Funny you should ask! Well, it was twenty years ago today….or twenty-five, actually, that David appeared on the ‘Cher Show’ in the U.S. On November 23, 1975, David sang Fame, Can You Hear Me and Young Americans with Cher, then a medley of songs with Cher including Song Sung Vlue, Wedding Bells, Da Doo Ron Ron, Daytripper, Blue Moon, only You and Young Blood. Do you believe in life after, er…Cher?
Bowie Voted 'most Influential Artist Of All Time'
NME Under The Influence
Those of you that study the small print, may already have noticed some clues to the above headline in this week’s NME (Issue dated 25th November). In their advert for next week’s publication (2nd December) there is mention of “The most influential bands in the world ever!”, which “The most influential music paper in the world” are celebrating with a free cover-mounted CD. Closer inspection reveals the name DAVID BOWIE as one of the artists with a track on said disc.
In yet another BowieNet coup, we can reveal the complete track-listing for the CD, but more importantly, we can also tell you the name of the artist that NME have an exclusive interview with next week. They have announced the interview rather teasingly with the words: “EXCLUSIVE! The Most Influential Artist Of All Time speaks!”, with no further clue as to who that person might be. Well, of course you wouldn’t be reading it here if that artist wasn’t David Bowie.
Over the last year or so, NME have asked all of their celebrity guests who they consider to be the most influential artist of all time, and the clear favourite of all the finest rock stars of today is the former Ziggy Stardust, Halloween Jack, Thin White Duke, etc…David Bowie! Click on the names below to take you to quotes from just three of the artists who have felt the influence of David Bowie:
We will post more quotes from Bowie-influenced stars next week, along with the aforementioned NME interview. Congratulations to David yet again for recognition of his importance by the people still making the vital music of our times. Meanwhile, go here for a world-exclusive listing of that NME Under The Influence Top Ten.
Total Blam Blam – (European Correspondent)
Rca Secret, Your Chance To Win A Bowie Original
Badly Drawn Bowie or Secret, Secret never seen…Part One
How well it’s drawn is academic of course, because the picture above could just be your route to riches, presuming that you would want to sell this beautiful thing once it was in your possession. What am I talking about? The Royal College of Art’s Secret postcard exhibition and sale of course. This annual event, (this year sponsored by www.bowieart.com) gives you the chance to buy the work of an internationally renowned artist for just £35. And who am I to say that the likes of David Hockney, Tracey Emin, Eduardo Paolozzi, Chris Ofili, Paula Rego and Peter Doig don’t consider themselves our David’s ‘Biggest Fan’. For, this list, along with David Bowie, is of artists who have all anonymously participated in previous years.
But if the journey to London’s RCA is just a little bit too far for you to travel, why not pop over to bowieart instead, and try and win the original they have up for offer by simply guessing the artist correctly. As if that wasn’t enough, yesterday’s London Evening Standard is giving you the chance to win an original David Bowie postcard by guessing which one is his…
Secret, Secret never seen…Part Two
That’s right, to win a David Bowie original all you have to do is guess correctly, out of five possibles, which postcard was produced by David Bowie from the choices here. I’m afraid the image is quite large, but waiting for a download is surely quicker than a New York to London flight!
PS – Many thanks to SusanS for driving a round trip of 100 miles, just to deliver yesterday’s Evening Standard for me to scan.
Total Blam Blam – (European Correspondent)
David Bowie Catalog On Mp3.com
Beam me up, Scotty!
Thanks to MP3’s proprietary software “Beam-It,” people who own any Bowie CD can add their CDs to a my.mp3.com account (for free). In David’s words:
“It’s an amazing testament to the net that MP3.com technology allows someone to have their record collection at their fingertips wherever they are in the world. The days of traveling with CDs in hand are beginning to grow short.”
Additionally, whether you own the albums or not, any cyber-surfer can go to davidbowie.mp3.com and hear Ziggy Stardust (the same version as on the Beeb album, not the elusive “extra” track) and Let’s Dance.
John Diaz or MP3.com says, “We are extremely pleased that David Bowie has chosen to allow his fans to listen to his entire catalogue by utilizing our technologies. In addition to being one of the most influential and dynamic performers in rock history, Bowie has been a pioneer in recognizing the power of distributing music on the Internet. This is a true victory for music fans everywhere.”
Cybernauts Are Coming
So where were The Spiders?
Cybernauts are the band that used to be billed as Joe Elliot with The Spiders From Mars. You may remember the outfit from the two Mick Ronson Memorial concerts (London and Hull) at which the band played David Bowie songs from the Mick Ronson era, plus a couple of songs that Mick recorded as a solo artist. Go here for more information about Cybernauts and forthcoming Bowie associated releases from the band.
Total Blam Blam – (European Correspondent)
Sheena's First Record
In this month’s MOJO magazine, Sheena Easton is asked about the first record she ever bought, and the place where she bought it.
“Ziggy Stardust. I’m not just saying that to sound cool, it really was. I got it at the record store in Bellshill. I was about 12 and I got it on a day in town at the store on the corner where they sold records. I can’t remember the name. There were always records in the house : my older siblings played The Beatles and The Stones so I was really lucky because I heard good stuff early on.”
(Our very lovely European Correspondent, Total Blam Blam, has more to come from Mojo, later this week).
Thanks, Spaceface!
Db Chooses His Favourite Lennon Moment
For those of you who love the late great John Lennon (one of the few to which this term really applies), there is a MOJO special out on November 27th which includes previously unseen pictures, and new interviews. “MOJO Lennon tells the full story of John Lennon’s life and music…….. Interviews with Yoko Ono, Paul McCartney, Pete Best and more, while 40 Lennon fans from David Bowie to Paul Simon, Tina Turner to Noel Gallagher, choose their favourite Lennon moments.” Thanks, Spaceface!
Bowie Realises Power Of Internet, Shock!
lovely, gooey, sticky kind of fun-filled…
This morning’s Guardian in the UK has in its Media section a spread punningly headed: Star-e, star-e sites, in which they discuss how: “…the stars themselves are realising the power their own websites can give them.” This story is not new, as is made clear early on in the piece: “Creative thinkers from David Bowie to Badly Drawn Boy have been using the internet to disseminate their material for almost as long as the internet has been around.”
The article makes much of David’s quote regarding interactivity with fans on this site: “…this gives me a lovely, gooey, sticky kind of fun-filled feeling.” …a quote the Guardian clearly enjoyed, as it is used three times! Of more interest to those of you that can nip along to a newsagent before they close today, is a three-quarter length live shot of Mr Bowie at Net Aid in 1999, during a lovely, gooey, sticky kind of fun-filled moment, which you can glimpse by clicking on the image above.
Total Blam Blam – (European Correspondent)
Hello! Says Goodbye To Paula Yates
Heaven is smiling down, heaven’s girl in a wedding gown…
HELLO! (issue dated November 21st) has a fourteen page picture retrospective taken throughout Paula’s adult life. Mostly by Brian Aris, the photographs are an affectionate record of Paula’s colourful, but ultimately tragic journey, up until three weeks before her untimely death. A full page photo from her wedding to Bob Geldof in 1986 pictures the happy couple with a cast of popular rock stars from the time, including the best man, who is popular to this day, particularly on this site.
Total Blam Blam – (European Correspondent)
Bowie Wins Bafta
First mention I saw of this one was in the DOORS section of The Sunday Times last week (12th Nov). Apparently David Bowie won an award at the annual Interactive Entertainment Awards presented by BAFTA. “Who BAFTA?”…some of you non-Brits may be asking:
“The British Academy of Film & Television Arts is the UK’s leading organisation promoting and rewarding the best in film, television and interactive media. Renowned for its high- profile Award ceremonies covering Film, Television, Children’s and Interactive Entertainment the Academy does much more than this?”
The Sunday Times described BowieNet thus: “Heavily design-orientated website that keeps even the most ardent Bowie fans up to date.” Which, if I may be so bold, I guess me and my fellow employees can consider a pat on the back. A quick glance at the winners at the BAFTA site tells us that the actual award David won was “THE BERNERS-LEE AWARD for the best personal contribution to the Interactive Industry” in The Special Awards category.
So, well done again Mr B, BowieNet and all that sail in her!
Total Blam Blam – (European Correspondent)