I was 9 years old when "Fame" hit the radio. Ever since, I have been mesmerized. What a mind-bending genius the man was. Long live the music and memory of David Bowie.
If he never recorded a note I'd still be stricken today. Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence is a great film that stabs me in the heart every time I see it. Gotta watch it again.
Bowie was one of the few self-consciously "cool" musicians that I could still embrace, if not relate to, because... well, because he was so damn good. He earned it.
I've had my head spun around by this guy from the age of about 12. I recall my first glimpse - seeing that now iconic Aladin Sane lightning strike photo which was perplexing and strange and crazy-alluring. Will never forget seeing him on SNL (I think it was '77) - one of THE weirdest things ever, to this day - he and Klaus Nomi in a dress, with some weird blinking robot in the foreground the whole time. I remember later hearing that "the girls" of SNL (Jane Curtain, Gilda, Lorraine) were so ecstatic when they heard who their upcoming guest was to be that they literally screamed and jumped up and down in place together. I remember too, catching a clip of him doing the "DJ" video and "Heroes" videos on some news report - the style, the androgyny were just mind blowing - and that back of the hand lipstick swipe while dressed as Betty Davis was like ... shit! I have a very strong recollection of cutting thru the record department at Lechmere's in Cambridge and hearing the extraordinary and still so eerie and weird "Sound + Vision". "I will sit right down, waiting for the gift of sound and vision". It was unforgettable - that riff, the scary place his voice came from at the start of the song. I'd never heard anything like it in my life. I still find it chilling. First year in high school I picked up a KMart compilation and remained mesmerized/frightened/enthralled. I saw the Ziggy film when it was released to theaters shortly thereafter - went to it by myself as no one my age cared to go - then saw him - my very first live concert - at age 18. Unfortunately it was the Let's Dance tour and he was now playing 55k stadiums so he was miles away while I was nearly crushed on the grass of a ginormous football stadium.
It's been surprisingly hard news to swallow and in fact I've been teary eyed a few times today just in perusing twitter and reading the articles and tributes. There will truly never be another one like him. Such a mindblowing creative force, in all directions. Not to mention the single handed rescuer of the careers of both Iggy Pop and Lou Reed. RIP David. It sucks that you're gone.
Also, now having seen the Starman video, it has to be said that Bowie and his blonde guitarist/collaborator Mick Ronson in that gold lame catsuit were about the two most beautiful men going.
Crazy wild wonderful musician.
Good husband. Good father.
Farewell David.
R.I.P. David.
When you rock 'n' roll with me, No one else I'd rather be. Nobody here can do it for me. I'm in tears again, When you rock 'n' roll with me.
I'm stepping through the door
And I'm floating in a most peculiar way
And the stars look very different today
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=888bgz64…
I've had my head spun around by this guy from the age of about 12. I recall my first glimpse - seeing that now iconic Aladin Sane lightning strike photo which was perplexing and strange and crazy-alluring. Will never forget seeing him on SNL (I think it was '77) - one of THE weirdest things ever, to this day - he and Klaus Nomi in a dress, with some weird blinking robot in the foreground the whole time. I remember later hearing that "the girls" of SNL (Jane Curtain, Gilda, Lorraine) were so ecstatic when they heard who their upcoming guest was to be that they literally screamed and jumped up and down in place together. I remember too, catching a clip of him doing the "DJ" video and "Heroes" videos on some news report - the style, the androgyny were just mind blowing - and that back of the hand lipstick swipe while dressed as Betty Davis was like ... shit! I have a very strong recollection of cutting thru the record department at Lechmere's in Cambridge and hearing the extraordinary and still so eerie and weird "Sound + Vision". "I will sit right down, waiting for the gift of sound and vision". It was unforgettable - that riff, the scary place his voice came from at the start of the song. I'd never heard anything like it in my life. I still find it chilling. First year in high school I picked up a KMart compilation and remained mesmerized/frightened/enthralled. I saw the Ziggy film when it was released to theaters shortly thereafter - went to it by myself as no one my age cared to go - then saw him - my very first live concert - at age 18. Unfortunately it was the Let's Dance tour and he was now playing 55k stadiums so he was miles away while I was nearly crushed on the grass of a ginormous football stadium.
It's been surprisingly hard news to swallow and in fact I've been teary eyed a few times today just in perusing twitter and reading the articles and tributes. There will truly never be another one like him. Such a mindblowing creative force, in all directions. Not to mention the single handed rescuer of the careers of both Iggy Pop and Lou Reed. RIP David. It sucks that you're gone.
Also, now having seen the Starman video, it has to be said that Bowie and his blonde guitarist/collaborator Mick Ronson in that gold lame catsuit were about the two most beautiful men going.
Long live glam.