David Bowie Discussion
Discuss Bowie topics at this message board!
Suggest a Link ...
The Story So Far
David Bowie, born David Robert Jones in 1947, began with rhythm and blues bands in the early- and mid-sixties but saw little success. He played R&B as well as happy pop music and sported a Beatles bowl cut while performing under the name "Davy Jones," which he changed in 1965 due to confusion with Davy Jones of the Monkees. Soon after, he went out on his own and began to experiment with a number of different musical styles.
Space Oddity (released in 1969 under a different title but more well known by its 1972 re-release name), The Man Who Sold the World (1971) and Hunky Dory (1971) gave him a name and set the stage for 1972's The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars , which marked Bowie's place as one of the pioneers of glam rock.
Aladdin Sane, Diamond Dogs, and the cover-album Pinups followed. In 1975 he released Young Americans, which featured "Fame," a collaboration with John Lennon, and returned him to his R&B roots. After his next album, Station to Station, stardom began to take its toll, and drugged- and freaked-out Bowie retreated to Berlin in 1977 to record with Brian Eno.
Low, Heroes and Lodger explored the more experimental side of Bowie, featuring a number of intense, soul-searching songs and instrumentals. Though spawning few hits, the three albums often referred to as the Eno set were critically acclaimed.
Bowie returned to the mainstream in 1980 with Scary Monsters, before his next release, 1983's Let's Dance. Let's Dance fit in perfectly with the pop of the '80s and was very successful. His two other '80s releases were less successful, but a series of over-the-top tour events kept him in the spotlight. His "Sound and Vision" tour (named for his box set), was meant to be the last time he would play his old songs. He kept true to that for many years as he formed the band Tin Machine and declared himself a member of the band, not David Bowie, superstar (though much of Tin Machine's audience were just hardcore David Bowie fans).
He went solo again in 1993, releasing Black Tie White Noise, a personal album in which he pays tribute both to his then-new wife, Iman, and to his older brother, Terry. That year also saw the original release of The Buddha of Suburbia. The soundtrack to a BBC miniseries was some of Bowie's finest work, showcasing a return to his more experimental sounds. That album also notably features Lenny Kravitz on guitar.
Nineteen ninety-five's Outside, on which he again worked with Brian Eno, continued his experimentation. Nineteen Ninety-Seven's Earthling was a drum 'n' bass fest, and Bowie debuted many of the songs at his 50th birthday concert in Madison Square Garden, which included duets with Lou Reed, Frank Black, Robert Smith, and Billy Corgan. Bowie's latest album, hours..., was released in the U.S. on October 5, 1999. Expect him to tour in support of the album. Bowie and Iman are also expecting a child. Stay tuned for details...
They Love Bowie Too
Kirsty Mather writes: "I'm 19 years old and I adore Bowie. I found him on Labyrinth and watched it every day. My mum got mad and hid it on me. I went to my room and listened to the radio. I hated music then. I was only 10. But then this song came on just before I was about to smash the radio. I loved it so much I waited for the DJ to announce it. He said it was "China Girl" by David Bowie. It sounded familiar. So I went and found the video of Labyrinth and there he was. I fell in love with him and I have even named my first born son after him: Little David Robert Mather.
I want to tell him someday, but I don't think he'll ever come back to Australia."
Shannon Marie writes: "I saw him, first, as a child. It was pure lust, and as I grew, he grew. I learned how to appreciate him as a musician, an actor, an artist, and finally as a normal human being. He's just a regular man who's accomplished a lot. But there isn't anyone like him."
Rebecca Watson writes: "I have loved David from the first time I saw the movie Labyrinth. He will always be the Goblin King in my mind. I love him not only because he's handsome and an awesome singer, but because he's not afaid to be different from everybody else. I love his wierdness. He's everything I wanted to be."
Tell us why you love David Bowie
Melissa writes: "I love David Bowie because he makes very creative music. He isn't afraid to change even if the music industry tell him he is wrong. I hope he is still making music until the day he dies. *Which I hope is a very very long time away.*"
Liza Cochran writes: "DAVID BOWIE!
Because because because because becaaauuuse!
Because of the wonderful things he does!
(BurrrUMpaPapumPapaPUMdeDUM!)"
Heidi Kirjavainen writes: I Love Mr. Bowie becauce: He's the queen of rock 'n' roll, king of pop, prince of glam and glitter rock, chameleon of music ... hey, who else looks so sexy after so many years? Thank U God for giving us David Bowie!!!
Patricia Spice writes: I love David Bowie for his versatility. He can do it all -- go from a quiet rock ballad to a raging rock song in the blink of an eye.
I enjoy his theatrical talents, and think that's where he really spreads his wings. I guess I also like his performance stamina, he's a guy who can go on and on and never bore you.
