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David Bowie DiscographySongs ByMember Of
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DiscographyAlbumsBlack tie White Noise [1993] Tin Machine 2 [1991] Tin Machine [1989] Never Let me Down [1987] Labyrinth [1986] Let`s Dance [1983] Christiane F. [1981] Scary Monsters(and Super Creeps) [1980] Lodger [1979] Heroes [1977] Low [1977] Station to Station [1976] David Bowie [1976] Young Americans [1975] Tonight [1974] Diamond Dogs [1974] A Laddin Sane [1973] Pin Ups [1973] The rise and fall of Ziggy Stardust abd the Spiders from Mars [1972] Hunky Dory [1971] The man who sold the World [1970] Space Oddity [1969] |
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David Bowie Biography |
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David Bowie is widely regarded as one of the most influential writers of pop music. Born David Jones, he changed his name to Bowie in the 1960s, to avoid confusion with the then well-known Davy Jones (lead singer of The Monkees).
The 1960s were not a happy period for Bowie, who remained a struggling artist, awaiting his breakthrough. He dabbled in many different styles of music (without commercial success), and other art forms such as acting, mime, painting, and playwriting. He finally achieved his commercial breakthrough in 1969 with the song "Space Oddity," which was released at the time of the moon landing. Despite the fact that the literal meaning of the lyrics relates to an astronaut who is lost in space, this song was used by the BBC in their coverage of the moon landing, and this helped it become such a success. The album, which followed "Space Oddity," and the two, which followed (one of which included the song "The Man Who Sold The World," covered by Lulu and Nirvana) failed to produce another hit single, and Bowie`s career appeared to be in decline. However, he made the first of many successful "comebacks" in 1972 with "Ziggy Stardust," a concept album about a space-age rock star. This album was followed by others in a similar vein, rock albums built around a central character and concerned with futuristic themes of Armageddon, gender dysfunction/confusion, as well as more contemporary themes such as the destructiveness of success and fame, and the dangers inherent in star worship. In the mid 1970s, Bowie was a heavy cocaine abuser and sometime heroin user. In 1975, he changed tack. Musically, he released "Young Americans," a soul (or plastic soul as he later referred to it) album. This produced his first number one hit in the US, "Fame." He also appeared in his first major film, The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976). With his different-colored eyes and skeletal frame, he certainly looked the part of an alien. The following year, he released "Station to Station," containing some of the material he had written for the soundtrack to this film (which was not used). As his drug problem heightened, his behaviour became more erratic. Reports of his insanity started to appear, and he continued to waste away physically. He fled back to Europe, finally settling in Berlin, where he changed musical direction again and recorded three of the most influential albums of all time, an electronic trilogy with Brian Eno "Low, Heroes and Lodger." Towards the end of the 1970s, he finally kicked his drug habit, and recorded the album many of his fans consider his best, the Japanese-influenced "Scary Monsters." Around this time, he played the Elephant Man on Broadway, to considerable acclaim. The next few years saw something of a drop-off in his musical output as his acting career flourished, culminating in his acclaimed performance in Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence (1983). In 1983, he recorded "Let`s Dance," an album which proved an unexpected massive commercial success, and produced his second number 1 hit single in the US. The tour which followed, "Serious Moonlight," was his most successful ever. Faced with this success on a massive scale, Bowie apparently attempted to "repeat the formula" in the next two albums, with less success (and to critical scorn). Finally, in the late 1980s, he turned his back on commercial success and his solo career, forming the hard rock band, Tin Machine, who had a deliberate limited appeal. By now, his acting Biography Credit: www.imdb.com |
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Trivia |
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Trivia and QuotesQuotes "Any list of advice I have to offer to a musician always ends with, `If it itches, go and see a doctor.`" [on getting an honorary degree from Boston`s Berklee College of Music] "I always had a repulsive need to be something more than human." "I don`t know how many times someone has come up to me and said, `Hey, Lets dance!` I hate dancing. God, it`s stupid." "I gave up smoking six months before I had the heart attack - so that was worth it, wasn`t it! I started to give up when my daughter was born because I wouldn`t smoke in the house with her there so I had to go outside. It`s bloody cold in winter in New York, so I just quit." "I know about Kylie (Kylie Minogue) and Robbie (Robbie Williams) and `Pop Idol` and stuff like that. You can`t get away from that when you hit the [British] shore, so I know all about the cruise ship entertainment aspect of British pop." "I once asked [John] Lennon what he thought of what I do. He said `it`s great, but its just rock and roll with lipstick on`." "I rate Morrissey (Steven Patrick Morrissey) as one of the best lyricists in Britain. For me, he`s up there with Bryan Ferry." "It would be my guess that Madonna is not a very happy woman. From my own experience, having gone through persona changes like that, that kind of clawing need to be the center of attention is not a pleasant place to be." - from 1992 "It`s true - I am a bisexual. But I can`t deny that I`ve used that fact very well. I suppose it`s the best thing that ever happened to me. Fun, too." - in 1976 interview with Playboy "I`m an instant star; just add water."Trivia 25 June 2004 - Had an emergency angioplasty in Germany while on his current tour. The remainder of the tour was obviously cancelled. He is consistently listed as one of the richest British born pop stars in the world. Heat magazine listed his earnings for the year 2001 at over $30 million. His song "Life on Mars" was covered by Marillion frontman Steve Hogarth and the H Band on the album "Live Spirit: Live Body" (released 2002). In a 1983 interview with Rolling Stone he revealed that his bi-sexuality was really a sham. He claimed he made the story up to create more mystery about himself. Shares a birthday with 3 other Rock and Roll Hall of Fame members: Elvis Presley, The Doors guitarist Robby Krieger and legendary promoter Bill Graham. He also shares it with director John McTiernan and actress Ami Dolenz. Gave up his 50 cigarettes a day smoking habit in 2004. His son, Duncan (aka Zowie Bowie or Joey), was his best man at his 1992 wedding to Iman. Plays 14 different instruments. Underwent triple heart bypass surgery following a heart attack. [July 2004] Winner of the 1996 Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution. | ||
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