Talking Bowie part six: Nile Rodgers

“So Pablo Picasso was never called an asshole...” *

Every Thursday (at 9am PST/12pm EST/5pm GMT), we share a Bowie focused interview over on YouTube from a name you may have heard of.

Today’s contribution is from Nile Rodgers, who always has lovely things to say about David Bowie and the time he spent as co-producer with him on both Let’s Dance and Black Tie White Noise.

* The reason for the use of today’s lyric quotation from Bowie’s cover of Pablo Picasso will become apparent when you’ve watched the video.

#TalkingBowie #Bowie75 #BowieNileRodgers

Talking Bowie part four: Noel Gallagher

“Sway through the crowd”

You’re no doubt getting used to the regularity of these, but just in case...every Thursday (at 9am PST/12pm EST/5pm GMT) we’re sharing a Bowie focused interview over on YouTube from a celebrity Bowie appreciator.

As you can see, today’s contribution is from Noel Gallagher who talks about a surprise email from DB following Noel’s acceptance speech with Kate Moss at The Brits in 2014, along with his favourite Bowie album...also a surprise. (Try and guess before you watch)

The High Flying Birds frontman and ex-Oasis member also has some generally lovely things to say about Bowie, including his height! Watch the full thing here.

Tune in same time same channel next week.

Picture: David Bowie and Noel Gallagher backstage after a 1995 Bowie show at Wembley.

#TalkingBowie  #Bowie75  #BowieNoelGallagher

Two Bowie releases for RSD 2022

“A real life adventure”

ISO Records and Parlophone Records are proud to announce the release of two very special David Bowie limited edition vinyl/CD E.P.s for Record Store Day (RSD) 2022, on 23rd April.

BRILLIANT ADVENTURE E.P. and TOY E.P. (YOU’VE GOT IT MADE WITH ALL THE TOYS). Both feature unreleased versions, live tracks and mixes from the era covered in the recent BRILLIANT ADVENTURE and TOY:BOX boxsets.

Keep reading for all the details.

#BowieRSD #RSD2022 #BowieBrilliantAdventure #BowieToy

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DAVID BOWIE - RECORD STORE DAY 2022

LIMITED EDITION RSD 2022 RELEASES OUT 23rd APRIL FEATURING PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED VERSIONS, LIVE TRACKS & MIXES

BRILLIANT ADVENTURE E.P. (12” VINYL / CD) & TOY E.P. (‘YOU’VE GOT IT MADE WITH ALL THE TOYS’) (10” VINYL / CD)

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The BRILLIANT ADVENTURE E.P. has four previously unreleased tracks from the 1.OUTSIDE era.

~ ‘JOHNNY DOWNLOADER’ is an early version of ‘I’M AFRAID OF AMERICANS’ recorded during the sessions with Brian Eno for the album and mixed in November 1994.

~ An alternative single mix of ‘I HAVE NOT BEEN TO OXFORD TOWN’.

~ Two live tracks: ‘A SMALL PLOT OF LAND’ and the Jacques Brel cover ‘MY DEATH’. Both songs were performed by Bowie and pianist Mike Garson at a fundraiser for the New York Public Theater at the Shakespeare Festival in New York on 18th September, 1995.

DAVID BOWIE - BRILLIANT ADVENTURE 4 TRACK E.P. (12” VINYL / CD) - ALL TRACKS PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED TRACKLISTING:

SIDE 1:

1 - JOHNNY DOWNLOADER (AKA I’M AFRAID OF AMERICANS EARLY VERSION)

2 - I HAVE NOT BEEN TO OXFORD TOWN (ALTERNATIVE SINGLE MIX)

SIDE 2:

1 - A SMALL PLOT OF LAND (LIVE AT THE SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL, NEW YORK, 18th SEPTEMBER, 1995)

2 - MY DEATH (LIVE AT THE SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL, NEW YORK, 18th SEPTEMBER, 1995)

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The 6-track 10” vinyl and CD TOY E.P. (‘YOU’VE GOT IT MADE WITH ALL THE TOYS’) features the following...

~ ‘SHADOW MAN (VOCAL AND PIANO MIX)’, a previously unreleased alternative stripped back mix of the TOY album track.

~ Three tracks previously only available as streaming singles making their physical debut: ‘YOU’VE GOT A HABIT OF LEAVING’ (RADIO EDIT), ‘SILLY BOY BLUE’ (ALTERNATIVE ENDING MIX) and ‘CAN’T HELP THINKING ABOUT ME’ (LIVE MARK RADCLIFFE SHOW BBC RADIO 1 SESSION).

~ Live versions of ‘I DIG EVERYTHING’ and ‘THE LONDON BOYS’ recorded at the Glastonbury warm-up BowieNet show at the Roseland Ballroom, New York on 19th June, 2000.

SIDE 1 TRACK 2 AND SIDE 2 TRACKS 2 AND 3 ARE PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED. ALL TRACKS ARE PREVIOUSLY UNAVAILABLE ON CD AND VINYL

SIDE 1:

1 - YOU’VE GOT A HABIT OF LEAVING (RADIO EDIT)

2 - SHADOW MAN (VOCAL AND PIANO MIX)

3 - SILLY BOY BLUE (ALTERNATIVE ENDING MIX)

SIDE 2:

1 - CAN’T HELP THINKING ABOUT ME (LIVE RADIO SESSION) (Mark Radcliffe Show 1999)

2 - I DIG EVERYTHING LIVE (LIVE) (Roseland Ballroom 2000)

3 - THE LONDON BOYS (LIVE) (Roseland Ballroom 2000)

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Personnel:

DAVID BOWIE - BRILLIANT ADVENTURE 4 TRACK E.P. (12” VINYL / CD)

SIDE 1:

1 - JOHNNY DOWNLOADER (AKA I’M AFRAID OF AMERICANS EARLY VERSION)

(David Bowie/Brian Eno)

Produced by David Bowie and Brian Eno

Engineered and mixed by David Richards

Mixed at Westside Studio

Musicians:

David Bowie - vocals, saxophone, guitars and keyboards

Brian Eno - synthesizers, treatments and strategies

David Richards — samples, drum and keyboard programming

2 - I HAVE NOT BEEN TO OXFORD TOWN (ALTERNATIVE SINGLE MIX)

Produced by David Bowie and Brian Eno

Co-produced and engineered by David Richards

Recorded at Mountain Studios, Switzerland

Mixed and additional treatments by David Richards

Assisted by David Bowie

Musicians:

David Bowie - vocals, saxophone, guitars and keyboards

Brian Eno - synthesizers, treatments and strategies

Reeves Gabrels – lead guitar and vocals

Erdal Kizilcay - bass & keyboards

Mike Garson - grand piano

Sterling Campbell - drums

Carlos Alomar - rhythm guitar and vocals

Joey Barron - drums

Yossi Fine - bass

SIDE 2:

1 - A SMALL PLOT OF LAND (LIVE AT THE SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL, NEW YORK, 18th SEPTEMBER, 1995)

(David Bowie/Brian Eno/Michael Garson/Sterling Campbell/Erdal Kizilcay/Reeves Gabrels)

Produced by David Bowie

Engineered by Roy Clark and assisted by Tom Miho

Recorded live at the Shakespeare Festival, The Grand Ballroom, The Manhattan Center, New York, 18th September, 1995

Musicians:

David Bowie - vocals

Mike Garson - grand piano

2 - MY DEATH (LIVE AT THE SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL, NEW YORK, 18th SEPTEMBER, 1995)

(Jacques Brel/Eric Blau/Mort Shuman)

Carlin Music Corp.

Produced by David Bowie

Engineered by Roy Clark and assisted by Tom Miho

Recorded live at the Shakespeare Festival, The Grand Ballroom, The Manhattan Center, New York, 18th September, 1995

Musicians:

David Bowie - vocals

Mike Garson - grand piano

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DAVID BOWIE - TOY E.P. (‘YOU’VE GOT IT MADE WITH ALL THE TOYS’) (10” VINYL / CD)

SIDE 1 TRACK 2 AND SIDE 2 TRACKS 2 AND 3 ARE PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED. ALL TRACKS ARE PREVIOUSLY UNAVAILABLE ON CD AND VINYL

TRACKLISTING:

SIDE 1:

1 - YOU’VE GOT A HABIT OF LEAVING (RADIO EDIT)

Produced by David Bowie and Mark Plati

Engineered by Pete Keppler

Mixed by Mark Plati

Assisted by Hector Castillo, Steve Mazur, and Todd Parker

Recorded at Sear Sound, The Looking Glass & Alice's Restaurant in New York City, Summer 2000

Mixed at The Looking Glass

Musicians

David Bowie - lead and backing vocals

Sterling Campbell - drums

Gail Ann Dorsey - bass

Mike Garson – piano and keyboards

Lisa Germano – violin and backing vocals

Emm Gryner - backing vocals

Holly Palmer - backing vocals and percussion

Mark Plati - acoustic and electric guitars

Earl Slick - acoustic and electric guitars

2 - SHADOW MAN (VOCAL AND PIANO MIX)

Produced by David Bowie and Mark Plati

Engineered by Pete Keppler

Mixed by Mark Plati

Assisted by Hector Castillo, Steve Mazur, and Todd Parker

Recorded at Sear Sound, The Looking Glass and Alice's Restaurant in New York City, Summer 2000

Mixed at Alice’s Restaurant.

Musicians:

David Bowie - vocal

Mike Garson – piano

3 - SILLY BOY BLUE (ALTERNATIVE ENDING MIX)

Produced by David Bowie and Mark Plati

Engineered by Pete Keppler

Mixed by Mark Plati

Assisted by Hector Castillo, Steve Mazur, and Todd Parker

Recorded at Sear Sound, The Looking Glass & Alice's Restaurant in New York City, Summer 2000

Mixed at Alice’s Restaurant.

Musicians:

David Bowie - lead and backing vocals, keyboards and finger cymbals

Sterling Campbell - drums

Gail Ann Dorsey - bass

Mike Garson – piano

Lisa Germano – violin drone and recorder

Emm Gryner - backing vocals

Holly Palmer - backing vocals and finger Cymbals

Mark Plati - acoustic guitars

Earl Slick - electric guitars

Tony Visconti - string arrangement

SIDE 2:

1 - CAN’T HELP THINKING ABOUT ME (LIVE RADIO SESSION)

Recorded and broadcast on 25th October, 1999 for the Mark Radcliffe Show at Maida Vale Studio 4

Produced by Will Saunders

Musicians:

David Bowie - vocals

Gail Ann Dorsey - bass and backing vocals

Mark Plati – acoustic & electric guitar

Page Hamilton - electric guitar

Sterling Campbell – drums

Mike Garson – piano and keyboards

Emm Gryner - backing vocals

Holly Palmer - backing vocals

2 - I DIG EVERYTHING LIVE (LIVE)

3 - THE LONDON BOYS (LIVE)

Produced by David Bowie

Mixed by Pete Keppler at The Looking Glass

Recorded live at Roseland Ballroom, New York on 19th June, 2000

Musicians:

David Bowie - vocals

Gail Ann Dorsey - bass on ‘I Dig Everything’, clarinet on ‘The London Boys’ and backing vocals

Mark Plati – guitars and backing vocals on ‘I Dig Everything’ and bass on ‘The London Boys’

Earl Slick - guitar

Sterling Campbell – drums

Mike Garson – piano and keyboards

Emm Gryner - backing vocals, keyboard and clarinet on ‘The London Boys’

Holly Palmer - backing vocals and percussion

All songs written by David Bowie

DAVID BOWIE

BRILLIANT ADVENTURE E.P. (12” VINYL / CD)

TOY E.P. (‘YOU’VE GOT IT MADE WITH ALL THE TOYS’) (10” VINYL / CD)

RELEASED BY ISO RECORDS/PARLOPHONE ON 23rd APRIL 2022

Ziggy and The Spiders TV debut this day in 1972

“Switch on the TV we may pick him up on channel two”

In the UK fifty years ago this evening, David Bowie himself was among the viewers settled down to watch the television debut of an exciting young artist and his new band, Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars, though they weren't yet billed as such.

Having recorded three tracks for the broadcast the previous day, Bowie and band had been readying themselves for what is considered the start of the first Ziggy Stardust tour at the Toby Jug on February 10th.

The show was The Old Grey Whistle Test (TOGWT) and the songs recorded were Queen Bitch, Five Years and Oh! You Pretty Things.

Hunky Dory had been released less than two months earlier and the Ziggy Stardust album opener wouldn't be available to fans for a few months yet.

So, of the songs recorded, Oh! You Pretty Things would probably have been the best advert for the tour, in that it was freshest in the public memory, having spent several weeks on the UK singles chart for Peter Noone the previous May and June, when it peaked at #14.

However, in their wisdom, the BBC didn't broadcast Oh! You Pretty Things for another ten years, probably considering the song a little too mainstream (due to the Noone connection) for the often chin-strokingly serious TOGWT.

All three tracks were eventually released officially on the Best Of Bowie DVD (including an alternate take of Oh! You Pretty Things) and they still look and sounds as fresh and exciting today as they ever did.

Sorry about the poor quality of the screengrab, but if you need a reminder of just how good this debut was, check out Tanaferry’s YouTube post of all three songs here.

#BowieTOGWT #ZiggyStardust50 #BowieBBC

Reeves Gabrels Earthling interview part 4

“And I'm gone, through the crack in the past”

Here’s the fourth and final instalment of our interview with Reeves Gabrels and may we take this opportunity to thank him for his time and generosity, not to mention all the superb noises he’s made on David Bowie recordings.

Today, Reeves recalls the making of Dead Man Walking with some great insights into the writing of the song, including the source of the riff* and how a Neil Young performance was the trigger for part of the lyric. Watch it here

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* SPOILER ALERT: You should watch the Reeves’ interview before reading further...

Mr Gabrels mentions how DB was given the riff for Dead Man Walking by a very generous young guitarist by the name of Jimmy Page. Well, that wasn’t the first song Bowie utilised the riff for. Here he is talking on the subject during his 50th birthday celebration on BBC Radio 1’s ChangesNowBowie (which Reeves was a part of), broadcast 8th January 1997...

“When I was a baby, I did a rock session with one of the bands, one of the millions of bands that I had in the ’60s – it was the Manish Boys, that’s what it was – and the session guitar player doing the solo was this young kid who’d just come out of art school and was already a top session man, Jimmy Page. And he just got a fuzz box and he used that for the solo. He was wildly excited about it and he was quite generous that day and he said, ‘Look, I’ve got this riff but I’m not using it for anything, so why don’t you learn it and see if you can do anything with it?’ So I had his riff, and I’ve used it ever since! [laughs]. It’s never let me down.”

At least one of the other songs that benefitted from the riff gift was The Superman from 1970’s The Man Who Sold The World.

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Picture of Reeves and Bowie during rehearsals at the Hanover Grand in London in May 1997, by Scarlet Page...yes, she is related to aforementioned superstar guitarist.

The boys are pictured with a Bowie lookalike playing sax, much to their amusement. The lookalike didn’t make it to the gigs, mainly on account of us having just made that up. Apologies to @scarletpagephotography for the crude photo manipulation of her shots.

#BowieEarthling #EarthlingAlbum #Earthling25 #BrilliantAdventure #Bowie75 #BowieGabrels

Reeves Gabrels Earthling interview part 3

“Sending me so far away, so far away”

Welcome to the third part of our interview with Reeves Gabrels, talking about the process of creating Earthling in the studio.

With particular focus on Little Wonder, Reeves talks about the song writing process and the use of loops, with some interesting insights into the creation of the lyrics for this song.

Photo of Reeves and Bowie at the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester in October 1997, by Kevin Mazur.

#BowieEarthling #EarthlingAlbum #Earthling25 #BrilliantAdventure #Bowie75 #BowieGabrels

Reeves Gabrels Earthling interview part 2

“It's the last thing you should do”

Here’s the second part of our interview with Reeves Gabrels, regarding the creation of Earthling.

In this instalment, Reeves talks about the shift from analogue to digital and the joys of improved manipulation that came with it. He also sings the praises of the magical qualities of obtainium...yes, of course it’s a real word.

Picture of Reeves and Bowie during rehearsals at the Hanover Grand in London in May 1997, by Scarlet Page.

#BowieEarthling #EarthlingAlbum #Earthling25 #BrilliantAdventure #Bowie75 #BowieGabrels

Reeves Gabrels Earthling interview part 1

“I praise to you, Nothing ever goes away...”

Still on an Earthling trip, we present the first part of our interview with Reeves Gabrels, in which he talks about the approach to Earthling in the studio and advice from David on fanning the flames of creation, among other things.

#BowieEarthling #EarthlingAlbum #Earthling25 #BrilliantAdventure #Bowie75 #BowieGabrels

Five Earthling digital EPs released today

“Through the chromosomes of space and time”

Continuing our celebration of the 25th anniversary of David Bowie’s 1997 Earthling album (released in the UK on 3rd February 1997), here are links to five digital EPs containing a total of 27 tracks, including four previously unreleased mixes.

Telling Lies E.P.

Little Wonder E.P. (Junior Vasquez Mixes)

Little Wonder E.P. (Danny Saber Mixes)

Dead Man Walking E.P.

I’m Afraid Of Americans E.P. (Remaster)

That’s a total of 2 hours and 44 minutes for your listening and dancing pleasure, possibly.

Keep reading for the tracklistings.

#BowieEarthling #EarthlingAlbum #Earthling25 #EarthlingEPs #BrilliantAdventure #Bowie75

Earthling EPs tracklistings:

(*Previously unreleased)

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Telling Lies E.P. (4 tracks, 19 min 25 sec)

1 - Telling Lies (Adam F Mix) (4.00)

2 - Telling Lies (Feelgood Mix) (5.09)

3 - Telling Lies (Paradox Mix) (5.08)

4 - Nuts (Drum ’n’ Bass Mix) (5.08) *

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Little Wonder E.P. (Junior Vasquez Mixes) (6 tracks, 47 min 17 sec)

1 - Little Wonder (Junior’s 7” Mix) (4.05) *

2 - Little Wonder (Junior’s Club Mix) (8.18)

3 - Little Wonder (Ambient Junior Mix) (9.59)

4 - Little Wonder (Club Dub Junior Mix) (8.18)

5 - Little Wonder (4/4 Junior Mix) (8.18)

6 - Little Wonder (Junior’s Club Instrumental) (8.19)

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Little Wonder E.P. (Danny Saber Mixes) (4 tracks, 17 min 22 sec)

1 - Little Wonder (Danny Saber Mix) (3.09)

2 - Little Wonder (Danny Saber Unplugged Mix) (3.03) *

3 - Little Wonder (Danny Saber Dance Mix) (5.34)

4 - Little Wonder (Danny Saber Dance Mix Instrumental) (5.36) *

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Dead Man Walking E.P. (5 tracks, 31 min 54 sec)

1 - Dead Man Walking (Moby Mix 1) (7.29)

2 - Dead Man Walking (Moby Mix 2) (5.25)

3 - Dead Man Walking (Moby House Mix) (6.00)

4 - Dead Man Walking (This One’s Not Dead Yet Remix) (6.28)

5 - Dead Man Walking (Vigor Mortis Remix) (6.32)

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I’m Afraid Of Americans E.P. (8 tracks, 48 min 8 sec)

1 - I’m Afraid Of Americans V1 (5.29)

2 - I’m Afraid Of Americans V2 (5.47)

3 - I’m Afraid Of Americans V3 (6.06)

4 - I’m Afraid Of Americans V4 (5.21)

5 - I’m Afraid Of Americans V5 (5.35)

6 - I’m Afraid Of Americans V6 (11.14)

7 - I’m Afraid Of Americans V1 (Radio Edit) (4.24)

8 - I’m Afraid Of Americans (Original Mix Radio Edit) (4.12)

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Earthling released 25 years ago today

“My, my, the time do fly”

David Bowie’s 1997 album Earthling was released in the UK on February 3rd 1997, with the usual worldwide regional variations.

The album produced a run of superb singles (most of them accompanied by some of Bowie’s best ever videos), in the shape of Little Wonder, Dead Man Walking, Seven Years In Tibet and I'm Afraid of Americans.

Produced by David Bowie, Reeves Gabrels and Mark Plati, Earthling reached #6 on the UK album chart and entered the top ten in several other countries.

The personnel for the recording of this release were Reeves Gabrels, Mark Plati, Gail Ann Dorsey, Mike Garson and Zachary Alford, with some brilliant and possibly overlooked solos from Gabrels and Garson. (Listen to Looking For Satellites and Battle for Britain (The Letter) respectively.)

Earthling is a remarkable album that not only stands the test of the last twenty-five years, but still sounds fresh and vital.

Check out the videos on Bowie Official YouTube.

#BowieEarthling #EarthlingAlbum #Earthling25 #BrilliantAdventure #Bowie75

Talking Bowie part three: Elvis Costello

“Elvis is English”

As promised last week, every Thursday (at 9am PST/12pm EST/5pm GMT) we will share a Bowie focused interview over on YouTube from a name you may well know.

Today’s contribution is from Elvis Costello and here’s a tease about a song you may have heard DB waxing lyrical about: “If David had sung it, it would have been magnificent, I know he would have sung it beautifully.”

Mr C also talks about the influence of Bowie’s music on his work with The Attractions, the beauty of Blackstar and the one and only time the two met, as evidenced by our picture. Watch it here.

Tune in same time same channel next week.

Picture: David Bowie and Elvis Costello Vanity Fair Launch Party for the 2003 Tribeca Film Festival hosted by Graydon Carter and Robert DeNiro at the State Supreme Courthouse May 1, 2003 ©Patrick McMullan photo-Patrick McMullan/PMc

#TalkingBowie #Bowie75 #BowieElvisCostello

Moonage Daydream book anniversary re-release

“Freak out in a Moonage Daydream”

DAVID BOWIE’S WRITTEN ACCOUNT OF ‘THE LIFE AND TIMES OF ZIGGY STARDUST’, MOONAGE DAYDREAM, WITH 600+ PHOTOGRAPHS BY PHOTOGRAPHER MICK ROCK, ANNOUNCED FOR ANNIVERSARY RE-RELEASE.

RELEASED JUNE 14th 2022 AVAILABLE TO PRE-ORDER AT WWW.BOWIEBOOK.COM

‘The closest we’ll ever get to a straight up Bowie autobiography — but who’d ever want anything straight-up from Bowie?’ – Rolling Stone

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In 2002, David Bowie and Mick Rock created Moonage Daydream, the defining document of the life and times of Ziggy Stardust. Twenty years on, it remains the closest readers will get to understanding Bowie through his own words. Now, celebrating 50 years of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, a new edition is to be published 14th June 2022.

Available from all good bookshops, Bowie and Rock’s seminal book is now available for pre-ordering at www.BowieBook.com

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‘Ziggy Stardust blazed briefly but intensely, and I am delighted to see his life and times as a rock’n’roll star immortalised in this book.’ – David Bowie

‘Mr B has never previously gone on record in such detail about the origins, inspirations, mutations and peregrinations of our inimitable idol, Mr Stardust. In fact, I’ve learned a lot that I didn’t glean at the time about the whole crazy affair…’ – Mick Rock

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Alongside over 600 photographs taken by Mick Rock, Bowie’s personal and often humorous commentary gives unprecedented insight into his work and the creation of his most memorable persona. Readers can see how Bowie singlehandedly challenged and elevated 1970s culture through his style, his inspirations ranging from Kubrick to Kabuki, and his creative spirit, which endures through the decades. Moonage Daydream is the essential Ziggy Stardust book.

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‘The idea of a larger-than-life rock figure struck me around the end of 1970. For me, and several of my friends, the Seventies were the start of the Twenty First Century. The main platform would be, other than shoes, “We are the future, now.” And the one way of celebrating that was to create it by the only means at our disposal. With, of course, a rock’n’roll band.’ – David Bowie

‘I was the only photographer with a true passion for the Ziggy image. Was I uniquely intuitive, very lucky or just plain spaced out? Probably a bit of all three.’ – Mick Rock

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First published as a signed limited edition, Moonage Daydream sold out in a matter of months and became lore among David Bowie fans. Now, on the 50th anniversary of Bowie’s acclaimed album, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, the book is available again. Published in a new larger format, this uncut edition keeps to Bowie and Rock’s original vision, allowing us to explore Moonage Daydream the way the authors intended.

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‘I would literally draw out on paper with a crayon or felt tip pen the shape of a guitar solo: the one in ‘Moonage Daydream’, for instance, started out as a flat line that became a fat megaphone-type shape and ended as sprays of disassociated and broken lines. Mick Ronson could take something like that and actually bloody play it, bring it to life. Very impressive. That’s what it all looks like from way over here. Very impressive.’ – David Bowie

‘Rock on, dear reader. There’s a ton of fun here for you all you Ziggy/Bowie fanatics and obsessives to keep you stimulated and sparkly long past your bedtimes.’ – Mick Rock

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We’ll be posting more of Mick Rock’s incredible Bowie portraits from Moonage Daydream over the coming weeks.

View more images from the book here.

#BowieMickRock #MoonageDaydreamBook #ZiggyStardust50

Ziggy’s first show is fifty today

“Pushing thru’ the market square”

Exactly fifty years ago, give or take an hour or two, approximately 700 concertgoers were making their way home having witnessed the shock of the new that was David Bowie’s latest creation.

Generally considered a warm-up for the shows on the horizon, the sold-out gig at Borough Assembly Hall in Aylesbury Market Square on 29th January 1972 was the chosen moment to unveil the sight and sound of Ziggy Stardust.

But, just for a change, we’ll let a few others do the talking. Over to some people who were actually there on the night.

All Images of David Bowie at Friars Aylesbury, 29th January 1972 © www.michaelputland.com

#BowieFriarsAylesbury #ZiggyStardust50 #BowieMichaelPutland

Talking Bowie part two: Dave Grohl

“I like the beat of your drum”

Following on from last week, every Thursday (at 9am PST/12pm EST/5pm GMT) we will share a Bowie focused interview from a name you may well know over on YouTube.

We teased you with a bit of Dave Grohl last week, now you can watch the full instalment, wherein Dave talks about Bowie’s otherworldliness, his musical shapeshifting, emails from DB, and which Bowie album was among the things that inspired him to become a drummer.

Tune in same time same channel next week.

(Picture of DB and DG backstage at MSG, NY, 9th January 1997 by Kevin Mazur)

#TalkingBowie #Bowie75 #BowieDaveGrohl

Listen to TOY radio session now

“And me I’m on a radio show”

Tune in here.

(Image: BowieNet show 19th June 2000 by Total Blam Blam)

#ToyRadioSession #Bowie75 #BowieToy #BowieToyBox

Five Bowie albums in 360RA available now

“There’ll be music everywhere”

You can now enjoy the experience of five Bowie albums remixed and reimagined by Tony Visconti all around you, as today sees the release of Heathen, Reality, A Reality Tour (Live), The Next Day, and ★ all in immersive 360 Reality Audio.

Claim your exclusive trial today on Amazon Music or Tidal.

Full press release here.

#Bowie75 #Bowie360RA #360RA

Bowie YouTube watch party reminder

“Loving the alien”

“The Beatles seemed like four human beings to me, David Bowie did not. David Bowie seemed like an alien and I enjoyed that” [Special guest #1]

Wherever you are on the planet make sure you tune into the "David Bowie Is" YouTube Watch Party.

Set yourself a reminder here.

#TalkingBowie #Bowie75 #DavidBowieIs

Ziggy in print for the very first time

“Ziggy really sang, screwed up eyes and screwed down hairdo”

Back on 8th January we ran a piece regarding David’s 25th birthday party at his then home, Haddon Hall. In it, we suggested that he welcomed guests as his latest creation, even if he hadn't given himself the Ziggy label just yet.

The very same day as his 25th, Melody Maker (MM) ran a full-page Hunky Dory advert, though Bowie’s focus was now fully on aforementioned latest creation.

Twelve days later on Thursday the 20th January (fifty years ago today) MM (with a publish date of 22nd January*), ran their first Bowie cover feature, the now famous 'Oh You Pretty Thing' interview by Michael Watts.

Featuring Barry Wentzell’s images taken during the interview at the Gem offices in Regent Street (albeit printed back to front), we’re pretty sure that this feature boasts the very first mention of the album in print, even though it wouldn’t be released for another six months...

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“Bowie is talking in an office at Gem Music, from where his management operates. A tape machine is playing his next album, "The Rise And Fall of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars," which is about this fictitious pop group. The music has got a very hard-edged sound, like "The Man Who Sold The World." They're releasing it shortly, even though "Hunky Dory" has only just come out.”

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The feature became known as the “I’m gay” interview, even though Watts had already pointed out earlier in the piece: “He supposes he’s what people call bisexual.” As unimportant as either of those statements may seem today, fifty years ago it was a bigger deal, and some would even say brave.

Though it’s a playful piece, it’s clear that Watts was eager to emphasise the brilliance of the music and the fact that David Bowie’s time had come…

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“They call David a lot of things. In the states he's been referred to as the English Bob Dylan and an avant garde outrage, all rolled up together. The New York Times talks of his "coherent and brilliant vision." They like him a lot there. Back home in the very stiff upper lip UK, where people are outraged by Alice Cooper even, there ain't too many who have picked up on him. His last but one album "The Man Who Sold The World," cleared 50.000 copies in the States; here it sold about five copies, and Bowie bought them. Yes, but before this year is out all those of you who puked up on Alice are going to be focusing your passions on Mr. Bowie, and those who know where it's at will be thrilling to a voice that seemingly undergoes brilliant metamorphosis from song to song, a songwriting ability that will enslave the heart, and a sense of theatrics that will make the ablest thespians gnaw on their sticks of eyeliner in envy. All this and an amazingly accomplished band, featuring super-lead guitarist Mick Ronson, that can smack you round the skull with their heaviness and soothe the savage breasts with their delicacy. Oh, to be young again.”

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You can read the full interview over on the brilliant resource that is The ZIGGY STARDUST Companion.

* In the UK, music weeklies were in the shops on a Thursday with the following Saturday’s date on the cover.

#ZiggyStardust50 #BowieMelodyMaker

David Bowie 75 Official Playlist on YouTube

“The gift of sound and vision”

For those of you who don’t do audio streaming, we’ve curated the David Bowie 75 Official Playlist on YouTube.

Enjoy a whole load of Bowie’s most celebrated tracks and music videos from across the decades all in one place for your sound + vision pleasure.

(Aladdin Sane image © The Duffy Archive & The David Bowie Archive™)

#Bowie75 #BowieYouTube #BowieDuffy

Let’s talk Bowie

“We had a friend, a talking man”

Join us this Thursday 20th January at 10am PST / 1pm EST / 6pm GMT for the "David Bowie Is" YouTube Watch Party.

We will be joined by some very special guests discussing our favourite topic, Bowie.

Don't miss it - sign up here.

#TalkingBowie #Bowie75 #DavidBowieIs