Jean Genie video upgrade premiere

“Talking ’bout Monroe …” *

Mick Rock’s official The Jean Genie music video has received a bit of a polish and can now be enjoyed in 4K.

Watch it in real-time with fans across the globe this Sunday 8th January at 18:00 GMT on YouTube.

* Today’s lyric quotation is a reference to the fact that Bowie apparently wanted the video to depict “Ziggy as a kind of Hollywood street-rat” with a “consort of the Marilyn brand”. This led to Cyrinda Foxe’s casting, and she flew from New York to San Francisco especially for the shoot.

#BowieTheJeanGenie #BowieMickRock #BowieCyrindaFoxe #BowieMarsHotel #AladdinSane50

A Happy New Year from DBHQ

“I see you see me through your window...”

Welcome to 2023 via Richard Imrie’s camera lens from fifty years ago, possibly this week, but definitely within the first three weeks of 1973.

Thanks for all your support throughout 2022, it’s always very much appreciated.

Have a wonderful 2023 and here’s to some exciting anniversaries ahead and more this year.

#BowieNewYear2023 #BowieRichardImrie

Season’s Greetings to all

“I look to the stars, As they flicker and float in your eyes...”

Continuing the theme we started 12 months ago; we’ve decided to recycle again this year.

Twenty years ago this month, friends and associates of David’s received this annual greeting card for 2002 from David Bowie and Isolar.

Even at 2 years and 4 months, Alexandria showed artistic promise with her painting adorning the front of the card; 'From Earth to the Stars'.

The picture of Lexi with her proud parents in our montage was taken by Brian Aris.

Season’s Greetings to all and thanks for the Bowie love throughout 2022.

#BowieCard #BowieForever #PeaceOnEarth

Appreciation for Divine Symmetry and Moonage Daydream

“Blessing all the papers thanking one and all...”

It seems those of you who have had time to explore it are enjoying the alternative journey through Hunky Dory that is David Bowie’s Divine Symmetry.

As you can see at the end of this short video, the press response has also been more than positive.

The set is currently at #20 on the UK’s Official Physical Albums Chart Top 100 along with the Next Day Extra EP at #26.

The Next Day Extra is also #3 on the Official Record Store Chart Top 40, which records the UK's biggest albums of the week based on sales of physical formats sold through 100 UK independent record shops, compiled by the Official Charts Company in partnership with Record Store Day.

You may have also noticed that the Moonage Daydream album was #1 on the Official Soundtrack Albums Chart Top 50 last week and #9 on the Official Physical Albums Chart Top 100, not forgetting #20 on the Official Albums Chart Top 100.

Which all just translates to a huge thank you for your continued support.

#BowieDivineSymmetry #BowieMoonageDaydreamAlbum

Queen Bitch Demo digital single available now

“Walk out of her sight, right out of her mind...” *

The third track to be taken from the upcoming Divine Symmetry set is a previously unreleased demo version of Queen Bitch.

The track is available now (if it’s 4th November where you are) and you can find it at your usual digital emporium.

It’s a laid-back affair with possibly more of a Velvets’ Loaded feel than the full swagger of the Hunky Dory version.

This is just one of the previously unreleased treats to be found on Divine Symmetry later this month.

* Yep, the lyric is from this demo version.

#BowieDivineSymmetry #BowieQueenBitch

Moonage Daydream DVD and Blu-Ray release dates

“Put your Blu-Ray to my head.…” *

• DVD/Blu-Ray: 15th November in US

• DVD/Blu-Ray: 5th December in UK, Australia, France, Germany, Netherlands, Italy

• Digital from 5th December in all international territories except for Australia (23rd November), Germany (24th November) and UK (2nd December)

You can pre-order from the Bowie Official Store here.

* Sorry

#BowieMoonageDaydreamFilm

Ken Scott on revisiting Hunky Dory masters

“He could scream and still relax, unbelievable...”

Here’s the second of the short films wherein Ken Scott talks about revisiting the Hunky Dory tapes and how he feels about the album fifty years later.

Watch the full thing here.

#HunkyDory50 #BowieDivineSymmetry #BowieKenScott

Oh! You Pretty Things live 1971 digital single out now

“You gotta make way for the Homo Superior...”

The second track to be taken from the upcoming Divine Symmetry set is a previously unreleased live version of Oh! You Pretty Things, recorded at Friars, Aylesbury, 25th September, 1971.

The track is available now (if it’s 21st October where you are) and you can find it here. Listen out for the Monty Python reference in the intro.

Regular visitors to this page will know how important the Aylesbury venue was to David Bowie and just four months later he would launch what became the Ziggy Stardust tour there.

Around the same time as the January show he had this to say to Penny Valentine about the previous September visit from where Oh! You Pretty Things was recorded: “We did this gig in Aylesbury before Christmas and got such a great reception, it got us off.”

You’ll be able to judge for yourself just how great that reception was with the release of Divine Symmetry next month.

#BowieDivineSymmetry #BowieOYPT

Duffy’s Aladdin Sane 50 book due next March

“Battle cries and champagne...”

Welbeck Publishing Group today announces that it will publish Aladdin Sane 50, a definitive book by Chris Duffy celebrating the 50th anniversary of David Bowie’s classic album. The book contains a plethora of photographs, including many previously unpublished portraits of Bowie from the iconic Aladdin Sane cover shoot by Chris’s father, photographer Duffy, fifty years since they were taken.

The 256-page Aladdin Sane 50 will publish on 30th March 2023, ahead of the 50th anniversary of the album’s release. Pre-order here.

Alongside Duffy’s photographs are essays on Aladdin Sane and the story behind the famous cover itself, with contributions from Paul Morley, Charles Shaar Murray, Nicholas Pegg, Kevin Cann, Jérôme Soligny and Geoffrey Marsh.

Designed by Bowie collaborators Barnbrook creative studio, the book pays tribute to a seminal album and an image that will live forever more in rock ‘n’ roll history – ‘the Mona Lisa of pop’, Aladdin Sane.

Joe Cottington, Associate Publisher at Welbeck, said: “To say I’m thrilled to be publishing this book is an understatement – sharing the full story behind music’s single most iconic image. And to combine Duffy’s remarkable images with essays on David’s music by some of the most respected writers in the Bowiesphere in a gorgeous design by Barnbrook studio – I can’t quite believe it’s all come together so perfectly, and I can’t wait for Bowie fans everywhere to see it.”

Chris Duffy, CEO at the Duffy Archive, said: “Every photographer wants a jewel in the crown and out of the thousands of photographs of David Bowie, the Aladdin Sane image has become Duffy’s jewel and David’s most recognisable image, becoming a cultural icon in the process.

They say a picture can say a thousand words – there’s no debate that thousands have been written about the Aladdin Sane album cover and it’s an honour fifty years after its release to be able to share previously unpublished images from the session. I’m privileged to honour two great men and I thank all of those who continue to hold the flame.”

#AladdinSane50Book

"HEROES" 45th Anniversary vinyl and Live In Berlin 78 digital out now

“We could steal time... ”

The "Heroes" 45th anniversary grey vinyl LP bricks and mortar and the Live In Berlin (1978) (US exhibition exclusive - digital release), which we told you about in July, are both available today (14th October).

Here’s the link to Live In Berlin.

If this is all news to you, here’s the press release.

#BowieHeroes45 #BowieHeroes #BowieBerlin #Bowie1977 #Bowie1978

Ken Scott on the creation of Hunky Dory

“Turn and face the strange...”

View the first of a couple of short films wherein Ken Scott talks about the daunting task for him and David of co-producing their first album together, Hunky Dory. Go here.

#HunkyDory50 #BowieDivineSymmetry #BowieKenScott

Starman ranked as greatest ever BBC music performance

“Hey, that’s far out so you heard him too?”

David Bowie’s 1972 performance of Starman on the BBC’s Top Of The Pops, has been ranked as the greatest BBC music performance of all time in today’s Guardian in the UK.

We won’t provide another history lesson regarding the broadcast, instead, here’s a superb snippet from Alexis Petridis who says it rather more succinctly than we ever could.

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The most famous three and a half minutes of music television in British history isn’t so much about the performance itself as its impact on viewers. No matter how weird and alien you felt, you couldn’t have been as weird and alien as David Bowie and his bandmates looked: the cavalry was here for you. The point where Bowie camply throws his arm around Mick Ronson gathered headlines at the time, but its apex comes 30 seconds later. Umpteen viewers have testified to the life-changing, he’s-talking-to-me effect of the moment when Bowie points down the camera as he sings the line “I had to phone someone so I picked on you”: Lord Kitchener for weirdos, successfully recruiting an army of suburban misfits.

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Read the full top 100 entries here.

Considering this generous though thoroughly deserved accolade, it would seem churlish to point out that the image of Bowie used in the actual newspaper is not from the BBC broadcast at all, but from the earlier performance on Lift-Off with Ayshea. Well, if we didn’t point it out, you would!

Watch the BBC performance now on YouTube.

#BowieStarman50 #ZiggyStardust50 #StarmanOnTOTP

Divine Symmetry box set details

“Just a mortal with potential of a superman...”

As promised yesterday with the announcement of the KOOKS digital single, here is the news you’ve been waiting for, details of DAVID BOWIE – DIVINE SYMMETRY (AN ALTERNATIVE JOURNEY THROUGH HUNKY DORY).

As the title suggests, the set is an accompaniment to Hunky Dory in the same way that the Conversation Piece set was to Space Oddity and the The Width Of A Circle set was to The Man Who Sold The World.

Here’s the pre-order link which will be updated throughout the day: DIVINE SYMMETRY

Keep reading for the full press release.

#BowieDivineSymmetry #BowieKOOKS

DAVID BOWIE

DIVINE SYMMETRY (AN ALTERNATIVE JOURNEY THROUGH HUNKY DORY)

4CD/BLU-RAY AND DIGITAL BOX SET

RELEASED ON 25TH NOVEMBER, 2022

INCLUDES 48 EXCLUSIVE PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED TRACKS

A DIVINE SYMMETRY (AN ALTERNATIVE JOURNEY THROUGH HUNKY DORY)

VINYL LP AVAILABLE 24th FEBRUARY, 2023

‘KOOKS (BBC SOUNDS OF THE 70s WITH BOB HARRIS)’

SINGLE AVAILABLE NOW TO STREAM AND DOWNLOAD

PRE-ORDER HERE: DIVINE SYMMETRY

28th September 2022 London - Parlophone Records proudly announces DAVID BOWIE DIVINE SYMMETRY, a four-CD, one blu-ray box set and digital equivalent. The collection celebrates the twelve months running up to the release of the album HUNKY DORY in December 1971 via home demos, BBC radio sessions and live and studio recordings.

DAVID BOWIE DIVINE SYMMETRY contains 48 previously unreleased tracks/demos from the period, and new alternative mixes of HUNKY DORY tracks by original co-producer Ken Scott.

Two books accompany DIVINE SYMMETRY, a 100-page hardback book featuring exclusive memorabilia and photos alongside a 60-page replica composite of Bowie’s notebooks from the era featuring handwritten lyrics, costume drawings, recording notes and set lists.

The sleeve notes have been written for the release by Bowie expert Tris Penna, along with contributions from HUNKY DORY co-producer Ken Scott, lifelong Bowie friends Geoff MacCormack and George Underwood, singer Dana Gillespie, guitarist Mark Pritchett, Friars Aylesbury promoter David Stopps, publisher Bob Grace and photographer Louanne Richards.

1971 was a pivotal year for Bowie. He signed a record deal with RCA, he met Andy Warhol, Lou Reed, and Iggy Pop while in New York, became a father and penned the song ‘KOOKS’ as a show of paternal pride, played live for the first time that June with Mick Ronson, Woody Woodmansey and Trevor Bolder, the band that would later be christened The Spiders From Mars and recorded the classic album HUNKY DORY.

‘KOOKS’, recorded by Bowie and guitarist Mick Ronson for the BBC’s Sounds Of The 70s presented by Bob Harris is available now for download and streaming single. It was recorded at Kensington House, Shepherds Bush, London, Studio T1 for BBC Radio on 21st September, 1971 and broadcast on 4th October, 1971

DAVID BOWIE DIVINE SYMMETRY TRACKLISTING

* PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

CD 1:

THE SONGWRITING DEMOS PLUS

1 Tired Of My Life (demo) *

2 How Lucky You Are (aka Miss Peculiar) (demo) *

3 Shadow Man (demo)

4 Looking For A Friend (demo) *

5 Waiting For The Man (San Francisco hotel recording) *

6 Quicksand (San Francisco hotel recording) *

7 King Of The City (demo) *

8 Song For Bob Dylan (demo) *

9 Right On Mother (demo) *

10 Quicksand (demo)

11 Queen Bitch (demo) *

12 Kooks (demo) *

13 Amsterdam (demo) *

14 Life On Mars? (demo) *

Bonus acetate dubs:

15 Changes (demo) *

16 Bombers (demo) *

CD 2:

BBC RADIO IN CONCERT: JOHN PEEL

David Bowie and Friends

(mono)

1 Queen Bitch *

2 Bombers

3 The Supermen *

4 Looking For A Friend

5 Almost Grown

6 Kooks

7 Song For Bob Dylan *

8 Andy Warhol *

9 It Ain't Easy

David Bowie and Friends

(stereo)

10 Queen Bitch *

11 The Supermen *

12 Looking For A Friend *

13 Kooks *

14 Song For Bob Dylan *

15 Andy Warhol *

16 It Ain't Easy *

Recorded 3rd June, 1971 and broadcast 20th June, 1971

Paris Cinema Studio, Regent Street, London

Musicians:

David Bowie – lead vocals (except as below)

George Underwood – lead vocals on ‘Song For Bob Dylan’ & ‘It Ain’t Easy’ (3rd verse) & backing vocals

Dana Gillespie – lead vocals on ‘Andy Warhol’, backing vocals

Geoff MacCormack (aka Alexander) – lead vocals ‘It Ain’t Easy’ (2nd verse), backing vocals

Mark Pritchett (aka Carr-Pritchard) – guitars, backing vocals

Mick Ronson – guitars, backing vocals

Trevor Bolder – bass

Woody Woodmansey – drums

CD 3:

BBC RADIO SESSION AND LIVE

1 The Supermen

2 Oh! You Pretty Things

3 Eight Line Poem

4 Kooks *

5 Fill Your Heart *

6 Amsterdam *

7 Andy Warhol *

Musicians:

David Bowie – vocals, acoustic guitar, piano

Mick Ronson – guitars, bass, vocals

Session recorded at Kensington House Studio T1 for BBC Radio on 21st September, 1971 and broadcast 4th October, 1971

Live Friars, Aylesbury, 25th September, 1971

8 Introduction*

9 Fill Your Heart*

10 Buzz The Fuzz*

11 Space Oddity*

12 Amsterdam*

13 The Supermen*

14 Oh! You Pretty Things*

15 Eight Line Poem*

16 Changes*

17 Song For Bob Dylan*

18 Andy Warhol*

19 Looking For A Friend*

20 Round And Round*

21 Waiting For The Man*

Recorded live to 2 track tape.

David Bowie – vocals, acoustic guitar, piano

Mick Ronson – guitars, backing vocals

Trevor Bolder – bass guitar

Woody Woodmansey – drums

Tom Parker – piano

CD 4:

ALTERNATIVE MIXES, SINGLES AND VERSIONS

BOWPROMO mixes

1 Oh! You Pretty Things

2 Eight Line Poem

3 Kooks

4 Queen Bitch

5 Quicksand

6 Bombers – Andy Warhol intro.

Produced by Ken Scott (assisted by The Actor)

Recorded by Ken Scott at Trident Studios, London

7 Lightning Frightening (aka The Man)*

Produced by David Bowie. Engineered by Ken Scott

Recorded on 23rd April, 1971, Trident Studios, London

8 Amsterdam (early mix)

Produced by David Bowie and Ken Scott

Recorded and engineered by Ken Scott at Trident Studios, London

9 Changes (mono single)

10 Andy Warhol (full length mono single)

Produced by Ken Scott (assisted by The Actor)

Recorded by Ken Scott at Trident Studios, London

11 Amsterdam (single b-side mix)

Produced by David Bowie and Ken Scott

Recorded and engineered by Ken Scott at Trident Studios, London

12 Life On Mars? (2016 mix)

Produced by David Bowie and Ken Scott

Recorded and engineered by Ken Scott at Trident Studios, London

Mixed by Ken Scott at Abbey Road Studios, London on 12th April, 2016

2021 mixes

13 Changes (2021 alternative mix)

14 Life On Mars? (original ending version)*

15 Quicksand (2021 mix – early version)*

16 Fill Your Heart (2021 alternative mix)*

17 Bombers (2021 alternative mix)*

18 Song For Bob Dylan (2021 alternative mix)*

19 The Bewlay Brothers (2021 alternative mix)*

Produced by David Bowie and Ken Scott

Recorded and engineered by Ken Scott at Trident Studios, London

Mixed by Ken Scott, October/November 2021

BLU-RAY AUDIO

All PCM Stereo 96kHz/24bit except ‘Life On Mars?’ (2016 mix):

DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and PCM Stereo 96kHz/24bit

HUNKY DORY 2015 REMASTER

1 Changes

2 Oh! You Pretty Things

3 Eight Line Poem

4 Life On Mars?

5 Kooks

6 Quicksand

7 Fill Your Heart

8 Andy Warhol

9 Song For Bob Dylan

10 Queen Bitch

11 The Bewlay Brothers

Produced by Ken Scott (assisted by The Actor)

Recorded by Ken Scott at Trident Studios, London

A DIVINE SYMMETRY (AN ALTERNATIVE JOURNEY THROUGH HUNKY DORY)

1 Changes (2021 alternative mix)

2 Oh! You Pretty Things (BOWPROMO mix)

3 Eight Line Poem (BOWPROMO mix)

4 Life On Mars? (original ending version)*

5 Kooks (BOWPROMO mix)

6 Quicksand (2021 mix – early version)

7 Fill Your Heart (2021 alternative mix)*

8 Bombers (2021 alternative mix)*

9 Andy Warhol (original mix)*

10 Song For Bob Dylan (2021 alternative mix)*

11 Queen Bitch (BOWPROMO mix)

12 The Bewlay Brothers (2021 alternative mix)*

2, 3, 5, 9 and 11

Produced by Ken Scott (assisted by The Actor)

Recorded, engineered, and mixed by Ken Scott at Trident Studios, London

1, 4, 6–8, 10 and 12

Produced by David Bowie and Ken Scott

Recorded and engineered by Ken Scott at Trident Studios, London

Mixed by Ken Scott, October/November, 2021

Bonus mix

13 Life On Mars? (2016 mix)

Produced by David Bowie and Ken Scott

Recorded and engineered by Ken Scott at Trident Studios, London

Mixed by Ken Scott at Abbey Road Studios, London on 12th April, 2016

SOUNDS OF THE 70S: BOB HARRIS

14 The Supermen

15 Oh! You Pretty Things

16 Eight Line Poem

17 Kooks*

18 Fill Your Heart*

19 Amsterdam*

20 Andy Warhol*

Session recorded at Kensington House, Shepherds Bush, London, Studio T1 for BBC Radio on 21st September 1971 and broadcast 4th October, 1971

A DIVINE SYMMETRY (AN ALTERNATIVE JOURNEY THROUGH HUNKY DORY) VINYL LP

Side 1

1 Changes (2021 alternative mix) (3.38)

2 Oh! You Pretty Things (BOWPROMO mix) (3.12)

3 Eight Line Poem (BOWPROMO mix) (2.52)

4 Life On Mars? (original ending version) (4.01)

5 Kooks (BOWPROMO mix) (2.53)

6 Quicksand (2021 mix – early version) (5.01)

Side 2

7 Fill Your Heart (2021 alternative mix) (3.12)

8 Bombers (2021 alternative mix) (2.42)

9 Andy Warhol (original mix)

10 Song For Bob Dylan (2021 alternative mix) (4.22)

11 Queen Bitch (BOWPROMO mix) (3.16)

12 The Bewlay Brothers (2021 alternative mix) (5.26)

2, 3, 5, 9 and 11

Produced by Ken Scott (assisted by The Actor)

Recorded, engineered, and mixed by Ken Scott at Trident Studios, London

1, 4, 6 – 8, 10 and 12

Produced by David Bowie and Ken Scott

Recorded and engineered by Ken Scott at Trident Studios, London

Mixed by Ken Scott, October/November, 2021

DAVID BOWIE

DIVINE SYMMETRY

4CD/BLU-RAY AND DIGITAL BOX SET

RELEASED ON 25TH NOVEMBER, 2022

INCLUDES 48 EXCLUSIVE PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED TRACKS

A DIVINE SYMMETRY

(AN ALTERNATIVE JOURNEY THROUGH HUNKY DORY)

VINYL LP AVAILABLE 24th FEBRUARY, 2023

KOOKS single available 28th September

“Remember how they messed up this old fool...”

‘KOOKS’, recorded by Bowie and guitarist Mick Ronson for the BBC’s Sounds Of The 70s presented by Bob Harris is available from 28th September (are you there yet?) as a download and streaming single.

It was recorded at Kensington House, Shepherds Bush, London, Studio T1 for BBC Radio on 21st September, 1971 and broadcast on 4th October, 1971.

This is a first tease of the upcoming Divine Symmetry set. Stay tuned for further details shortly.

‘KOOKS (BBC SOUNDS OF THE 70s WITH BOB HARRIS)’ SINGLE AVAILABLE 28th SEPTEMBER TO STREAM AND DOWNLOAD

#BowieDivineSymmetry #BowieKOOKS

Moonage Daydream is here

“Five, four, three, two, one...LIFT OFF!!!”

With MOONAGE DAYDREAM launching officially today at various venues at different times, please use these links to locate your nearest screening.

If you’re in the US or Canada head to WWW.MOONAGEDAYDREAM.FILM

If you’re outside the US or Canada visit WWW.BOWIEMOONAGEDAYDREAM.COM

Both pages will continue to be updated with new showtimes.

#BowieMoonageDaydreamFilm

Next Day Extra EP 12" for Black Friday

“Now I wish today that yesterday was just tomorrow…” *

Legacy Recordings has announced that David Bowie’s The Next Day Extra EP will be released on November 25th for Black Friday 2022.

This RSD exclusive will be available as a 7-track 33 1/3rd black vinyl 12".

Here’s the tracklisting...

Side A

1. Atomica – 4:05

2. Love Is Lost (Hello Steve Reich Mix by James Murphy for the DFA) – 10:25

3. The Informer – 4:31

Side B

1. I’d Rather Be High (Venetian Mix) – 3:49

2. Like A Rocket Man – 3:29

3. Born In A UFO – 3:02

4. God Bless The Girl – 4:10

This is the same as the digital EP released in November 2013, which was itself an edited version of the 10-track bonus disc from The Next Day Extra, which also included Plan, I'll Take You There and So She.

The image of DB with Thin White Duke puppet was taken by Jimmy King during the session for the making of the video for Love Is Lost (Hello Steve Reich Mix by James Murphy for the DFA).

* Give yourself five points if you know which song today’s lyric quotation is from.

#BowieBlackFriday2022 #BowieTNDExtraEP

D.J. (MOONAGE DAYDREAM MIX)

“I’ve got believers...”

Released on Friday 9th September, you’ve no doubt stumbled upon D.J. (MOONAGE DAYDREAM MIX) already.

Keep reading for the press release or just check it out now.

#BowieMoonageDaydreamFilm #BowieMoonageDaydreamAlbum

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DAVID BOWIE – D.J. (MOONAGE DAYDREAM MIX)

TAKEN FROM 'MOONAGE DAYDREAM’ THE COMPANION ALBUM TO THE CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED FILM BY BRETT MORGEN

FEATURING UNHEARD VERSIONS, LIVE TRACKS & MIXES CREATED EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE FILM

RELEASED BY ISO RECORDS/PARLOPHONE

DIGITALLY 16th SEPTEMBER

2CD 18th NOVEMBER

3LP TO FOLLOW IN 2023

***** THE GUARDIAN, ***** THE TELEGRAPH, ‘ASTOUNDING’ VOGUE

HEAR DJ (MOONAGE DAYDREAM MIX) NOW

PRE-SAVE / PRE-ORDER THE ALBUM HERE

9th September, 2022, With just one week until the release of MOONAGE DAYDREAM, the critically acclaimed film by Brett Morgen, Parlophone Records is proud to announce the second track to be taken from the musical accompaniment ‘D.J.’ (MOONAGE DAYDREAM MIX).

Initially released as a single in Summer 1979 as the follow up to ‘BOYS KEEP SWINGING’ from the album LODGER, ‘D.J.’ is one of Bowie’s most adventurous singles featuring discordant violin and improvised guitar solos that were made up on the spot without the player having heard the track in advance. This exclusive and unique mix that features in MOONAGE DAYDREAM and on its companion album focuses on the song’s instrumental groove, offering an insight into the art funk foundation of the track.

Coming to cinemas this month, MOONAGE DAYDREAM illuminates the life and genius of David Bowie, one of the most prolific and influential artists of our time. Told through sublime, kaleidoscopic, never-before-seen footage, performances and music, Brett Morgen’s (The Kid Stays in the Picture, Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck, Jane) feature length experiential cinematic odyssey explores David Bowie’s creative, musical and spiritual journey. The film is guided by David Bowie’s own narration and is the first officially sanctioned film on the artist.

The companion album to MOONAGE DAYDREAM features songs spanning Bowie’s career and includes previously unheard material, unique mixes created for the film and this release, along with dialogue from Bowie himself.

Highlights include a previously unreleased live medley of 'THE JEAN GENIE / LOVE ME DO / THE JEAN GENIE’ recorded live at the final Ziggy Stardust concert at Hammersmith Odeon in 1973, featuring Jeff Beck on guitar. Other rarities include an early version of the HUNKY DORY favourite ‘QUICKSAND’ and a previously unreleased live version of ‘ROCK ’N’ ROLL WITH ME’ from the legendary 1974 ’Soul Tour’.

The first track to be released was ‘MODERN LOVE’ (MOONAGE DAYDREAM MIX), one of Bowie’s biggest and best-loved worldwide hits. This version is a unique mix starting with the isolated piano motif from the track, building up into the chorus before ending on the a cappella backing vocals offering an insight into the individual elements that create the classic we all know and love.

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Bowie’s acting career celebrated by IOM Post Office

“I'd love to get a letter …”

The headline says it all, keep reading for the full press release.

Meanwhile, purchase link here: iompost.com/Bowie

#BowieBarnbrook #BowieStamps #BowieIOMstamps

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Media release: 7 September 2022

David Bowie’s Acting Career Celebrated by Isle of Man Post Office

The new ‘David Bowie: Actor’ collection of eight stamps including Labyrinth, The Man Who Fell to Earth and Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence, goes on sale 12 September

David Bowie’s acting career is to be celebrated with a set of eight postage stamps from the Isle of Man Post Office. The ‘David Bowie: Actor’ stamps, which go into circulation from 12 September, honour five Bowie films as well as his Broadway performance in The Elephant Man, the BBC television adaptation of Bertolt Brecht's play Baal and a special stamp titled ‘The Final Portrait’ which shows Bowie in his last photoshoot.

The stamp set and additional products have been designed by multi award-winning designer Jonathan Barnbrook who collaborated closely with Bowie, designing all his album releases since the 2002 album Heathen to his last album named ★ (Blackstar) in 2016. He was also artistic adviser and part designer of the Victoria and Albert Museum exhibition ‘David Bowie Is’. Barnbrook received two Grammy nominations for his David Bowie covers, winning one of them for ★.

The David Bowie acting performances featured in the stamp collection are his roles as Bernie in Everybody Loves Sunshine (filmed on the Isle of Man in early 1998), Jareth the Goblin King in Labyrinth, Major Jack Celliers in Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence, the title role in Baal, John Merrick in The Elephant Man, Paul Ambrosius von Przygodski in Just a Gigolo and Thomas Jerome Newton in The Man Who Fell to Earth.

Produced in the 75th anniversary year of the birth of David Bowie, and also marking 40 years since the BBC television adaptation of the play Baal, the stamps and other related products will be part of a wider presentation pack, also designed by Barnbrook.

Jonathan Barnbrook commented, “I started working on the ‘David Bowie: Actor’ stamp collection several years ago, and in that time, an incredible amount of work has been done to get this collection to where it is now, and to be something the fans will be happy with. I worked with Bowie for over thirteen years on his record covers and the team at the Isle of Man Post Office saw the level of detail that I go to, the kind of knowledge I have, and the efforts I would make to ensure these stamps were right.

I didn’t want to create just another series of nice pictures of David Bowie from record covers. The stamps had to have a connection to the Isle of Man, which is where Everybody Loves Sunshine comes in, but they also needed to show something about Bowie’s career that hadn’t been fully explored, which is why we concentrated on his achievements as an actor. There are the films that everyone knows about, but there have been some incredible acting milestones which are less discussed, particularly his performance on stage in The Elephant Man, and Baal, where Bowie managed to bring together both the avant-garde and the mainstream in one character performance.”

Mark Kermode, Chief Film Critic for The Observer added, “Perhaps my favourite Bowie performance was in the 1982 TV production of Baal, not least because everyone I knew at school watched it go out on the BBC, and then spent the next few days talking of nothing but Bertolt Brecht! Bowie had that power to inspire – to take on different roles, explore different characters, and (crucially) to take his audience with him. We were all grateful to be part of his journey; a journey reflected in this fine collection of Manx stamps.”

The Isle of Man Post Office has paid tribute to performers before, and last November it published a seven-stamp Sir Barry Gibb set, which celebrated the musical career and charitable work of the singer/ songwriter/ producer, who is famously from the Isle of Man.

Explaining the decision for the tribute to Bowie, Maxine Cannon of Isle of Man Post Office said: “For five decades David Bowie was at the forefront of contemporary culture, and has influenced successive generations of musicians, artists, designers and writers. The Isle of Man Post Office’s stamp issue celebrates this unique figure and some of his many celebrated personas. We are incredibly proud to present David Bowie as an actor in this set of eight stamps spanning fifty years of his remarkably varied career. The set also celebrates his performance in Everybody Loves Sunshine, filmed on the Isle of Man.”

Additional products available to purchase include the ‘BowieBox’ which contains a full-colour prestige stamp booklet in which Nicholas Pegg, one of the world’s leading authorities on the life and work of David Bowie and author of The Complete David Bowie, places Bowie’s film and stage career in context with commentary on all eight of the commemorative stamp subjects. The box is completed by a set of nine deluxe stampcards. Sets of the special stamps, presentation packs, commemorative sheetlets, first day covers and related products can be pre-ordered from the Isle of Man Post Office now: iompost.com/Bowie

By courtesy of Perryscope Productions, LLC / Epic Rights, LLC

Stamps:

• Final Portrait, 2016 73 pence. An image from David Bowie's last photoshoot, done to promote his new album ★ (Blackstar), shows the star dressed in a black fedora hat and suit and wearing a confident smile.

• Everybody Loves Sunshine, 1999 73 pence. A British independent film written and directed by Andrew Goth and starring Rachel Shelley, David Bowie and Goldie. Set in Manchester, but filmed and produced on the Isle of Man. It was released in the United States as B.U.S.T.E.D.

• Labyrinth, 1986 £1.04. Bowie was first sought out by Jim Henson to feature in Labyrinth in summer 1984, when he was in America as part of his Serious Moonlight tour. Bowie recorded his songs for the film's soundtrack prior to the start of filming in April 1985.

• Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence, 1983 £1.04. Seen by many as Bowie’s most memorable turn in a motion picture. A poignant tale of four men at a Japanese prisoner of war camp during World War Two, it addresses cultural differences between opposing combatants as it draws towards a climactic Christmas Eve in the tropics. The film was nominated for the Palme d’Or at Cannes upon release.

• Baal, 1982 £1.38. Bowie took the title role of a BBC television adaptation of Bertolt Brecht’s play Baal. The titular protagonist is a drunken poet, iconoclast and womaniser, whose decline is charted over the course of the play.

• The Elephant Man, 1980 £1.38. From July 1980 to January 1981 in New York, David Bowie played the part of the real-life eighteenth-century character Joseph “John” Merrick in Bernard Pomerance's 1977 play The Elephant Man, which was directed by Jack Hofsiss.

• Just a Gigolo, 1978 £1.75. Bowie’s second lead role was directed by British actor David Hemmings and wasn’t a success. Unlike Bowie’s previous film The Man Who Fell to Earth, Just A Gigolo disappeared without a trace and was only made available in the UK for the first time in 2021 on Blu-ray.

• The Man Who Fell to Earth, 1976 £1.75. Based on Walter Tevis's 1963 novel of the same name, the film follows an extra-terrestrial (Thomas Jerome Newton, played by Bowie) who crash lands on Earth seeking a way to ship water to his planet, which is suffering from a severe drought, but finds himself at the mercy of human vices and corruption.

ENDS

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