Month: October 2001

It may be Halloween…Trick or Treat, whatever you people call it? But don’t
expect any little monsters in David’s latest journal entry. Go here for a short
but sweet installment…in every sense of the phrase.

You show respect even if you disagree…

The BBC’s Radio 2 have the next instalment of their appropriately named ‘Heroes Or Zeroes’ series scheduled for this Thursday November 1st. This irreverent, tongue-in-cheek show, presented by one half of Radio 1’s Mark and Lard team, Mark Radcliffe, asks whether contemporary rock icons are worthy of their status. And this week David Bowie is the subject of the show.

Radcliffe himself has made no secret of his appreciation of all things Bowie, but he has managed to get together a couple of gents who don’t see eye-to-eye on the subject of David’s achievements. Batting for the good guys is one Andrew Collins, who obviously has a greater grasp of rock history than Tom Ewing. Tom makes an unconvincing argument of not finding any value in over thirty years of achievement…and this from a man who hasn’t even learned the correct pronunciation of Bowie!

The show is worth a listen even though I can think of a few you that should steer clear, lest you become murderous! You can listen to ‘Heroes Or Zeroes’ here on Thursday evening at 22:00 GMT. I look forward to the debate that is sure to follow on the MBs.

Sees the pictures of herself, Every magazine on every shelf…

Here in the UK yesterday, The Mail On Sunday magazine, ‘you’, devoted their front cover and a fascinating five pages within the magazine to Iman’s new book: ‘I AM IMAN’. Here are a few excerpts (typed up by Susans…thank you dear) including an exclusive BowieNet footnote from David!:

There is a small but startling revelation in Iman’s new book: her husband, David Bowie, king of cool, reveals that he has never been to a fashion show. It seems an absurd omission. But the Bowies, both of them, shun crowds and fuss.

David is a homebody, too, a silent presence at his computer, writing, surfing the net. “His priority is home, he wants to spend time with the baby.”

Although she owns a spectacular Somali temper – she’s an occasional plate-thrower – she may switch to a sudden deference. “I finished the book, and then everybody said, ‘Now it’s all on your husband. He hasn’t done his foreword.’ I said, ‘I can’t ask him. At home, I am the wife, I cook. I can’t tell him to step on it and write my piece.’ So I said, ‘You guys have to e-mail him.’ And of course, he did it in like ten minutes, and he brought it to me. I was expecting some of the modern, hip writing that he does, and I got this very sweet, sensitive foreword about his love for me. I cried when I read it.”

Her book is called – defiantly – I Am Iman. It is part biography, part magazine, so that Iman’s own story resides amid a concoction of interviews and short stories contributed by her famous friends. This apparently baffling format appears to have been inspired by Flair, a fleeting 50s magazine which continues to influence contemporary designers. Apparently, David Bowie is a huge fan who collects original issues.

And here’s David’s response for BowieNet:

‘Other than the third coming of Vanity Fair (1952-1953), Jonathan Barnbrook, who designed ‘I Am Iman’, and myself were also very influenced by Andy Warhol’s ‘Index Book’. ‘Vanity Fair’ was resurrected three times after its original inception in the 19th cent. From 1913 -1935 (with contributions from the likes of Tristan Tzara and Duchamp) then again in 1952 and yet again in its present form. I personally don’t collect Vanity Fair but bought a complete bound set of the 1950’s issues for Iman as a birthday present.

Iman does not throw plates, only dinner parties.’

db

Yep, they’re coming thick and fast now. Go here to read which old associate David met up with for the mixing of the CFNYC CD tracks.

Total Blam Blam – (European Correspondent)

I laughed and shook his hand…

Despite reports in that august publication The Daily Star (splutter), there will be no appearance by David Bowie on Lulu’s forthcoming ‘Duets’ album. But it’s still a tenuous enough reason to post this photograph I took of them at last year’s BBC Radio Theatre. Of course the ever-ch, ch, ch, ch, changing chameleon and the diminutive Scot (sorry, couldn’t resist) have worked together in the past.

Lulu had a huge European hit with her excellent Bowie/Ronson produced version of ‘The Man Who Sold The World’, which was backed by ‘Watch That Man’. If you’ve not heard these tracks, check ’em out, the Bowie/Ronson contribution is more than evident, and both songs are still available on at least three Lulu CDs at a popular online store. I know I’m going to get shouted down here, but I prefer this version to the more famous Nirvana MTV unplugged version…but what do I know.

David also recorded a version of ‘Can You Hear Me’ with Lulu, which has yet to have an official release, even though a couple of different mixes have managed to find their way onto various bootlegs. Not that I know about this sort of thing. There is no mention of a Bowie appearance on the forthcoming duets album at Lulu’s official site, but it’s still worth a look if only to check out the myriad TMWSTW 7″ picture covers.

…we’ll marry our fortunes together…

As we mentioned last week, a double CD of last Saturday’s ‘Concert for New York City’ is scheduled for release on Columbia Records. Due at the end of next month, both ‘America’ and ‘Heroes’ are expected to appear on the release that will benefit the Robin Hood Relief Fund.

The fund will use the proceeds to help lower-income New Yorkers affected by the terrorist attacks as well as the families of fire-fighters, police officers and rescue workers who were injured or killed.

Zig played guitar, jamming good with Steve and Banksey…

Those of you familiar with the fine new Pulp album, ‘We Love Life’, may have been intrigued by a photograph in the CD booklet, reproduced above. Although there was no clue as to who the young Ziggy pretender contained within the booklet might be, I had my own suspicions. After a recent chat with Jarvis Cocker, my hunch was confirmed as correct when he revealed to me that the band’s guitarist, Mark Webber, is the biggest Bowie fan in the band, and that he used to answer to the name of Zig!

I caught up with Mark yesterday and he admitted that he is in fact the mystery boy in the photograph:

“Yes the picture is indeed of me, taken at the age of twelve and a half in 1983. And it is also true that I answered to the nickname of “Zig”. That came about largely because it was a better name to enter in the high score panel of video games than “Mar”, which didn’t quite work. I should explain that video games would only allow a three letter entry back in the those days.”

Glad to clear that one up for you folx…stay tuned for more on Mark’s Bowie fandom in the next week or so.

MESSAGEBOARDS

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MEMBER OF THE WEEK RADIO

BowieNet has recently given our members of the week the opportunity to choose a playlist for the BowieRadio Channel 4 – Member Radio.The prospective member of the week is emailed the Wednesday before with the list of songs to choose from. Once you receive the list, simply follow the instructions included in the email and return the email to webmaster@davidbowie.com.

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We hope you enjoy the modifications. We will be announcing an UltraStar chat in the coming weeks where we can all chat about what’s next for BowieNet.

Feel that pretty thing…

Those of you with a good memory may recall a piece David donated to the New York Academy of Art’s Ninth Annual ‘Take Home A Nude’ auction in New York, back in June 1999. (5/20/99 SNEAKER: ITS BLACK)The piece was simply a Braille message on a black canvas that spelt out the word ‘nipples’.

You can now view a new version of the artwork as part of a group show at the Rupert Goldsworthy Gallery in New York from November 7th. This version has been produced in a different colour, which I won’t disclose here lest I spoil the surprise for those that decide to visit the exhibition.

Apart from David’s ‘nipples’, the show will feature new work by Steven Evans, Rupert Goldsworthy, Jane Kaplowitz, Mr. Lam, Mr. Leonard and Stephen Tashjian.

The exhibition runs until December 15th, at the Rupert Goldsworthy Gallery, 453 West 17th St 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10011. (Corner of Tenth Avenue)

They’ve all come to look for America

In the same way that she did for his performance at The Concert For Tibet, Spaceface, with the help of Susans, has put together some pages about David’s appearance at The Concert For New York City, last Saturday. Apart from a roundup of the press that followed the event, there is also a summary of message board postings, mainly gathered from Sunday and Monday, under “Journals”. Also, look out for an excellent page of screen grabs by Susans.

Here follows a quick sample of some of the stuff you can expect to read:

David Bowie got the night started – and drew a wild response from a crowd packed with thousands of police and firefighters – with an epic rendition of his classic 1970’s hit ‘Heroes’ : New York Post

David Bowie kicked off the gala with a poignant cover of the Simon and Garfunkel hit, America. But he made no speeches, his choice of songs said all he wanted to convey. : Daily Mirror (UK)

“I’m also proud of all these English people. I call them teabags ? your Jaggers, your McCartneys, Clapton, Elton, Bowie. They are standing shoulder-to-shoulder with us, and I thank them for that.” : Billy Joel

It was the perfect opening to the show. Poignant, simple, and fresh. It almost seemed religious – the gentle singer, the immigrant’s song. : cavebat

I think that what I just saw was one of the most profound performances of Bowie’s career. Totally moving and apt. Wow indeed! : iforgot

These pages are still growing, so if your thoughts are not featured, or you have some images, or news cuttings to add, please do use the “Submit” button to send them in. We will show the pages again when they are complete.

Thanks to everyone who has contributed so far, and especially thanks to David for giving us another great reason to do some work!

Click here to go to the pages.

:))