David Bowie in the 1970s, not a man destined to make old bones – or so we thought. Photograph: Michael Ochs Archives
It’s a cliche when a rock star reaches 65 to mention the time when it didn’t look like they’d make pensionable age, but with David Bowie who marks the milestone on Sunday, it’s almost unavoidable. Look at a picture of him in the mid-70s, when he was ravaged by cocaine, living off a diet of red peppers and milk and so paranoid that he apparently kept his own urine in a fridge lest persons unknown steal it: this is not a man destined to make old bones.
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The artist who drew a decisive, iconoclastic dividing line between the 60s and the 70s in the lyrics of All The Young Dudes (“my brother’s at home with his Beatles and his Stones … what a drag”), Bowie’s music was never about nostalgia, always the present, or, even better, the future. Furthermore, the playing the-big-hits gigs are about creating a warm, communal glow of recognition among the audience and Bowie’s music was never about that either. There was almost always something distant, aloof, other about it, even when it sounded like it was speaking directly to the listeners. “You’re not alone, give your hands, you’re wonderful,” he cried at the end of 1972′s Rock ‘N’ Roll Suicide, the collective we’re-all-in-this-together sentiment undercut by the fact that it was sung by Bowie in the guise of someone else: he’s playing a role.
Displaying a chameleon like talent for reinvention, Bowie has experimented with every musical genre imaginable, from pop and rock via electronica, jazz and even drum n bass. Cited as an influence on every major rock musician over the last 20 years, Bowie’s talismanic presence has cast a vast shadow over popular music. His musical silence since 2004′s Reality LP only adds to his mystique.
David Bowie is one of my favorite performers. I am sure many of you have favorite Bowie tunes…here is an article written by Twinkle VanWinkle:
According to the laws of our universe, he will turn 65 on Jan. 8. In reality, I don’t think I am expert enough to say that somewhere out there he might be celebrating his celestial existence in a much more dramatic way.
But on earth, we can thank our heavenly stars that he fell into our alternate universe 65 years ago in his first incarnation, as wild-eyed David Robert Jones in Brixton, London.
Over the course of the last 40 odd years, his musical ingenuity has influenced millions of performers, broken gender barriers and ch-ch-changed the face of popular music in many ways.
Between name changes, costume changes and musical innovation, he still remains an ongoing icon of evolution with the power to still blow our minds after all these years.
That link has many video clips from various interviews and performances over the years…take a look.
For your viewing pleasure here are some awesome images, check out this gallery
Kevin Cann’s Any Day Now is a visual chronology of the early life and career of David Bowie, from his birth in London in 1947 to his departure from the UK in 1974. With a wealth of information, rare photographs and memorabilia, it also includes the most concise listing of Bowie performances ever published.
delurking yet again – I’ve always been partial to David Bowie, but why doesn’t the man age?
The trailer from a movie that made a lasting impression on me – Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence.
The Sky Dancing banner headline uses a snippet from a work by artist Tashi Mannox called 'Rainbow Study'. The work is described as a" study of typical Tibetan rainbow clouds, that feature in Thanka painting, temple decoration and silk brocades". dakinikat was immediately drawn to the image when trying to find stylized Tibetan Clouds to represent Sky Dancing. It is probably because Tashi's practice is similar to her own. His updated take on the clouds that fill the collection of traditional thankas is quite special.
You can find his work at his website by clicking on his logo below. He is also a calligraphy artist that uses important vajrayana syllables. We encourage you to visit his on line studio.
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I tried to find a good video to Cat People, one of my favorites…but could only find this:
David Bowie was a fav of my when I was at university. I used to listen to Ziggy Stardust all the time!
I gotta tell you Dak, today has been a fabulous day for post! Kudos to you, BB and Peggy!
one of my favorites:
Minx:when you’ve got pols like Rick Santorum, it’s like shooting fish in a barrel …he’s a sick mofo!
You are right Dak…
I am definitely noticing a bit more flowery tone in the comments lately. (These assholes are really getting us worked up….and with good reason.)
Y’all did a wonderful job today.
delurking yet again – I’ve always been partial to David Bowie, but why doesn’t the man age?
The trailer from a movie that made a lasting impression on me – Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence.
I know what you mean, like this image from Prestige…
Suffragette City is one of my favorite Bowie songs. It really brings back some memories!
I love it too!
Good news …
Texas Teen Deported to Colombia Reunites With Mom
Thanks Ralph…I am so glad she is home. Maybe now we can get to the bottom of all this.
BTW, I just ordered Charlie Price book Idiot America on my Kindle…thanks for turning me on to him.
great thread thanks