David Bowie

NAME David Robert Jones (known professionally as David Bowie)

WHAT FAMOUS FOR David Bowie was famous for being a pioneering singer, songwriter, actor, and producer, known for his eclectic music style, distinctive voice, and innovative alter egos like Ziggy Stardust and the Thin White Duke.

BIRTH David Bowie was born on January 8, 1947, in Brixton, London, England.

FAMILY BACKGROUND Bowie was born to Haywood Stenton "John" Jones, a promotions officer for a children's charity, and Margaret Mary "Peggy" Jones, a waitress. 

He had one half-brother, Terry Burns, who influenced his early interest in music. Grappling with schizophrenia, Terry's struggles inspired several of Bowie's songs, including "All the Madmen" and "Jump They Say." Sadly, Terry lost his battle with mental illness in 1985.

CHILDHOOD Bowie grew up in the London suburb of Bromley. His early interest in music was sparked by his half-brother Terry and fueled by American rock and roll. Bowie began playing the saxophone at the age of 13. He got himself a part-time job as a butcher's delivery boy to pay for the  tuition.

EDUCATION Bowie attended Bromley Technical High School, where he studied art, music, and design. He was taught art by Peter Frampton's father, Owen, for which he got his only O Level. His education provided a foundation for his later creative endeavors.

CAREER RECORD Bowie's career spanned over five decades, beginning in the 1960s with his first hit, "Space Oddity" (1969). He achieved fame with his 1972 album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. Bowie continued to reinvent himself through the 1970s, 1980s, and beyond with albums like Young Americans (1975), Heroes (1977), Let's Dance (1983), and Blackstar (2016). He also acted in films such as The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976) and Labyrinth (1986).

APPEARANCE David Bowie was known for his striking androgynous appearance, with distinctive features including heterochromia (different colored eyes) and a lithe, expressive physicality. His constantly changing hairstyles and flamboyant stage costumes became his trademarks.

Bowie during the Ziggy Stardust Tour, 1972By Rik Walton Flickr

FASHION Bowie was a fashion icon known for his bold and innovative style. He collaborated with designers like Kansai Yamamoto and Alexander McQueen. His looks ranged from the glam rock of Ziggy Stardust to the sophisticated Thin White Duke, influencing fashion trends worldwide.

CHARACTER Bowie was known for his intelligence, creativity, and charisma. He was a private individual but displayed a public persona that was both enigmatic and magnetic, captivating audiences with his performances and interviews.

SENSE OF HUMOUR David Bowie had a sharp and playful sense of humor. He often used wit and irony in his lyrics and interviews, displaying a keen sense of the absurd.

RELATIONSHIPS Bowie married his first wife, Mary Angela "Angie" Barnett, on March 19, 1970 at Bromley Register Office in Bromley, London. The marriage was turbulent and the couple divorced on February 8, 1980. She would later sue Bowie for $56 million. 

They had one child, Duncan Zowie Haywood Jones, who went on to become a successful film director with credits including Moon (2009) and Source Code (2011). 

Bowie married Somalian supermodel Iman in a private ceremony in Lausanne on April 24 1992. The wedding was solemnised in June in Florence. They had one daughter, Alexandria "Lexi" Zahra Jones, born in 2000. Iman has a Bowie knife tattooed on her ankle in tribute to her husband.

Bowie and wife Iman, 2009 by David Shankbone Wikipedia

MONEY AND FAME Bowie's first brush with fame was about as peculiar as you'd expect. In 1964, he popped up on a BBC chat show, not to promote his music, but as a spokesperson for a rather niche organization – The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Long-Haired Boys. Clearly, a man of the people (with excellent hair).

Bowie achieved immense fame and fortune, becoming one of the best-selling music artists of all time. He was known for his savvy business sense, including his innovative "Bowie Bonds," which allowed him to securitize future royalties from his catalog.

FOOD AND DRINK Bowie's dietary habits evolved over time. In his early years, he followed an unorthodox diet, sometimes subsisting on milk, red peppers, and cocaine. Later, he adopted healthier eating habits, particularly during his marriage to Iman, who influenced his appreciation for diverse cuisines.

MUSIC AND ARTS Bowie was a versatile artist, known for his contributions to rock, pop, soul, electronic, and experimental music. He collaborated with other musicians, including Brian Eno, Mick Ronson, and Nile Rodgers. Bowie was also an accomplished painter and art collector.

Before the glitter and the glam, Bowie, then Davie Jones, was just another hopeful teenager strumming a guitar. His first foray into the music biz, a single under the name Davie Jones and the King Bees called "Liza Jane" /"Louie Louie Go Home," landed with a resounding thud in 1964. Not even appearances on trendy shows like Juke Box Jury could nudge it onto the charts. There was a name change in order, both to avoid confusion with a certain Monkee and, Bowie claimed, to reflect a desire to "cut through the lies and all that." Enter the Bowie knife, and with it, David Bowie.

Things weren't exactly smooth sailing from there. The BBC, those bastions of good taste, politely informed Bowie in 1965 that his singing was, well, a bit off. "Amateur sounding vocalist who sings wrong notes and out of tune" was their charming assessment. But Bowie, ever the restless spirit, dabbled in Buddhism for a bit, even contemplating a life as a monk. Thankfully, a wise Lama saw a future in rock and roll, not robes and shaved heads, and nudged Bowie back in the musical direction.

Then came 1969 and "Space Oddity," a song that, quite by accident, became intertwined with the moon landing, thanks to the BBC using it in their coverage. Three years later, "Starman" emerged, a single that would propel Bowie into a whole new stratosphere. Here he was on Top of the Pops, a vision of flaming red hair and a multicolored jumpsuit, strumming a blue guitar and flirting outrageously with his guitarist. Ziggy Stardust had arrived, and the world, utterly bewildered and fascinated, was hooked. This wasn't just music; it was a theatrical explosion, a performance that would inspire a generation of future rock stars.

Across the Atlantic, Bowie finally cracked the American market with "Fame" in 1975, a song co-written and blessed with backing vocals from the legendary John Lennon. He kept shapeshifting, introducing the Thin White Duke persona in 1976, then diving headfirst into electronica with the "Berlin Trilogy" alongside Brian Eno. There were commercial ups and downs, but Bowie remained a critical darling, churning out genre-bending albums like Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) and collaborating with Queen on the iconic "Under Pressure." The 80s saw him achieve mainstream success with the mega-selling "Let's Dance" but Bowie, ever the chameleon, kept surprising audiences.

Bowie's final live performance came in 2006, a duet with Alicia Keys. But his music, his audacity, and his ever-evolving image continue to inspire and enthrall.

His artistic pursuits weren't limited to music. He graced the silver screen in films like The Man Who Fell to Earth and Labyrinth, and even took on the role of the tragic Elephant Man on Broadway, earning plaudits for his raw and powerful performance.

LITERATURE Bowie was an avid reader with a deep love for literature. His favorite books included works by George Orwell, William Burroughs, and Yukio Mishima. Literature often influenced his songwriting and thematic explorations.

NATURE While Bowie was primarily an urbanite, he did express an appreciation for nature, particularly in his later years when he spent time in more tranquil settings, including his home in the Catskills, New York.

HOBBIES AND SPORTS Bowie enjoyed a variety of hobbies, including painting, collecting art, and playing chess. He was also interested in the Internet and digital technology, pioneering the use of online platforms for music distribution.

SCIENCE AND MATHS Bowie had a fascination with science fiction and space, themes that frequently appeared in his music. He was intrigued by the intersection of technology and art, which he explored in various multimedia projects.

Bowie was a pioneer of the digital age. Recognizing the internet's potential way back in 1997, he released a single, "Telling Lies," exclusively online. He even dabbled in internet radio, programming stations on his website, some for members only, and one surprisingly wholesome station playing tunes for the kiddos, inspired by his daughter.

PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY Bowie's work often reflected his interest in philosophy and spirituality. He explored themes of existentialism, identity, and the human condition. Bowie studied various religious and philosophical traditions, including Buddhism and Gnosticism.

Because of Bowie's interest in Buddhism, after his death and cremation, his ashes were scattered in Bali in accordance with Buddhist rituals. 

SCANDAL Bowie's early career was associated with drug use and androgynous performances that challenged societal norms. However, he managed to navigate these scandals and maintain a successful career.

Bowie almost became a victim of a crazed fan. After assassinating John Lennon, Mark Chapman reportedly had Bowie next on his hitlist, even having a ticket for a Bowie performance the following night. Thankfully, that dark turn never came to pass.

MILITARY RECORD  In 1987, Bowie decided to stage a little musical rebellion in West Berlin. With his back to the Berlin Wall, he belted out "Heroes" in German, a powerful plea for freedom that resonated with thousands on the other side. Just a week later, Ronald Reagan, standing near the same spot, uttered those now-iconic words: "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall." Coincidence? Maybe. But it makes for a cracking story, doesn't it? The German Foreign Office even officially recognized Bowie's contribution in 2016.

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS Bowie faced health challenges, including a heart attack in 2004. Despite these issues, he maintained an active lifestyle, particularly in his later years when he focused on his well-being. He battled cancer before his death in 2016.

Bowie's left eye was permanently dilated thanks to a good old-fashioned schoolyard brawl over a girl with his best mate, George Underwood. (Though they remained pals, with Underwood even doing some artwork for Bowie's early albums.)

HOMES Bowie owned several homes, including residences in New York City, London, Los Angeles, and Switzerland. 

In August 1976, Bowie moved to West Berlin to rid himself of his drug addiction and escape the spotlight. He lived at the apartment building at Hauptstraße 155, Schöneberg, Berlin, from 1976 to 1978. 

Bowie's Berlin apartment building by Detmar Owen

His home in Manhattan, which he shared with Iman, was particularly significant to him.

TRAVEL Bowie traveled extensively throughout his career, both for tours and personal exploration. His travels influenced his music and allowed him to experience diverse cultures and artistic movements.

DEATH David Bowie passed away on January 10, 2016, in New York City, from liver cancer. His death came just two days after his 69th birthday and the release of his final album, Blackstar. He was privately cremated shortly after his death without any friends and family present, as per his wishes.

APPEARANCES IN MEDIA Bowie appeared in numerous films, TV shows, and documentaries. His influence extended beyond music into fashion, film, and art. He has been the subject of various biographical works and tributes.

On August 13, 2017, Bowie made a posthumous cameo in the TV series Twin Peaks: The Return. He died before shooting the scene, so director David Lynch used old footage.

ACHIEVEMENTS David Bowie's achievements include 26 studio albums, numerous hit singles, and several Grammy and BRIT Awards. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996 and left a lasting legacy as one of the most innovative and influential artists in modern music history.

At 9 minutes and 57 seconds, David Bowie's 2015 single "Blackstar" held the record as the longest song to reach the US Hot 100 until Tool's 10-minute, 22-second track "Fear Inoculum" entered the chart at #93 on August 17, 2019.

When 15-year-old Madonna attended a David Bowie concert at Cobo Hall in Detroit on June 22, 1974, the experience sparked her musical ambitions.