Until the last, David Bowie, who has died of cancer, was still capable of springing surprises. His latest album, Blackstar, appeared on his 69th birthday on 8 January, and showed that his gift for making dramatic statements as well as challenging, disturbing music had not deserted him.

Throughout the 1970s, Bowie was a trailblazer of musical trends and pop fashion. Having been a late-60s mime and cabaret entertainer, he evolved into a singer-songwriter, and a pioneer of glam-rock, then veered into what he called “plastic soul”, before moving to Berlin to create innovative electronic music.

In subsequent decades his influence became less pervasive, but he remained creatively restless and constantly innovative across a variety of media. His capacity for mixing brilliant changes of sound and image underpinned by a genuine intellectual curiosity is rivalled by few in pop history. Blackstar was proof that this curiosity had not diminished in his later career.

At 15, David formed his first band, the Kon-rads, a primitive rock’n’roll combo that contained a fluctuating number of members, including Underwood. He quickly became disillusioned with his band’s lack of ambition and quit to form a new outfit, the blues-influenced King Bees. They released a single called Liza Jane, but when it disappeared without trace, David jumped ship again and joined the Manish Boys. Named after a Muddy Waters track, they too were blues-orientated. Their single I Pity the Fool proved no more chart-friendly than Liza Jane had done, after which the restless Davy Jones was on the move once more.

His next port of call was the Lower Third, an R&B band from Margate, Kent. The group thought they were auditioning for a singer and equal member, but once they had hired David, they were taken aback when he issued a press statement saying: “This is to inform you of the existence of Davie [sic] Jones and the Lower Third.” Moreover, David, abetted by his new manager Ralph Horton, a former tour manager for the Moody Blues, decreed that the band should be decked out in fashionable mod attire, in emulation of the Who. Fellow members of the Lower Third could not help noticing David’s flamboyant, even effeminate performing style. They released a Jones-penned single, the aptly named You've Got a Habit of Leaving, but despite receiving a handful of radio plays, it failed to chart.

It was clear that David's talents and ambition dictated that he should go solo, and Horton provoked a split with the Lower Third by announcing that there was not enough money to pay their fees. David now adopted the name Bowie to avoid confusion with Davy Jones of the Monkees, and put together a new group via an advertisement in Melody Maker, specifying that he wanted musicians "to accompany a singer". The new band was named the Buzz.

Guest Book

Destiny Bowne

January 27, 2021

I enjoy his music so much I wish I could've met him, may he be happy now that he's in a better place.

Cindy Mobbs

Jan 04, 2021

The World doesn't sound as loud, and beautiful any longer without David Bowie. God Bless You In an! I watch you on tv sometimes selling your clothes, and I love your designs!

Joe DeHoyos

Dec 24, 2020

You were a great singer just like the King of Rock n Roll Elvis was. I love your song, golden years that came out in 1975, and I still enjoy it. Your voice was full of power in that song, just like Elvis vocal pipes were strong and thunderous when he sang, hurt in June 1977. It would have been cool if you and Elvis would have met, but you went to his concert at Madison square garden in 1972 in New York.

I remember that. Thanks Mr. Bowie for your contribution to western civilization musical history. My condolences to the family and friends of Me. Bowie for your loss.

Spencer Tracey

November 02, 2020

David Bowie nice men song my parents want his concert years ago my favourite

My parents loved him

Luff Spencer

November 02, 2020

My favourite song too loved him RIP David Bowie

Eva Solomon

February 15, 2020

He was a great singer

Flowers

Songs

Janet Mann

2020-04-16

Song: Avalanche City

Julia M

2020-04-26

Song: Gene Vincent

Alicia Lockhart

2020-05-03

Song: Terez Montcalm

Emojis

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Trees

Stars

E-cards

Samuel Joseph

2020-06-06

Aiden Theodore

2021-10-17

Jack Owen

2020-10-21

Sebastian Matoe

2020-11-11