Fittnb Storms Edinburgh - Win Tickets And A Promo T-shirt

Beating up the wrong guy...

The current run of 'From Ibiza To The Norfolk Broads' is taking the Edinburgh Festival by storm with a five star review (the highest star rating possible) in THREE WEEKS, the Official Fringe Magazine. This and the fact that FITTNB was Critic's Choice in the Sunday Times, and the news that The List, (August 9th edition of the Scottish version of Time Out) gave the play a four star review, all confirm what we have been telling you since we first saw rehearsals for the play last year.

The show is one of the best-selling theatre events on The Fringe - averaging 85% audiences, populated by gangs of Bowie fans resplendent in Bowie T-shirts and generally entering into the spirit of things.

And now, thanks to the generosity of Tiny Dynamite, we are giving two lucky BowieNetters the chance to see the play, and what's more they can drag someone along with them. The outright winner will receive a pair of tickets to FITTNB, and a very limited T-shirt that was produced for cast and company, (sporting an image similar to the one above) and the legend 'From Ibiza...Edinburgh Festival 2001' on the reverse. The runner-up will get a pair of tickets.

Before you enter, please think of three dates that you can definitely attend, (just in case your 1st and 2nd choices are fully booked) and your choice of T-shirt size: small/med/large/x-large. Now all you have to do is tell me the name of the play's writer/director to be in with a chance of winning. Send your answer to me, with preferred dates and T-shirt size, at MrTotalBlamBlam@AOL.Com with a subject heading of: 'FITTNB Edinburgh tickets'. The competition ends midnight Sunday (GMT) and we will announce the winners on Monday, when we will also be posting a round-up of the reviews and a review by BowieNetter Calum Bennie.

The cast of FITTNB with writer/director, Adrian Berry, by Total Blam Blam

For those that simply can't get to Edinburgh, you will be pleased to learn that the play will enjoy another limited engagement back down south, at The Bull, 68 High Street, Barnet, London on Sept 1 & 2 at 8pm (plus a matinee on Sunday at 4pm). There will be special arrangements made for BowieNetters who want to buy me a celebratory drink (birthday on 3rd September) and a collection point will be made available for gifts. };-)

On a bit of a sour note we are sad to report that Alex (who plays the lead of Martin) last week received a savage beating by local thugs, but on a brighter note we are happy to say that Alex's portrayal of Martin, (with the help of a little extra eye make-up) has not suffered any.

Go here, for a web link to Ibiza at Edinburgh, where there are various reviews, interviews, features and the press release for the show, as well as links for purchasing tickets.

Absolutely Fabulous, Zig!

The highly anticipated new episodes of Absolutely Fabulous will feature a part of Ziggy Stardust over the closing credits. The 6 new episodes of this hilarious BBC program will air in the UK on August 31st (not on the 9th, as reported earlier). No word yet on the debut in the US.

Bbca Bowie Weekend Reminder

When you're under the USA...

For those of you that don't keep a regular eye on the BowieNet Calendar, (where the details have been since they were announced) you have a couple of days to stock up on blank video tapes before the commencement of the BBCA's Bowie Weekend this Saturday.

The weekend promises a continuos feast of Bowie specials, including; the premiere in the US of Bowie at the Beeb; (David's show from last year at the BBC's Radio Theatre) David's appearance on Later With Jools Holland; the fascinating behind-the-scenes documentary, Cracked Actor; and Bowie's classic portrayal of TJ Newton in The Man Who Fell to Earth, a part that Nick Roeg was convinced should be played by DB after witnessing his other-worldliness in the aforementioned Cracked Actor.

If there is any of this you haven't seen before, you are in for a very special treat, you lucky things. Click on the logo above to take you to the BBCA Bowie Weekend site for a full schedule breakdown, and your chance to win one of ten 'Bowie at the Beeb' three-CD box sets.

Va Va Vixen!

Stinky weather, Fat shaky hands
Dopey morning Doc, Grumpy gnomes
Little wonder then, little wonder

It's little wonder that KelMar?s back and brother has she got a scoop for you! Beat the heat and check out what?s happening in the underground world of GARDEN GNOMES!

Alexandria Zahra Jones, One Today!

'Lexie the Little Leopard' - Click for bigger version.

Yeah, yeah, baby, yeah...

Incredible as it may seem, little Alex Jones has already reached the ripe old age of one year old. Have a wonderful day Alex...see if you can get a nice big lump of birthday cake down the back of Daddy's shirt.

Best wishes and much love to you, from all the employees and members of BowieNet.

Christiane F. Re-issue Winners

French promo only issue of 'Station To Station' 7" single.

The European cannon is here...

Certainly got a measure of your preferences with this one. For every entrant to the stock copy competition, there were ten times that to the promo comp. There was also a much higher percentage of correct answers for the promo comp. So was this because you wanted the promo more, or because you thought the question was easier? Perhaps we'll never know.

Anyway, I'm waffling again, here's the stuff you want to know:

'Christiane F.' promo competition

I asked you to name the song that appears on 'Christiane F.' (albeit in a completely different form) that was released as a French promotional single in 1976, after it was edited to almost a third of its original length?

Of course the answer was 'Station To Station' which was just about the only track long enough on 'Christiane F.' to edit to a third of its original length and still resemble a song. The promo was edited from the ten minutes and eight seconds album version, to the unimaginable three minutes and forty seconds version that appears on the promo pictured above.

For the spotters out there, the promo was backed with 'TVC15' and the catalogue number was RCA 42549. A copy recently sold on eBay for $268.99, which I would have gladly paid had I known it was up for auction. Thanx for the pointer to John A.anyway, but next time you see one, tell me before it's gone please sir. };-)

Anyway, if the ten people below would like to send their real name and address to me at MrTotalBlamBlam@AOL.Com with a subject heading of: 'Christiane F.' promo competition winner, they will receive their promo pronto.

'Christiane F.' promo competition winners:

smithers@davidbowie.com
mannyp106@davidbowie.com
amgunn@davidbowie.co.uk
vicious@davidbowie.com
nightlight@davidbowie.com
peter999@davidbowie.com
allansoj@davidbowie.com
bintaro@davidbowie.com
c.hanington@davidbowie.com
traveler@davidbowie.com

'Christiane F.' stock copy competition

I asked you to name two tracks that appear on 'Christiane F.' that were later re-released by David as completely new re-recordings. A lot of wrong answers on this one, but the two tracks that ten of the wise guys among you correctly guessed were:

'Look Back In Anger' that appeared on the Ryko release of Lodger, and the 'V-2 Schneider' 12" that David released under the name of Tao Jones Index.

The ten winners below should send their real name and address to me at MrTotalBlamBlam@AOL.Com with a subject heading of: 'Christiane F.' stock copy competition winner, to receive their CDs.

'Christiane F.' stock copy competition winners:

Kyeline@davidbowie.com
neondisease@davidbowie.com
witch@davidbowie.com
wtu@davidbowie.com
aleczandah@davidbowie.com
kwest@davidbowie.com
clarknova@davidbowie.com
stek@davidbowie.com
visitor@davidbowie.com
thirduncle@davidbowie.com

Urgent Db 'n Pd Reminder

David and P Diddy at 'Daddy's House' studios,
New York, July 22nd 2001. © Mission Pictures.

...again and again...

Just a reminder that there is less than a month to go before 'American Dream' is released on the 'Training Day' soundtrack via Priority Records. As I mentioned last week, (08/09/01 NEWS: THIS IS NOT 'THIS IS NOT AMERICA') the CD is due on September 11th, ten days ahead of the US release of the film.

You may be wondering why I feel the need to repeat this information again so soon. Well, I don't really, it's just that I know there are those of you that need to see another picture from the session NOW! Who knows, we may yet post another, if I receive enough requests. };-)

360 Corp Takes The Pain

360 corp. takes over the Bowieart Window Pain Project on Turnmill Street from 13 August 2001.

The 360 corp. is an alternative artist run global ad agency, established to contend with multicultural advertising strategies. Using materials and methods familiar to the advertising industry 360 corp. opens out the body of reference used by commercial media.

By creating pieces that are not restricted by location or content, 360 corp. is able to position the work in sites similar to those of advertising corporations; as well as those that are not. Inevitably, chosen locations affect the image and its contents, working to subvert typical advertising tools.

360 corp. runs from 13 August to 7 September 2001The series remains at The Tardis Studios till November 2001

Tardis Studios, 52-56 Turnmill Street, London, EC1

Christiane F. Competition Ends Today

You've had your chance and now the doors are closed sir...(almost)

The current 'Christiane F.' competition ends at midnight tonight (GMT). If you weren't aware that we are giving ten promos and ten stock copies to twenty lucky BowieNetters, I suggest you click over to last Saturday's news pronto!

The album came out last Monday, except in the US, where it will be released on September 11th with 'All Saints'. This means that if you're in the US, you still have a chance to own the album before the kid down the street can get his hands on it, unless, of course, you live in the same street as a whole bunch of other lucky BowieNetters, or something odd like that.

Bowiephiles

"...such is the stuff from where dreams are woven"

One magical moment (well, more than one actually)...September 2001 issues of UNCUT and GQ

More thumbs aloft in the UK for 'All Saints' and 'Christiane F.' The current edition of UNCUT, (which has an Elton John special that contains comments like: "Elton possessed little or non of Bowie's darkened glamour and subversive wit.") had this to say about 'All Saints':

"...as an alternate portrait focusing on one minor facet of Bowie's broader artistry, it works brilliantly, sounding thoroughly modern throughout."

Meanwhile, the latest edition of GQ magazine claims that 'Christiane F.' is "Not just one for the spotters" but in fact "the Anglo-German 'Heroes' is worth the cover price alone." And who am I to challenge a statement of fact?

I'm an absolute beginner...BIZARRE August 2001

The frankly bizarre Bizarre magazine has a comparatively normal interview with Julien Temple in which the man who directed 'Absolute Beginners', 'Blue Jean', 'Day In, Day Out' and that excellent Tin Machine epic confesses that he may have had no career at all without David Bowie's influence:

"I think I got into film school because they thought I was a token gay guy, because I was into Bowie...Actually we did look at the records, and I know that's why they let me in. It was because I had plucked eyebrows."

Knights are warm and the days are young...EMPIRE September 2001

Empire magazine has a special on 'A Knight's Tale' including a discussion about the music in the film with director Brian Helgeland:

"All the songs were songs I was listening to when I was 13, or 15. But I also tried to pick songs that moved the story along...I was just trying to show that the past was once the present." Nowhere was this method applied more than in the dance sequence involving Heath Ledger, Shannyn Sossaman, and David Bowie's 'Golden Years'. "That's my favourite sequence in the movie," smiles Helgeland. "...David Bowie helped us with the tracks and got us a master recording."

New Iman Book!

Iman has a new book due in stores on November 1, 2001.The new book, entitled I AM IMAN, published by Universe,features photos, essays and contributions from Peter Beard, Sandra Bernhard, Fran Lebowitz, Isaac Mizrahi, Isabella Rossellini, Helmut Newton, Annie Leibovitz and many more.

Here is what Iman has to say about the book:"It is a hybrid essay about my own experience with the struggle of identity that is at the heart of fashion. It is about the unserious business of pop-culture and its very serious effect on identity and self-image".

David Bowie contributes both the forward, as well as an interesting piece where Bowie interviews Fran Lebowitz.Here is an exclusive first look at the interview.

The book is now available for pre-ordering via the new addition to Iman's web site. Have a look!

Congratulations Iman!

This Is Not 'this Is Not America'

David and P Diddy at 'Daddy's House' studios,
New York, July 22nd 2001. © Mission Pictures.

Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes...

The new release from P. Diddy and the Bad Boy Family featuring David Bowie(contains elements of 'This Is Not America') has tentatively beenentitled 'American Dream'. Not much more one can say about that, but what a golden opportunity to post another wonderful picture from the session...andthere are more where this one came from. :-)

'American Dream' will be released on the 'Training Day' soundtrack via Priority Records, (due on September 11th) ten days ahead of the US release of the film. For more details, see our original post back in July. (07/30/01 NEWS: BOWIE AND P DIDDY - DID THEY, DIDN'T THEY?)

Bowienet Refer-a-friend Program

We are happy to announce BowieNet's new Refer-a-Friend program, which is now live in the My Account section.

Refer-a-Friend rewards you for bringing your friends into our community. You earn free months for yourself and can even win a chance to see David in concert and meet him backstage. Go to the My Account section for details!

More Bowie Downloads At Mp3.com

And I want to be free...

This won't be news to any of you that already subscribe to the mp3.com newsletter, but for those that don't, you may be happy to learn that both 'Christiane F.' and 'All Saints' are featured on the site, with a track from each album.

The tracks that have been made available for your listening pleasure, (or to add to your My.MP3 account if you have such a thing) are: 'All Saints' from 'All Saints', and all six minutes and five seconds of 'Heroes'/'Helden' from 'Christiane F.'

These tracks join the list of Bowie songs already available at mp3.com, such as a couple of songs from 'Bowie at the Beeb', four live tracks from the Kit Kat Klub and a short interview.

Moonage Daydream Unveiled

...lay the real thing on me...

Those of you who registered to join the Moonage Daydream mailing list at Genesis Publications?s website that we mentioned back in May, (05/01/01 NEWS: MOONAGE DAYDREAM - THE DETAILS) should shortly be receiving the above 4-page prospectus about the first fully authorised David Bowie/Mick Rock limited edition book: Moonage Daydream - The Life and Times of Ziggy Stardust.

Below we unveil a preview of the provisional binding and box design for the book. The design on the box is a faithful recreation of the clothing pattern David wore on the cover of the Ziggy Stardust LP. The book will be bound in quarter blue leather with gold and silver tooling; the front and back boards are printed and foil-blocked; the page edges are silver. We look forward to reading your comments regarding the design on the message boards.

Moonage Daydream is due for publication next year in time for the 30th anniversary of the Ziggy Stardust LP's original release on 6th June 2002. This beautifully produced edition is strictly limited to 2,500 copies, each personally signed by David Bowie and Mick Rock and individually numbered. Don't fret if you haven't yet registered, do so now and you'll still receive your prospectus.

Db N Pd Pix In Uk Press Today

David and P Diddy at 'Daddy's House' studios,
New York, July 22nd 2001. © Mission Pictures.

Promise not to stare, Too long...

This morning's Daily Star and Daily Record have some rather gorgeous pictures from the 'This Is Not America' session we mentioned last week. (07/30/01 NEWS: BOWIE AND P DIDDY - DID THEY, DIDN'T THEY?)

We have posted another of the pictures above and hope to show you more before the release of the 'Training Day' soundtrack (due on September 11th) for which David and P Diddy recorded the track.

Tv To Die For

Channel 4 in the UK, had a two hour programme on Saturday night, TV to Die For : The Best Music Show In The World, which covered all of the best ever moments of music television. Items featured included Elvis' 68 comeback special, Madonna's TV debut, and The Sex Pistols swearing outbreak, which looked very very tame in 2001. David was featured in the title images, and the moment chosen to represent him was that rush of excitement and sheer newness, Starman on TOTP. The commentator was Mick Wall, the editor of Classic Rock magazine, who was obviously remembering the moment with great warmth and affection and had this to say :-

I remember the first time Bowie appeared on TV in Ziggy Stardust guise and it was greeted mainly with contempt. Suddenly, here comes a guy dressed as a gay alien from outer space, singing gay alien songs from outer space. I was 14 and I genuinely didn?t understand the concept of ?gay? or ?straight?. I remember TOTP was family viewing, and I remember watching it with my Mum and Dad. "Oh, shouldn?t be allowed". And there was one bit in the chorus when Bowie puts his arm round Ronson?s neck and they sing together? My Dad was like "Poofter" I remember feeling it was very strange and very different from everything else that had gone on TOTP that week. My mother?s intense disapproval made me think ?Well, there must be something GREAT going on here", and I mean, at that moment I was totally hooked. First album I ever bought as a kid...

:))

(*two)

Christiane F. Out Today

'Christiane F.' at your local CD emporium today.

It happens today...

'Christiane F.' finally makes it to CD today, twenty years after its original vinyl release. Not available for another month in the US, the album will be released simultaneously with 'All Saints' in The States on September 11th.

But for those of you that can't wait 'till then, or those of you in the rest of the world that live hundreds of miles from your nearest CD outlet, perhaps you would like to skip back to Saturday's news page for a chance to win one of ten copies of this quite splendid compilation. Or perhaps you'd rather chance your arm on one of ten copies of the much-sought-after promo? As always, the choice is yours.

Original All Saints Competition Winners

Don't recognize anyone...

Not going to prolong the agony any further on this one, here are the answers to the competition we set more than a month ago. (06/29/01 NEWS: WIN ALL SAINTS ULTRA-RARITY) All you had to do was give me the titles of the nine albums I have taken the letters from in the image above. In order, starting from the first 'a' on the left, hundreds of you guessed:

...and you were quite right! The two randomly-selected BowieNetters that have suddenly become the envy of thousands are:

ikehatabin@davidbowie.com, who wins the signed-personally-by-David-Bowie copy of the ultra-rare original 'All Saints', and conquit1@davidbowie.com who wins an unsigned sealed copy of same. If you could both contact me at MrTotalBlamBlam@AOL.Com with your real name and address, and a subject heading of: Original 'All Saints' CD winner, we will have your booty to you as soon as we possibly can.

Well done to you both, and comiserations to the rest of you. See below for a new competition to take your minds off not winning!

Christiane F. Cds To Be Won

'Christiane F.' out on Monday

...just want a little more...

To celebrate the release of the 'Christiane F.' soundtrack CD on Monday (6th August) we have ten promos and ten stock copies to give away.

Firstly decide whether you would prefer the stock copy or the promo. It's probably worth remembering that copies of the promo have been spotted on auction sites for $60 plus and are obviously more collectable. But, as with 'All Saints', the promo doesn't contain the excellent booklet that can be found in the stock release. This CD issue of 'Christiane F.' has several stills of David from the film and extensive liner notes relating to both the film itself and the music contained upon the CD, written by Sylvie Simmons and Mark Adams respectively.

The choice is yours, but you may only enter ONE of the following two competitions. Both are open until this time next week, which gives you a whole week to find the answers. As ever, you must post your entry from a BowieNet address.

'Christiane F.' promo competition

Name the song that appears on 'Christiane F.' (albeit in a completely different form) that was released as a French promotional single in 1976, after it was edited to almost a third of its original length? Send your answer to me at MrTotalBlamBlam@AOL.Com with a subject heading of: 'Christiane F.' promo competition.

'Christiane F.' stock copy competition

Name two tracks that appear on 'Christiane F.' that were later re-released by David as completely new re-recordings. Send your answer to me at MrTotalBlamBlam@AOL.Com with a subject heading of: 'Christiane F.' stock copy competition. Good luck.