Duffy Bowie book and print launch at CAMERA WORK

“I put my face in tomorrow”

Chris Duffy (son of Brian) is pictured here today (Friday) at the CAMERA WORK gallery in Berlin where he will be launching the beautiful new book, Duffy Bowie: Five Sessions at a special presentation on Saturday. (May 17)

In this shot Chris is seen holding a copy of Five Sessions in front of the signed-by-Bowie print, David Bowie Aladdin Sane (Open Eyes) by Brian Duffy.

The print is only available at CAMERA WORK where it will be presented at tomorrow’s event.

The photograph is available as an edition of 25, 102 x 102cm prints, signed and certified by the Duffy archives. Read more here.

You can also enjoy a preview of a few spreads from the book here on issuu.com and on the ACC site.

MOV to release Low Symphony on vinyl

“Baby, I’ve been, making Glass in your room again”

Music On Vinyl, the company that dares to release the vinyl albums others shy from, has again gladdened the hearts of vinyl junkies everywhere with their latest release.

On June 9th MOV will issue the Low Symphony by Philip Glass on vinyl for the first time since its release on CD in 1993. Here’s the MOV blurb...

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"Low" Symphony, composed by Philip Glass in the spring of 1992, is based on the record Low by David Bowie and Brian Eno, first released in 1977. Glass took themes from three of the instrumentals on the original and, combining them with his own material, used them as the basis of three movements of the "Low" Symphony. Movement One comes from "Subterraneans," Movement Two from "Some Are", which was not featured on Bowie's original recording, and Movement Three from "Warszawa".

The "Low" Symphony was performed by the Brooklyn Philharmonic orchestra under the batons of Dennis Russell Davies, principal conductor, and Karen Kamensek, assistant conductor. Philip Glass allowed ideas of Bowie and Brian Eno, who worked together on Low, to influence how he worked on the music, leading to surprising musical conclusions and becoming a real collaboration between the music of all three maestros. This is the first ever vinyl issue of "Low" Symphony!

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In 2012 SINFINI MUSIC posted a brief but fascinating discussion between Bowie and Glass about the recording. The film illustrates how Glass collaborated with David Bowie and Brian Eno on the Low and Heroes Symphonies, and how these influential musicians in turn influenced each other. Watch the video here.

The Low Symphony by Philip Glass will be issued on June 9th via Music On Vinyl. 

PHILIP GLASS

LOW SYMPHONY (1LP)

Cat No: MOVCL009  1  Barcode: 0028948201068 1

RELEASE: June 9 2014

~ 180 GRAM AUDIOPHILE VINYL

~ INSERT

~ DELUXE PVC SLEEVE

~ AVAILABLE ON VINYL FOR THE FIRST TIME!

SIDE A

1. Subterraneans

2. Some Are

SIDE B

1. Warszawa

Janelle Monáe’s anti-bullying "Heroes" filmtrack

“We can beat them, for ever and ever”

We told you about Janelle Monáe’s cover of "Heroes" last month and the Pepsi MAX® short for their 2014 #FutbolNow campaign.

The track (from upcoming Pepsi Beats of the Beautiful Game LP) now accompanies a new short by The Young Astronauts (directed By Alyssa Pankiw) with a powerful anti-bullying message.

Pepsi Beats of the Beautiful Game is the world's first visual soundtrack made up of 11 anthemic songs and companion short films, or 'filmtracks,' that capture the indelible spirit of the world's most popular game -- football.

View the film here,

David Bowie is nearly in Berlin

“Any day now”

Less than a week to go. Got your tickets? 

Diamond Dogs 40th Anniversary put back a week

“Mannequins with kill appeal”

As the headline suggests, the next in the series of limited edition 7" picture disc releases, the 40th anniversary issue of Diamond Dogs, has been moved from June 16th to June 23rd. (Regional variations apply)

The delay has been put down to manufacturing challenges, including a faulty silicone hump and a ten inch stump.

See the original news item and press release here.

Rock ’N’ Roll Suicide best-selling RSD 2014 45

“Gimee your hands, ’cos you’re wonderful”

A big thank you to everyone reading this that helped make David Bowie’s Rock ’N’ Roll Suicide 40th anniversary picture disc the best-selling 45 for this year’s Record Store Day in the UK.

Read the full article over at UNREALITYPRIMETIME

Five Years wins again at 2014 Focal International Awards

“Got to keep searching and searching”

Hot on the heels of the BAFTA won last week, further congratulations are due to director Francis Whately and Archive Researcher Miriam Walsh for their work on the remarkably good BBC 2 documentary, David Bowie - Five Years: The Making Of An Icon.

The film won the Award for Best Use of Music Performance Footage at a ceremony this evening.

Award for Best Use of Music Performance Footage

David Bowie - Five Years

BBC Events Production   |   UK

• Producer/Director: Francis Whately

• Footage Archive Researcher(s): Miriam Walsh

• Top 5 Source(s) of Library Footage Used in Production: AVRO Broadcasting Sales (Netherlands), Mick Rock, Daphne Productions, Soul Train Holdings, LLC, NHK and all the archives who supported the project

David Bowie - Five Years is an intimate portrait of five seminal years in the musician's career. The film looks at how Bowie evolved from 'Ziggy Stardust', to the 'Soul Star' of Young Americans, to the 'Thin White Duke'; then at the critically acclaimed albums Low and Heroes; and finally explores his triumph with Scary Monsters and his global success with Let's Dance. Using an extraordinary wealth of previously unseen archive from collections around the world, and interviews with of all his closest collaborators, David Bowie - Five Years presents a unique account of why Bowie has become an 'icon of our times'. The film was crafted using long-forgotten archive footage, rare vintage performances and out-takes from period promos and films. The material was sourced from all over the world and included 'lost' BBC footage as well as rushes from rehearsals and home movies. To discover new material of an artist of Bowie's stature was remarkable, it added to the sense that we were giving the audience a rare treat. Many performance out-takes were mute and synched up with bootleg and gig audio of the same period. Bowie words which drove the narrative were culled from interviews broadcast throughout his career. This unique footage intercut with contemporary interviews from Bowie's key collaborators made this film one of the most acclaimed documentaries of 2013.

TVC 15 45 is 38 today

“One of these nights I may just, Jump down that rainbow way…”

Released on April 30th 1976 as the follow-up to worldwide smash, Golden Years, TVC 15 was the second single from Station To Station, albeit in a severely edited form at two minutes shorter than the album version.

Apparently inspired by a hallucinatory episode during which Iggy Pop believed the television set was swallowing his girlfriend, TVC 15 was one of the lighter songs on Station To Station becoming a live favourite during the attendant 1976 Isolar tour.

Unusually for the UK, there was no RCA press advert for the single, possibly contributing to its poor showing on the official singles chart at #33.

Perhaps RCA thought the triumphant homecoming shows at Wembley Empire Pool the following week would be enough publicity for the track.

Backed by We Are The Dead from Diamond Dogs, the 45 was issued in unique picture sleeves around the globe, though not in the UK, and though it was also released without a picture cover in the USA, RCA did at least run a music press advert for it there. (See image)

However, collectors may like to note that a UK pressing did throw up one of the more collectable versions of the release in the shape of a solid centre 45. Very, very hard to find these days.

Check out the full-length album version here.

Last chance to win 40th Anniversary starter pack

“If we can sparkle he may land tonight”

If you’ve not already seen it, there are only a few hours left for your chance to win three David Bowie 40th Anniversary picture discs, courtesy of Parlophone Records.

The records up for grabs are: John, I’m Only Dancing, Drive-In Saturday and Life On Mars? That’s a third of the discs so far released to help you get started.

The contest ends at midnight UK time today (appropriately enough, the 42nd birthday of the original Starman 45 in the UK) and you can enter here right now.

In case you can’t read it in our montage, the text in the 1972 US “David Bowie Is The Starman” advert reads thus...

“He's thin and he’s English. He's got orange hair and he sings and plays electric guitar. He's got a hit record called “Starman” which is from his new album called “The Rise and fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars.” David Bowie. He’s Ziggy Stardust and he's beautiful.”

And who here could disagree with that, even if it is 42 years later?

BBC2’s Five Years doc wins BAFTA for sound

“Just about the best you can hear”

Congratulations are due to Rowan Jennings, Karl Mainzer and Adam Scourfield on receiving a BAFTA this evening.

The much deserved award is for their sound work (pun intended) on Francis Whately’s superb David Bowie - Five Years: The Making Of An Icon documentary, which aired on BBC2 back in May of 2013.

Television Craft | Sound - Factual in 2014

WINNER

David Bowie – Five Years

Rowan Jennings

Karl Mainzer

Adam Scourfield

Bowie’s message to Rob Stringer at MW Awards

“Now hear this Rob Stringer”

The Music Week Awards 2014 took place in London tonight. Columbia US chairman Rob Stringer picked up the prestigious Strat Award at the ceremony, and was congratulated by artists and executives from across the industry, including David Bowie who sent the following message.

When I first knocked on the door of his office at Sony, New York, you can imagine my surprise when a member of Daft Punk opened it. In silence he brought me in and indicated that I should take a seat on the comfy armchair to the right of the chairman’s desk, around which he moved and took his place in the chairman’s chair.

He removed the shiny helmet. 

It was Rob. 

‘This,' he said ‘is how far I will go for my artists.’ I found out that during the course of that day Rob had not only guested as an executive third Daft Punk member at a lunchtime gig at a club in Manhattan, but had also led a Dylanology symposium at Barneys clothing store, sung falsetto on a new London Grammar track and choreographed a touching interpretive dance number to One Direction’s ‘They Don't Know About Us’ for the cast of Glee.

Knowing him for the man he is, it came as no surprise that he had won tonight's most prestigious award, The Strat. 

If you become the object of his enthusiasm an artist will find a genuine long-term support that is sadly missing in the recording industry.

When he asked me if I minded if he took a few Saturdays off from his duties as percussionist on my new album this year in order to catch the Luton Town football club fixtures, how  could I refuse? It’s the least I could offer to the man who with his own hands pulled my album to number one throughout the world. 

Congrats for The Strat, Rob. You’re a star.

David Bowie 2014

Diamond Dogs is next 40th Anniversary Picture Disc

“Just another future song”

Following hot on the stack heels of ROCK 'N' ROLL SUICIDE and 1984 (both released on April 19th for Record Store Day 2014), June 16th brings the next in the series of special DAVID BOWIE limited edition 7" picture disc releases: the 40th anniversary edition of DIAMOND DOGS.

Diamond Dogs is the tenth release in this continuing run of 40th anniversary 45s, except that this is the first in the series that isn’t a 45 as it will actually play at 33 1/3 rpm.

Originally released in June 1974 DIAMOND DOGS was the second single to be taken from the album of the same name with REBEL REBEL being the first.

The ground breaking six minute track was originally backed by the re-recording of Holy Holy. But, for its fortieth anniversary it will be a double A side with the vinyl debut of the live version of the song taken from the 2005 mix of DAVID LIVE.

The image on the A side of the picture disc is an outtake from the famous session shot by photographer Terry O'Neill and the AA side features a previously unpublished image from the 1974 US tour.

DAVID BOWIE - DIAMOND DOGS LIMITED EDITION 40th ANNIVERSARY 7" PICTURE DISC 33 1/3RPM

A-Side Diamond Dogs

Arranged & produced by David Bowie

Mixed by David Bowie & Tony Visconti

Recorded at Olympic & Island Studios, London

AA - Side Diamond Dogs (David Live - 2005 mix)

Produced & mixed by Tony Visconti

Recorded live at Tower Theater, Philadelphia, July 1974

Catalogue Number DBDOGS 40

DIAMOND DOGS is released on Parlophone June 16th 2014, with the usual regional variations.

PLEASE NOTE: This release has been put back one week to June 23rd 2014.

David Bowie is in Brazil last days

“I fear MIS days are numbered”

As we post this, there are two more days for the V&A’s hugely successful David Bowie is Exhibition at the Museum of Image and Sound in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (http://smarturl.it/MIS)

If you’ve still not been and you can get there, get your skates on now!

Let’s Dance album is 31 today

“Under the moonlight, this serious moonlight”

Though it reached #10 in our album poll last year, such was the global success of Let’s Dance it’s possibly the album that most people are familiar with around the world and it remains Bowie's best-selling album.

Produced by David Bowie and Nile Rodgers, Let’s Dance was released on this day (April 14th) worldwide, spending 13 weeks in the UK Top 5. The album also made it to #4 on the US chart.

The attendant singles, Let’s Dance, China Girl and Modern Love were also worldwide smashes and you can remind yourself of the reason why here.

Rock ‘N’ Roll Suicide 45 is 40 today plus signed 45 winners

"Gimme your hands ’cos you’re wonderful"

Today sees the 40th anniversary of David Bowie’s Rock ’N’ Roll Suicide single in the UK, so what better day to announce the winners of the recent contest on DavidBowie.com in celebration?

You may remember that the contest was to win one of three copies of a specially pressed single-sided vinyl 45 of David Bowie’s Farewell Speech/Rock ’N’ Roll Suicide, signed by David Bowie himself.

Well not only did that prize double to six copies, but David also agreed to personalise each copy too!

Remarkably, and despite several attempts to contact them, one winner has thus far failed to claim their prize. So if your name is Shaun and you entered this contest, check your email now and respond before your prize is put back in the hat!

Here are the other five winners who agreed to have their names published here...

Alan Albury

Gilly Douglas

Jill Munro

Martin Sirl

Pascal Reyreau

Well done folks, a pretty cool prize if ever there was one.

Don't forget the 40th anniversary picture disc of Rock ’N’ Roll Suicide will be available on RSD 2014 next Saturday the 19th along with 1984. 

TMWSTW released In the UK on this day In 1971

“You’re face to face with”

David Bowie’s third studio album, the Tony Visconti-produced The Man Who Sold The World, was released on this day (April 10th) in 1971 in the UK.

Issued the previous November in the US, the UK release was delayed in no small part due to problems regarding the sleeve artwork.

Pictured here (clockwise from top left) are the original US and UK versions, the German round cover, and the standard worldwide 1972 RCA reissue.

Four great sleeves, one classic album. Remind yourself here.

Black Tie White Noise album is 21 today

"Putting on the black tie, cranking out the white noise"

The David Bowie album Black Tie White Noise was released this day in 1993. (April 6th in the US)

The LP not only reunited Bowie with producer Nile Rodgers but also with the #1 album spot in the UK, which had evaded him for the release of a studio album since 1984’s Tonight.

If you’ve not listened for a while, it really is worth revisiting. Aside from a clutch of great singles: Black Tie White Noise (Featuring Al B. Sure!), Jump They Say and Miracle Goodnight, the album also featured the Scott Walkeresque You’ve Been Around, Nite Flights (a Scott Walker original) the charming Don’t Let Me Down & Down and the closing track, the vocal version of The Wedding Song, a romantic tribute to Iman.

Pepsi Max® hails Heroes on and off the pitch

“The music is outside, It's happening now”

PEPSI MAX®HAILS HEROES ON AND OFF THE PITCH

Pepsi MAX celebrates music and football proving that NOW IS WHAT YOU MAKE IT with global launch of content set to run in 100 countries

2014 #FutbolNow superstar squad led by Leo Messi and music sensation Janelle Monáe

First-ever interactive approach allows consumers to CREATE THEIR OWN NOW by unlocking additional content for a closer look into the lively streets of Rio

PURCHASE, NY, April 02, 2014– #FUTBOLNOW – Pepsi MAX® today globally premiered the latest evolution of the brand’s 2014 football campaign – a new series of shorts and a TV commercial that celebrate football and music proving that “NOW IS WHAT YOU MAKE IT.” The “NOW” creative isset to air in nearly 100 countries. Starring the impressive 2014 Pepsi MAX all-star football lineup – Robin van Persie, David Luiz, Sergio Ramos, Sergio Agüero, Jack Wilshere and four-time player of the year, Leo Messi – the spot fuses the world of football and music through extraordinary singer / songwriter / producer Janelle Monáe as she performs an exclusive, fresh take of David Bowie’s iconic classic, “Heroes” – available today on iTunes worldwide.  

Argentina Captain Leo Messi comments: “Pepsi celebrates the passion and energy of football fans. It is a mesmerizing anthem, uniting us all – on the street or on a pitch – in a celebration of the moment.”

The creative unfolds many surprises as it meanders through the streets of Rio and is told through the eyes of digital beat sensation, Stony – an everyday hero – proving that every day can become extraordinary when you live for now. With the instantly recognizable sound of the Pepsi MAX can as the starting point, Stony takes fans through a colorful, rhythmic journey uniting football, music and art. The intertwined story ends with an electric culmination where Stony steps into an urban pitch filled with a crowd of fans united in a spontaneous moment of celebration.

Much like sports unite the world through friendly competition, Stony unites famous footballers, the city of Rio and Janelle with a simple beat to create a passion that is irresistible. 

“I love everything the film stands for. To me, it is all about that extraordinary burst of courage and passion which can embolden everyday people in a moment of spontaneity, which is also the message of David Bowie’s venerable song," said Monáe. “I was honored to join Pepsi for this campaign and remind people that now more than ever, we can all be heroes.”

The interactive film of the commercial provides an immersive viewing experience, with a series of original moments for fans to unlock. The “now” is put directly into the hands of the fan, unlocking additional interactive content to delve deeper into Stony’s tour through the streets of Rio – allowing them to create their own experience. The compelling, interactive escape offers twists and turns to the story of the footballers, Rio, Stony and Janelle and how their worlds sync up, all brought to life in an engaging, uniquely shareable way, with content vignettes including:

-        a Messi sighting, with a crowd excitably gathering around him

-        an impromptu Samba dance party

-        impressive tricks performed by some of the world’s greatest football talent  

-        Stony making beats from the street

-        a signed ball from Ramos which fans can personalize and share

-        picture snapping with Stony and a beautiful girl as they explore the colorful city

-        an extended Janelle Monáe performance of “Heroes”

-        “The Art of Football” documentary trailer, giving a look into the making-of the unique Pepsi art collection combining street art, photography and football  

-        behind the scenes on-set in Rio

Kristin Patrick, Pepsi Global Chief Marketing Officer, PepsiCo Global Beverage Group: “We were inspired by the power and unity that sports and music bring to the world. Our content plan to capture this spirit celebrates the creative passion of footballers with music and how both of these awesome forces inspire us to LIVE FOR NOW. We have a long history of working with the world’s best football talent to create stunning creative that sparks conversations and creates indelible moments that engage and excite football fans all over the world. This year, we are giving fans a totally unique and immersive experience of their own – a personalized journey that combines iconic music, our stellar roster of football talent and the ability to create your own NOW – uniting Pepsi fans around the world in a celebration of sport, music, art and everyday moments.”

The “Now Is What You Make It” global commercial and interactive film are the latest pieces of exciting and engaging content to be released from Pepsi MAX as part of its 2014 football campaign, which kicked off in January with the unveiling of its largest-ever, international football squad. It also follows the announcement of the brand’s creative art collection, “The Art of Football.” The yearlong campaign will continue to bring more experiences to fans throughout the year – bringing them closer to the game they love.

Adding an extra, interactive dimension to its Now Is What You Make It campaign, Pepsi MAX is bringing interactive gaming to every Pepsi Max pack. Consumers can unlock exclusive Pepsi video content on their mobile phone and also play an augmented reality football game directly from the pack using the free Blippar app.

For more information on Pepsi MAX and “Live For Now” visit www.Pepsi.com/futbolnow and follow the conversation online with #FutbolNow.

“Heroes” is available on iTunes worldwide at:http://smarturl.it/JMheroes_iTunes

ENDS

Changes picture disc is late addition for RSD 2014

“I still don’t know what I was waiting for”

One of the few misgivings about the series of 40th anniversary picture discs that seem to have surfaced, is the fact that there was no release of Changes at the beginning of the series.

Changes was the first RCA single release around the globe back in January 1972, but the current 40th anniversary series kicked off with the second single from RCA, Starman.

Now that wrong is righted and the Changes picture disc is being pressed right now, just in time for Record Store Day 2014 on April 19th.

The A-side has the studio version of the track, as per the original release, but the twist is that the AA-side will feature various previously unreleased live versions of Changes recorded across the years.

There will be 500 pressed of each variation and, in keeping with the theme of Changes, the picture on the AA-side will reflect the show that each recording was taken from.

Initially there will be four discs for RSD 2014, taking in versions from 1971, 1976, 1990 and 2002.

However, after RSD 2014, eight more discs will be made available via mail order with live versions of Changes on the AA-side from 1972, 1973, 1974, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2004 and 2006 (duet with Alicia Keys).

That’s a dozen discs in total, with 500 of each being pressed.

The A-side picture is a previously unpublished shot from 1971 of David Bowie adding the finishing touches to Changes at his Beckenham home, Haddon Hall. This A-side image will remain constant throughout the series.

Scroll the picture here for another of the first four live variations. We will reveal the remaining 10 AA-side images in the run up to RSD.

Exclusive Chalkie Davies Bowie photos at SNAP

“’Ere, what's that clicking noise?”

The first gallery exhibition for Welsh-born, US-based portrait photographer, Chalkie Davies, opens at SNAP in London on Saturday 15 March 2014.

Titled Chalkie Davies Goes Click (at Snap), the collection includes a few pictures he took of Bowie between 1973 and 1986.

Here’s a bit from him regarding the Absolute Beginners photo session...

"When Julien Temple made his film of Absolute Beginners he asked me to take photos of all the cast members and I spent a week on the movie set taking portraits of all the actors. As well as appearing in the film, David Bowie had written the title song, and was going to make a video to promote it. The record ended up at number two on the single charts. The video was shot in a variety of locations around The Embankment of the Thames and although I had many great images from the video, David and I felt that we should shoot a special photo for the cover.

We set up our lights near the Houses of Parliament and waited for a break in the filming, but, not surprisingly, they were running late and we ended up taking the photo just as Big Ben chimed midnight. Given the time restriction, the photographs were done very quickly, but working with David is so easy that we only needed to shoot two rolls of film.

On seeing the contact sheets, there was one frame where he had this big smile, but his publicist told me that he would not approve it as he never smiled on his record covers. However, when we want through the photos together, David agreed that there was something special about this frame, and agreed for it to be used. To this day it's the only time he ever smiled on a cover."

Running from Saturday 15 March to Saturday 26 April 2014, the exhibition celebrates Chalkie Davies’s music photographs from the 1970s and 80s and is a prequel to a major museum show of his work at the National Museum of Wales in Cardiff in 2015. 

The gallery opens at 11.00am and Chalkie will be at there from 2 pm - 6pm onwards on the opening day of the exhibition, Saturday 15 March 2014.

All are welcome to go along and meet him and hear some of his stories behind these images.

Scroll for more images and read more about Chalkie Davies Goes Click (at Snap), here.