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David Bowie
Jan. 8, 1947
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Artistfacts:
| He says his mind is "Like Swiss cheese" from abusing drugs. He kicked the drug habit and eventually quit cigarettes. |
| In 1971, he announced he was bisexual in the English magazine Melody Maker. He did it in character of Ziggy Stardust, however, and later explained that he could say things like that as Ziggy because he was less inhibited. |
| His birth name is David Jones. He changed it in 1966 to avoid confusion with Davy Jones of The Monkees. |
| He used to be a mime. |
| He has a son from his first wife named Zowie whose name was later changed to Joey. |
| Bowie is married to model Iman. They have a daughter together. |
| Bowie was one of the first artists to realize the power of the Internet. He programed 3 Internet radio stations on his website. Two were available only to members, the other played kids' songs inspired by his daughter, Alexandria. |
| When he was a student at an English art school, one of his teachers was Peter Frampton's father. |
| Bowie met his first wife, Angela, at a King Crimson concert in 1969. She would later sue Bowie for $56 million. |
| When he divorced Angela in 1980, she signed a 10-year gag order prohibiting her from talking about Bowie. When the order expired in 1990, she went on The Joan Rivers Show (it was on Fox before Arsenio Hall took over the time slot), and claimed she once found Bowie and Mick Jagger in bed together, naked. Bowie and Jagger strongly denied the story. |
| After a visit from Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page, Bowie exorcised his house. Bowie believed Page brought poltergeists to the place. |
| His eyes are both blue. However, one pupil is permanently dilated and as a result, one eye looks darker than the other. Bowie was injured after being stabbed with a compass by a friend in a fight over a girl. (thanks, Ram Dass - San Francisco, CA) |
| In 1983, he portrayed John, a vampire who ages in the movie The Hunger with Catherine Deneuve and Susan Sarandon. Also in 1983, he played Major Jack Celliers in the move Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence. Other movies he's appeared in include Martin Scorsese's Last Temptation Of Christ and Jim Henson's Labyrinth. He also sang in Labyrinth and wrote songs for it. (thanks, tiga - Mount Carmel, PA and Jane - Cortland, NY) |
| He once roomed with Iggy Pop in a small apartment in Berlin. (thanks, Bryan - Philadelphia, PA) |
| Bowie wrote and recorded a soundtrack to The Man Who Fell To Earth in demo form with Paul Buckmaster but it was turned down in favor of a more bluesy Americana soundtrack put together by John Philips. Bowie's original soundtrack (rumored to contain the blueprints to one or two of his released songs) is one of the most sought after rarities by his fans. |
| He was asked to play the villain in the James Bond movie A View To A Kill, but turned it down. The role was eventually given to Christopher Walken. |
| Stevie Ray Vaughn was David Bowie's original guitar player for the 1983 Serious Moonlight tour, but due to conflicts between management he left, and guitarist Earl Slick learned the show in 3 days to replace Vaughn. |
| Bowie began writing and composing the music to a musical version of George Orwell's 1984 but this was scrapped due to the Orwell estate's refusal to give authorization. Some of the songs turned up on the Diamond Dogs album, where there is a strong 1984 theme, especially on songs like "Big Brother" and "We Are The Dead" (based on a line from the book). Several other outtakes have circulated that were apparently intended for the musical. (thanks, Charlie - Stittstown, Canada, for above 4) |
| Terry Burns, who was his mother's son from a previous marriage, was severely schizophrenic. He jumped out of a window where he was institutionalized, which was a successful suicide attempt after some failed attempts. Bowie didn't attend the funeral because he didn't want his brother's funeral turned into a media frenzy. He wrote a song about his brother's struggle with his illness called "Jump They Say." (thanks, Sam - Earth) |
| He appears in the 2001 movie Zoolander judging a "Walkoff" between Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson. (thanks, micah - huntington beach, CA) |
| Bowie's half-brother, Terry Burns, unsuccessfully attempted suicide by jumping from a window in the hospital in which he lived. He succeeded in killing himself sometime later after escaping the grounds of the hospital, finding some railroad tracks, and simply waited for a train to come, with his head on the rail. (thanks, Nick - Santa Maria, CA) |
| He played John Merrick in the Broadway play The Elephant Man in 1980. (thanks, Bertrand - Paris, France) |
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Comments:
| I dont know where to began on this man, I guess when I fell in love with him about a year ago He was 'jareth' in the first movie i saw of him. just as jin henson said he was 'leather-boy, very much 'grims fairytale' but underneath very romantic. he must be a very romantic guy. by far the most interesting man I've ever herd speak. I'd love to meet him but i'm afraid to, not because he's david bowie (the superstar) just because Im afraid of what I feel. - non o fyour business, aroundtown, OH |
| I cannot say enough about this sexy, handsome, gifted and golden-voiced gentleman. His sound and music style has changed throughout the decades but has been consistent in its excellence -- from the early years to Ziggy to Berlin/Eno to Let's Dance, Tonight, and Never Let me Down to Tin Machine to the present, Mr. Bowie has remained a beautiful and talented fellow whose voice and music is unparalleled. Face of an angel, voice to match, and tunes that stick in the brain, please the ear, and leave the mind blown. Long live the Thin White Duke - Rayna, Pembroke pines, FL |
| I saw david bowie concert back in 2004(the very first time i've seen his concert) when he came to sydney and he was so awesome and still handsome at his age(he was 57 i think) and i've been his idol since i was in my early teens back in the early 70's.All i can say is boy he can still sing the same as he did back then.And I wish he could come back to sydney to do another concert and i love to get his autograph to be remembered by him.And he will keep on singing till he's ready to hang up his guitar and there will never be another ZIGGY STARDUST ON EARTH AND HE IS OUR LEDGEND OF ROCK AND ROLL,FOREVER. - glenda, sydney, Australia |
| Duncan's other name: Zowie was inspired by the Classical Greek rendering of a word for life, roughy, zoe...hence Zowie. Specifically the 'breath' of life. - Nick, Santa Maria, CA |
| I just wanna say Happy Birthday Duncan or whatever you choose to call yourself. My son Jamie aka Chunka aka James aka Will shares your birthday. Must be something about Geminis and their names. Ya think? i have a daughter who loves David Bowie and she has passed it on to her 2 daughters aged 4 &5 who love Labyrnith and Gene genie to mention a couple. I think we are the world's biggest Bowie fans and wish Duncan all the best for his future. To marlow perth you are full of sh*t mate don't knock Bowie . you don't know what you are talking about - gail, lismore, Australia |
| ok iknow this is a page about Bowie facts but pleeeeeze lay off the Terry Burns sh*t and concentrate on the talent and the music for which I for one am forever grateful. Keep up the good work Dave You lift me up when i am down. One of my favourites I used to play when going through Chemo was The Prettiest Star which was dedicated to my grandaughter Sophie who along with you music kept me alive. 4 years an still here. Thanks mate - gail, lismore, Australia |
| Terry Burns was imortalised as 'Aladine Sane' - Brian Pomeroy, London, United States |
| Oh dear, a page about David Bowie where no one knows anything about David Bowie!!!! What a lot of mis-information e.g.
"Terry Burns, who was his mother's son from a previous marriage, was severely schizophrenic. He jumped out of a window where he was institutionalized, which was a successful suicide attempt after some failed attempts."
Actually, he threw himself in front of a train.
"David's sons full name including press name and all that is something like Duncan Zowie "Joey" Haywood Bowie Jones."
His name is Duncan Zowie Haywood Jones.
"the song Space Oddity is actually making fun of a movie in the late 60s called Space Oddysey"
The film was called '2001 a Space Odyssey', and since it's one of Bowie favourite films I doubt he was making fun of it.
"he was a student at an English art school"
He was never at art school. He was at secondary school, and art was one of the subjects he studied.
Need I go on? The correct info is freely available on the net so there really was no excuse for all these errors.
Appalling!!!!
- Steve, London, England |
| The following is not true: "David Bowie's first TV appearance had nothing to do with music. He appeared on UK's 'Tonight' show in 1965 in his capacity as the founder member of 'The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Long-Haired Boys'" He was on TV with his band at the time (whose name escapes me) and used this tangent as a publicity stunt after they had performed on the show. - Angelique, Allentown, PA |
| Rock on David!!Your's good now as when I first heard ya in the early 70's:)!!! - david, ALEXANDRIA, IN |
| I just noticed David Bowie was born on Elvis Presley's 12th brthday. - Mike, Germantown, MD |
| dose anybody still come to this site?
- Jaime, marshall, MI |
| i love david bowie. he is like 58 and im only 13 but i dont care.is it true that he is married to a young model? has anybody on this site ever met him? dose anybody know if he still dose concerts in england. please answer my ?'s. - Jaime, marshall, MI |
| David Bowie is the greatest singer/actor ever. i love him so much.i am only 13 but i know who he is i have even sent him fan letter. one inviting him to my b-day.am i crazy that he will reply? - Jaime, marshall, MI |
| Genius
- Ben, NYC, MS |
| George Underwood is a childhood friend of Bowie's who played in early Bowie groups and eventually became a commerical artist/illustrator. He was involved in the design of the album sleeves for HUNKY DORY (1971) and THE RISE AND FALL OF ZIGGY STARDUST AND THE SPIDERS FROM MARS (1972)
Underwood IS also responsible for Bowie's famous paralysed left pupil - which leaves him with what appeared to be different coloured eyes (due to light refraction) and pupil size - caused by a punch during a childhood fight over the same girl.
- solaris, Athens, Greece |
| David's sons full name including press name and all that is something like Duncan Zowie "Joey" Haywood Bowie Jones. I think...not positive...that he (Duncan) is a philosophy major or something similar. Angie was the one who wanted to name him Zowie, supposedly beccause it means something spiritual in an african language. But what kind of a cruel coincidence is that? Zowie Bowie....Besides, the press was calling him Joey and that is his nickname, but his real first name is Duncan. Haywood was David's father's name and Duncan's second middle name. - Sam, Earth unfortunately |
| Bowie was also in the movie "The Hunger". - Donna, Omaha, NE |
| I think that the story that Lennon was involved in the making of "Young Americans" was a myth?BTW that is the most misunderstood,beautiful LP of all time,his vocals on "Right" are the most gorgeous he has ever done,and that is taking into consideration that he is also responsible for "Diamond Dogs" and "Hunky Dory" and "The Man Who Sold The World " and................... - Jenny, Hereford, England |
| bowie is one of the best artists of all time and i recon that a hundred years his music won't be forgotten because it's so good and cool - tom, harrogate, England |
| John Lennon played guitar on david bowie's cover of "Across The Universe", didn't he? - Stefanie magura, Rock Hill, SC |
| No, not the original "Across The Universe" but a cover that appeared on David's Young Americans album that featured John Lennon. - Charlie, Stittstown, Canada |
| Is it true that Bowie was involved in "Across the Universe"? Im a HUGE Beatles fan and I never ever heard of that anywhere. I know that Lennon recorded and performed stuff with Elton John, and have heard that Elton John had connections to Bowie. If you listen to Lennon's "Whatever Gets You Through the Night" compared to say "Fashion" you might sort of understand this indirect influence. I am still sort of sceptical about the "Across the universe" thing. - lexie, st. louis, MO |
| David Bowie also had a bit part in the movie Yellowbeard - James, West Hills, CA |
| David Bowie is quite clearly a legend, and he makes me proud to be British.
- Jessica, London, England |
| This tends to be a common misconception here. John Lennon did not produce Young Americans. He and Bowie recorded and produced two songs together that ended up on the album (Fame and Across The Universe), and that's the farthest the two ever worked together. - Charlie, Stittstown, Canada |
| bowie is great but not without the long time infuince of john lennon and his production of many songs including young american! - david, plano, TX |
| It was last summer when I really found Bowie and his music in a gig. It was a thrill. I just can't understand how I have managed to avoid his wonderful songs before. I can really say that he's a real musician and an idol of mine - the first in my life actually. - Saara, Eura, Finland |
| Bowie... one of the most complete artists in the World... yesterday, today and tomorrow! No matter what he does... - Eduardo, Mallorca, Spain |
| When Bowie is good, he is absolutely amazing. When he is bad, he really sucks (witness the mid-to late-80s). But his essential Bowieness transcends all his failures and even successes. Let's face it, the man is just a rock demi-god!
- anita, NYC, NY |
| I love David Bowie! I think he is one of the best singers in the world. His voice is teriffic.And he always sings without playback. And he can play the lot of instruments. I think more singers should give us a high-standard performance like he does. - Jareth, England, United States |
| David Bowie is the best singer in the world. I love him more than anything in the world! - Petra, Tokyo, Japan |
| Okay, David Bowie is sooooooo awsome.he is like 58 but still he is awsome.I saw labrinth and I waz like "oh my gosh he is so hot". - Libby, salt Lake city, UT |
| I saw Bowie in Argentina in 1997, it was great!
- Roma, Buenos Aires, Argentina |
| i remember labrynth it was a pretty good movie, childish, but prety good. the last time i saw it though,i was 10 and had no idea who david bowie was - Charlie, Thomaston, CT |
| The david Bowie song "Something in the Air" was featured in the rolling credits of "Memento" as well as in the memento soundtrack. - Everett, Providence, RI |
| David Bowie's first TV appearance had nothing to do with music. He appeared on UK's 'Tonight' show in 1965 in his capacity as the founder member of 'The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Long-Haired Boys' - Matthew, Nr London, England |
| the song Space Oddity is actually making fun of a movie in the late 60s called Space Oddysey - Ethan, SLC, UT |
| I recently saw David in concert and at 58 (I think) he's still hot and can rock the stage! - Amy, McAlisterville, PA |
| during the film clip "china girl" he was having actual sex with a girl on the beach. her parents tried suing bowie claiming she was a minor. she was 16 - marlow, perth, Australia |
| Zowie Bowie now goe by Joe and is close to his father - Danny, Grass Valley, CA |
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