“So I’ve been writing just for you”
For the first time David Bowie's legendary 21-song, greatest hits Glastonbury headline set has been released in its entirety.
Available as 2CD/DVD and 3LP vinyl sets here.
Physical formats feature David’s fascinating diary (originally written for Time Out), with insights into Glastonbury rehearsals and preparations.
#BowieGlasto2000
“Rise together, Through these clouds, As on wings”
Spotted the latest instalment of Bowie TV on the Official David Bowie YouTube channel yet?
In Bowie TV: Episode 12, the impossibly handsome PR poet that is Alan Edwards, recalls the vision of “King David” arriving in the mist to conquer Glastonbury with the weapon of well-crafted songs and a performance to be remembered for evermore.
#BowieTV
“In the world of today, for tomorrow's man”
Though it’s still the 26th on the other side of the planet, New Zealanders are already firmly in the future where it is almost November 27th.
However, 35 years ago today, the 26th of November 1983, was the day that more than 80,000 of them gathered in Auckland for the last stop of the Australasian leg of The Serious Moonlight Tour. At the time, it was claimed that this was: “the single biggest concert ever in the Southern Hemisphere”.
Read more about this particular show and Bowie’s other ventures down below on the superb @bowiedownunder FB page.
What’s all this got to do with the Denis O’Regan Ricochet contest, you ask? Well, aside from the fact that Denis took that aerial shot of the Auckland crowd, not to mention the other shot of DB in our montage, today is the last day of the contest, which we launched three weeks ago.
Find the contest here on FB.
But please read carefully, as many hopeful ‘entrants’ so far have either neglected to use the required #DavidBowieRicochet hashtag or to follow @Bowie1983Book – If you’re one of those, you are welcome to re-enter including all that is required, for a chance to win your own limited edition Ricochet boxed set (RRP £3,000/$4,000).
#DavidBowieRicochet
“Hooked to the silver screen...”
David Bowie’s film director son, Duncan Jones, paid tribute on Twitter today to the visionary Nicolas Roeg.
Roeg’s family broke the news earlier today that the 90-year-old director had died.
Bowie fans will know him best for being the man behind The Man Who Fell To Earth, Bowie’s first leading role proper.
Reflecting on his relationship with Roeg, Bowie had this to say in 1992:
“We got on rather well. I think I was fulfilling what he needed from me for that role. I wasn't disrupting...I wasn't disrupted. In fact, I was very eager to please. And amazingly enough, I was able to carry out everything I was asked to do. I was quite willing to stay up as long as anybody.”
Roeg leaves a remarkable canon of work and you’re in for an absolute treat if you’ve yet to discover it.
We’ll leave you with Duncan’s Tweet:
Duncan @ManMadeMoon
Just heard another great storyteller, the inimitable Nicolas Roeg left us today. What an incredible body of work he’s left us with! All my love to his family. Thank you for making so many brave choices, & giving this strange little lad in pajamas an ongoing love of filmmaking.
“Baby, I’ve seen, Breaking Glass in the chart again...”
Of course, the irony is that when the Breaking Glass Live EP was originally released on 17th November 1978, it stalled at #54 on the Official UK Singles Chart. It was a glitch, the next single, Boys Keep Swinging, went Top 10.
So, thanks to all of you for ensuring that the poor performance wasn’t repeated forty years later, the EP has entered the UK’s Official Vinyl Singles Chart at #1 this evening.
If you bought this new version, did you open it yet? Have you played it? Aside from the fact that this is a 4-track as opposed to the original 3-track, which EP do you prefer?
Our montage shows the original 1978 trade press advert and both sides of the current UK #1 vinyl single.
#DBBG40 #BowieVinyl #BowieOCC
“Friday On My Mind”
Save 20% on apparel, accessories and more. Discount automatically applied on checkout.
Sale ends at 11:59 pm ET on November 25th. Offer excludes media and items printed on demand.
FOOTNOTE: The image used in our graphic was taken fifteen years ago today by Total Blam Blam, at the second of two shows at the Point Theatre in Dublin, Ireland. Both shows were recorded and released on the A Reality Tour DVD.
#BowieStore
“Oh man I need TV”
Have you been tuning into Bowie TV on the Official David Bowie YouTube channel? Some great interview snippets being posted on there. (Eleven episodes so far)
The most recent post has Mark Plati talking about the preparation for and anticipation of Glastonbury 2000, and how Bowie’s enthusiasm meant he literally sang himself voiceless at one of the New York warm up shows.
Our image shows Plati and Bowie in rehearsal in June 2000, along with a shot from the back of the Glastonbury stage, where they are pictured with Gail Ann Dorsey delighting the Glastonbury audience, as captured in the upcoming Glastonbury DVD.
Check out Bowie TV here.
#BowieTV
“Welcome to virtual reality”
As we reported back in July, David Bowie is, the record-breaking exhibition that drew over 2 million visitors across 12 cities (the most visited touring exhibition in the history of the V&A), has been granted digital immortality in the shape of the David Bowie is Augmented Reality mobile app, which will be available in iOS and Android.
Keep reading for the full press release.
#DBisVirtual
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DAVID BOWIE is… VIRTUAL
RECORD-BREAKING EXHIBITION COMES TO DIGITAL/INTERACTIVE LIFE
MOBILE APP TO BE RELEASED JANUARY 8, 2019
Groundbreaking Collaboration Between David Bowie Archive and Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc. davidbowieisreal.com
David Bowie is, the record-breaking exhibition that drew over 2 million visitors across 12 cities - the most visited touring exhibition in the history of the V&A - has been granted digital immortality. David
Bowie is , curated by Victoria Broackes and Geoffrey Marsh, was the first exhibition of its kind and has set the standard for others to follow. The visual richness of this show and visionary nature of Bowie and his music made this a must for virtual reality.
Beginning on January 8, 2019 (which would have been Bowie’s 72nd birthday), the David Bowie is Augmented Reality mobile app will be available in iOS and Android — granting access to the show’s hundreds of costumes, videos, handwritten lyrics, original works of art and more to the tens of millions of Bowie fans unable to visit the exhibition before it shuttered permanently on July 15, 2018.
This virtual reality adaption of David Bowie is will enable the visitor to spend as long as desired on individual items and jump to others.
The David Bowie is AR mobile app is the first release resulting from a collaboration between the David Bowie Archive and Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc., who hosted the exhibition in Tokyo in 2017. The New York-based studio Planeta is designing and developing the AR/VR interpretations of the original museum experience at the V&A. The AR adaptation, a first of its kind, mirrors the physical
exhibition through a sequence of audio-visual spaces through which the works and artifacts of Bowie’s life can be explored. 3D renderings preserve and present his costumes and treasured objects such as
musical scores, storyboards, handwritten lyrics, and even diary entries all in 360-degree detail, enabling intimate “behind the glass” access rivaling that of the visitors to the original exhibit, and enhanced by an immersive audio experience featuring Bowie’s music and narration, best experienced with headphones.
Additionally, the David Bowie is mobile app will feature dozens of items not featured in the original exhibition - including some entirely new and exclusive to this AR version. Like the David Bowie is touring exhibition, the AR and VR versions will be offered in seven different languages. The AR mobile app is the first phase of this innovative initiative, with the VR format scheduled for later release.
For more information davidbowieisreal.com
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Notes to editors for touring exhibition
David Bowie is was on show at the V&A from 23 March – 11 August 2013
About David Bowie Is
The exhibition explores the broad range of Bowie’s collaborations with artists and designers in the fields of fashion, sound, graphics, theater, art, and film. On display are more than 60 stage costumes including Ziggy Stardust bodysuits (1972) designed by Freddie Burretti, Kansai Yamamoto’s flamboyant creations for the Aladdin Sane tour (1973), and the Union Jack coat designed by Bowie and Alexander McQueen for the EART HL I NG album cover (1997). Also on show is photography by Brian Duffy, Terry O’Neill, and Masayoshi Sukita; album sleeve artwork by Guy Peellaert and Edward Bell; cover proofs by Barnbrook for the album The Next Day (2013); visual excerpts from films and live performances including The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976); music videos such as Life on Mars? (1973), "Heroes" (1977), Boys Keep Swinging (1979), Ashes to Ashes (1980), Let’s Dance (1983) and Blackstar (2015); and set designs created for the Diamond Dogs tour (1974).
Alongside these are more personal items such as never-before-shown storyboards, handwritten setlists and lyrics as well as some of Bowie’s own sketches, musical scores, and diary entries, revealing the evolution of his creative ideas.
“Beware the savage jaw”
Today marks the 45th anniversary of the broadcast of David Bowie’s The 1980 Floor Show, which was used as both a promotional tool for Pin Ups and to further break into the American market.
It would be Bowie’s last performance as the Ziggy Stardust persona with The Spiders From Mars, though drummer Woody Woodmansey was no longer a part of the band line up.
The 1980 Floor Show was a lavish stage production filmed over three days at The Marquee Club in London’s Soho, in front of members of Bowie’s fan club, exclusively for the American NBC TV late night show, The Midnight Special.
The show was heavily advertised in the US press in the run up to the broadcast but has never been shown outside of the US or officially released. Only one track, Space Oddity, has ever received an official DVD release and though many fans have found their own way of finding the complete show, most still hanker after a full official release.
Meanwhile, don't forget the Pin Ups Radio Show on Spotify with exclusive recollections from Bowie made in 1973.
The current issue of Record Collector (December 2018) celebrates 1973, and among other Bowie-related bits, has a great piece by Kris Needs regarding his close encounters with Ziggy, including witnessing the taping of The 1980 Floor Show.
#BowiePinUps #1980FloorShow
“Let's face the music and dance”
DAVID BOWIE ‘LET’S DANCE’ NILE RODGERS STRING VERSION AND DEMO
DIGITAL ONLY SINGLE AVAILABLE NOW ON ALL STREAMING / DOWNLOAD SERVICES & HIGH RESOLUTION 96/24
LET’S DANCE - NILE RODGERS' STRING VERSION (Radio Edit)
LET’S DANCE - DEMO (Radio Edit)
Thirty-six years after he originally recorded the track LET’S DANCE Nile Rodgers has produced a very special orchestrated version which is featured on the newly released album 80’s SYMPHONIC.
Speaking about this new version Nile commented “My work with David Bowie and specifically “Let’s Dance” is sacrosanct to me so when I was asked to add orchestration to the original recording I approached it with extreme trepidation. In fact my only concern was to protect David’s artistic vision and integrity. In the end I’m very grateful that we did this, as I believe anyone who loves the original will be excited by it. I’m certain David would approve from above”.
Also featured on the digital single is an alternate version of the original demo which was recorded on the 19th December, 1982 at Mountain Studios in Montreux, Switzerland. This version features a spoken intro from Bowie joking that if Nile or the band make any mistakes he’ll fine them just like James Brown would do to his band.
1. LET’S DANCE (Nile Rodgers’ String Version) (Radio Edit) (4.10)
(David Bowie)
Originally produced by David Bowie and Nile Rodgers
Original recording engineered by Bob Clearmountain for Fast Forward Productions.
Nile Rodgers’ String Version: Orchestrated, arranged and produced by Nile Rodgers
Associate Producer: Russell Graham
Engineered By Sam Okell at Abbey Road Studios.
Mixed by Mark "Spike" Stent
2. LET’S DANCE (Demo) (Radio Edit) (4.30)
(David Bowie)
Produced by David Bowie and Nile Rodgers
Arranged by David Bowie and Nile Rodgers
Mixed by Nile Rodgers and Russell Graham at Le Crib Studios, November 2017
Recorded on 19th December, 1982 at Mountain Studios, Montreux, Switzerland by David Richards
Mastered by Ray Staff at AIR Studios with thanks to Cicely Balston
LET’S DANCE is available now on Parlophone
80’s SYMPHONIC is available now on Warner Music/Rhino Entertainment
#BowieLetsDance
“Give my children sunny smiles…”
Unicef announced today that it is releasing 50 special, limited edition blue vinyls of 17 cult, classic and contemporary albums to raise funds and awareness for the Children's Emergency Fund. The albums will be made available via a prize draw.
One of the records is David Bowie’s #1 album, The Next Day. There are dozens of chances to win the limited edition specially pressed blue vinyl and each one will be adorned with an edition sticker as well as a holographic Unicef Blue Vinyl sticker on the cover.
All money raised from the sale of Unicef Blue Vinyl albums will go to Unicef UK’s Children’s Emergency Fund. The Children’s Emergency Fund helps Unicef deliver life-saving food, clean water, health care and education for children, as well as protection from violence and abuse. 100% of proceeds from Unicef Blue Vinyl will go to Unicef UK’s Children’s Emergency Fund.
Your entry can help Unicef keep children safe, whenever and wherever an emergency hits. For every 10 entries purchased in the prize draw, you will receive one bonus entry for free. The prize draw closes on Monday 10th December 2018 at 22:00 (GMT).
Go here to enter the prize draw and read more about unicef and the blue vinyl campaign:
#UnicefBlueVinyl #BowieVinyl
“Elvis is English”
Much has been written about The Buddha Of Suburbia since its release in the UK twenty five years ago today. One of Bowie’s own favourite works, this ‘soundtrack’ album seems to have flown under the radar for far too long.
Though loved by a loyal core of Bowie fans, The Buddha Of Suburbia is generally underappreciated, as summed up in this closing paragraph from a recent 25th celebration by Julian Marszalek for The Quietus:
“Even after 25 years, The Buddha Of Suburbia is a strange anomaly in David Bowie’s back catalogue. Both ignored and misunderstood upon its release, the album’s re-emergence in 2007 was met once again with very little fanfare and it remains the album that so few Bowie fans have heard of, let alone listened to. As such, The Buddha Of Suburbia is an album ripe for discovery, not least as it contains an approach and execution that not only captures the best of Bowie’s past but also kick starts his future. And in 1993 and for almost 10 years afterwards, The Buddha Of Suburbia really was David Bowie’s best album since Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps). It’s time that was acknowledged.”
Read the full piece here.
If you’ve not heard The Buddha Of Suburbia, here’s what you’ve been missing out on for the past quarter of a century.
#BuddhaOfSuburbia
“The world is on a corner waiting”
The more affordable version of Denis O’Regan’s Ricochet is out now and to mark the fact we’ll be launching the contest to win the full deluxe gigantic Ricochet : David Bowie 1983 on Monday.
Meanwhile have a poke around here.
#DavidBowieRicochet