))
Hmm, wonder if she'll lend me her jacket?
No one took their eyes off Lorraine...
You all remember the platinum beauty cavorting around in Mick Rock's classic promo for The Jean Genie, who was also immortalised in the press ads for the release of the single via a George Underwood drawing. The stylish lass was of course the very sexy Cyrinda Foxe, a friend of David's that loaned him at least one pair of ear-rings, and most likely much more.
Reports have surfaced regarding a contribution from David of an acoustic Fender 6 string guitar to a benefit for Cyrinda at CBGB's recently. We are very sad to report that this story is true and that Cyrinda is in fact suffering a tumour. An auction was organised for the event by her many friends including her ex-husband, Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler. The money raised will help towards Cyrinda's huge medical expenses.
The guitar David donated was kindly bought for $5000 by the editor of Punk magazine. Love and positive vibes to Cyrinda from all at BowieNet.
We'll buy some...erm, no, we'll just watch a band...
It is also true that David was spotted enjoying a set by the group TAPE recently, though, despite reports elsewhere, this story has no connection with the one above. Here's what David said about the band:
"I went to see TAPE. They were a really very good outfit, a 'rage' type sound but more pop. One of them used to be in Bomb the Bass. Guitar player has a passing resemblance to Harry Potter."
So now you know.
Tell the truth...
Unfortunately, the one rumour that you all hoped was true is in fact not. Mr Bowie will not be performing at the The 5th Annual Webby Awards this coming Wednesday, July 18th, neither will he be a presenter at the awards. Sorry. }:-(
David Bowie with The Lower Third
at The Marquee Club, Autumn 1965.
Lust, Anger, Moody.*
If possible, don't forget to tune into Radio2 tonight at 20:00 GMT for the first part of 'The History Of The Marquee Club' that we mentioned last week. (07/06/01 NEWS: MARQUEE SPECIAL PREVIEW.) Top Choice in most of today's radio listings, tonight's programme concentrates on the period from the club's inception as a Jazz club in the late fifties, to it's success as the premier London rock venue of the late sixties.
David's own fond memories of The Marquee feature heavily in tonight's broadcast, including music from and recollections about all of the bands he was a member of that played the venue. The former mod talks about his early days of clubbing around London including his own local venue The Bromel Club, and about his time in outfits such as The King Bees, The Manish Boys, The Lower Third, The Buzz and The Hooker Brothers:
"I guess I started going (to The Marquee) around '64. At that particular time I also had a band together, and we got our one gig at The Marquee in '64...And that band was called The King Bees, which was a beefier version of a band that I had before called The Hooker Brothers, named rather naively after John Lee Hooker...But I wasn't really aware of the other connotation of the word hooker! Never mind, The Marquee was our first real starring kind of thing, it was a big deal for us. That was in May 1964."
Next week's programme covers the period from the early seventies to the present day, and will take in David's very last appearance as Ziggy for the filming of 'The 1980 Floor Show'.
*All will become clear.
Tony Perry as David Bowie.
I'll stay clean tonight...
If the above story has dominated the Top Choice sections of today's radio guides, then tonight's 'Stars In Their Eyes' final has done the same in today's TV guides. The show starts at 19:30 GMT and continues for one and a half hours, until its return with the result at 22:00 GMT after an hours break.
If you feel that Tony Perry singing 'Ashes To Ashes' is worthy of your vote, and I know he will be, you can help him to the winner's podium by calling 09011 980002 in the UK. Good luck once again Tony, and remember folks, you can read Spaceface's excellent interview with Tony here.
I'm afraid of the words...
One of the aforementioned listings magazines published today in the UK (The Times 'Play' supplement to be precise) has another glowing review of 'All Saints' written by Stephen Dalton. Here's a bit of what he had to say:
"In 1976 David Bowie baffled his fans by giving up cocaine-addled Hollywood stardom to make avant-garde pop albums in Berlin. Released in 1977, the partly instrumental Low and Heroes incensed the critics and initially sold poorly."
"With hindsight, though, their revolutionary blend of European electronic minimalism and rock guitars predicted everything from the post-punk synthesiser boom to armchair electronica."
"These records were the Kid A and Amnesiac of their day, except that Bowie was operating in a virtual vacuum far removed from Radiohead's fertile post-rock climate."
Stephen goes on to advise the 'Kid A' generation that the compositions that make up this "terrific retrospective", are "certainly worth rediscovering." But then again, you already knew that. 'All Saints' is released world-wide on July 23rd.
Baby David, I mean Alex, I mean David...etc, etc.
shake it baby...
The launch of KOTJ on BowieNet yesterday seems to have caught the attention of the international media. The announcement appeared in some of this morning's press here in the UK, and at least three online stories have popped up, including pieces featured on: VH1, NY Rock and Sonic Net.
Already a favourite with BowieNetter 'Baby' Steve K, KOTJ seems to be having a strange effect on some of our older members. Arriving early for a coffee morning at chez Rednik this very morning, I was a little embarrassed to spy him through the window in the foetal position, guzzling on the teat of a baby's bottle, dressed in an 'adult baby' romper suit. When he did finally answer the door, Rednik feebly protested that the outfit was actually "a man's romper suit".
So be warned, listening to KOTJ without the supervision of a child could induce ga ga noises.
Thanx to Pozie for the online pointers.
Boy George by Total Blam Blam.
Boy keeps singing, Boy always works it out...
Boy George's forthcoming appearance on 'Celebrity Stars In Their Eyes' is starting to make the press here in the UK. The current edition of NOW magazine (July 18th) has a page about George's contribution accompanied by a still of David from the Rebel Rebel video. The song that George has chosen to cover is 'Starman', a song that he released with Culture Club a little while back that we did a feature on at the time.
Insiders say that George has taken the challenge very seriously and intends to win, even going to such lengths as shaving off his eyebrows, using make-up artist Paul Starr (who has occasionally done David's make up in the past), and having a Ziggy wig made specially for the event.
The bad news is that we'll have to wait until the autumn to see exactly how George does, but in the meantime, don't forget to vote for Tony Perry as David Bowie in the final of the mere mortal's version of 'Stars In Their Eyes' this coming Saturday...see Spaceface's excellent piece below. Rest assured that we'll be rooting (oooer) for you both Tony and George.
Do you remember our report (05/14/01 NEWS: TONIGHT MATTHEW, I'M GOING TO BE......) of Tony Perry's success as David Bowie in his heat of the UK TV show Stars In Their Eyes? Well, this Saturday (14th July) is the Grand Final! 10 winners from the heats come together to strut their stuff, and the result is determined by a national viewers phone-in.
On the eve of the final, Tony has agreed to talk to us about his experiences on the show so far. Its a fascinating look at the show from the inside. Go here for the "David Bowie", Stars In Their Eyes, interview.
We all wish Tony the very best of Bowienet luck! Don't forget to tune in and vote on Saturday!
:))
Play Starman, daddy!
Grab your laptop and jump into the crib, Kick Out the Jammies is here!!
Thanks again to all you Nutters who helped us pick the tracks, the station name and even submitted designs for the interface!
On that note, join us in extending a warm congratulations to BowieNutter cmhanna, the winner in the design competition for the KOTJ interface! Christopher's image above is the interface you'll see when you launch Channel 3 from the BowieRadio link on the home page (in the Mutations Box). Way to go, Chris! You have won an autographed "Ziggy 2002" Rex Ray Print as well as three autographed Bowie CDs of your choice!
As you will remember, KOTJ was of course inspired by Alexandria. As David said,?It was fairly inevitable, I suppose. I was putting together tapes to play while Alex took a bath or had breakfast or... and it occurred to me that it would be a nice thing to put together a station?s worth of stuff for kids.?
There's a wide variety of music on KOTJ for children of all ages. The long list includes everything from Barney to Beethoven and all points in between. Kick 'em out!
You can call him Joe...
The July edition of Classic Rock has a feature about the 'Cybernauts Live' CD that we mentioned in our news item and interview with Joe Elliot on Monday. ((07/09/01 NEWS: EXCLUSIVE - JOE ELLIOTT SPEAKS TO BOWIENET) )
The article is accompanied by two interesting photographs. One is a live shot of Ziggy and The Spiders from 1973, and the other is of Joe and Phil Collen in a Bowie/Ronson type pose...you know the one, where David goes down...Oh I don't have to explain, you know what I mean.
Zoë Mendelson opens 16 July and runs till 10 August 2001
Series runs till November 2001
Tardis Studios, 52-56 Turnmill Street, London, EC1
Zoë Mendelson is the second artist to exhibit at the Tardis as part of Bowieart.com?s Window Pain Project. Zoë will utilise the space as a window; maintaining its original function rather than investing in it purely as an exhibition space. In so doing the artist brings into question notions of the urban landscape and voyeurism. Using the sexualised imagery that surrounds us daily, Zoë Mendelson creates a form of sexual window-shopping for Middle England.
Continuing themes from previous works where the artist seduces the viewer through beautifully rendered feminine imagery, the work at the Tardis will draw passers-by into the space through the installations attractiveness and charmingly crafted adornment. At first glance tasteful and respectful, Zoë?s work is a fantastical daydream inhabited by young girls bound by marvellous flora and ornamentation. However, idealised examples of innocence and beauty are not of interest to the artist and the imagery soon exposes itself as being politely and subtly soiled; with closer inspection one discovers that the work is hiding a rather more disturbing content.
As if they have the just walked out of a Country Life advertisement young women posing in an homely environment will inhabit the window on Turnmill Street. Prudish Victoriana surroundings envelop our heroines who smile out at our urban world on the street. The women and the decorative ornamentation that surrounds them both act to seduce the viewer, yet take a peek inside their world and the household possessions also appear to be seducing the women. The domestic bliss is shattered by the women?s sexual encounters with the objects that now seem to be sold to us as deviant toys.
After the initial sweetness this elaborate and fantastical installation will leave you with a bitter aftertaste which questions where the female body begins and fantasy takes over.
Zoë Mendelson graduated from The Royal College of Art last year; she has recently exhibited at Snow Gallery, and has also shown at the Proud Galleries, The Lux and Assembly, Stepney City.
Don't forget that in just a few hours (5PM EST), Saint Alphonzo will host Name That Tune - Anything Goes! in the BowieNet Chatroom. Join us for some good lyrical fun and for a chance to win an autographed poster or CD!
A variation on the usual game, Name That Tune - Anything Goes! will call for even more player involvement. Click here to see an overview of the rules!