Month: April 2003

Silhouettes and shadows, watch the revolution…

As Bowieart told us a few days ago, this morning’s Observer carries with it a guide to the new Saatchi Gallery which has relocated to County Hall on London’s South Bank. The guide is full of fascinating facts and information, and it is littered (pun intended) throughout with the thoughts of various art world luminaries on their favourite piece of work in Saatchi?s collection.

David Bowie chose a work by two of my own very favourite British artists, The Undesirables by Tim Noble and Sue Webster. Here’s what he had to say about the piece:

I suppose the first question is, ‘Is it still worth £50,000 if the light’s off?’ The world of shadows has long been a fearful fascination to me. In this piece, the transformation of the banal into the representation of some sort of tranquillity is really touching. The nostalgic ‘Uncle Frank makes hand shadows on the wall’ quality is deceptive. Both the choice of materials – anarchistic – and the flirtation with a mythic-self illuminate pointedly the moral and aesthetic vacuum facing many artists. But most of all, it’s enchanting. © David Bowie 2003

If you like the look of The Undesirables, you should check out similarly-themed and equally enchanting works by the pair such as British Wildlife, Instant Gratification and Miss Understood & Mr Meanor.

The new Saatchi Gallery really is worth a visit if you’re in the area. The more opulent surroundings of County Hall (as compared to the starkness of the old Saatchi Gallery) do lend a different feel to some of the pieces, particularly Richard Wilson’s 20:50, which is constructed of steel and highly reflective used sump oil. The current Damien Hirst exhibition runs through to August 31st 2003. Go here for visitor information.

Aching for some innocence and peace of mind…

The War Child charity CD, Hope, that we told you about last month (03/26/03 NEWS: EXCLUSIVE DB TRACK FOR WAR CHILD ALBUM) is released this coming Easter Monday. A double CD version called Peace Songs was released this week in Canada, and both releases contain a radio edit of the Metro Mix of Everyone Says ‘Hi’.

Here follows the full tracklisting for both CDs, with a shortcut to each relevant mini-site, where you can get more information regarding the CDs, listen to snippets and download ringtones…including Everyone Says ‘Hi’.

You’ll notice that Hope has been expanded to eighteen tracks from the original thirteen we listed, but Miss Dynamite’s cover of George Michael’s Faith has been dropped, while Ronan Keating’s cover of the Elvis classic, In The Ghetto, remains.*

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Hope (21st April, 2003, WEA)

01 Travis – The Beautiful Occupation
02 Avril Lavigne – Knocking on Heaven?s Door
03 Paul McCartney – Calico Skies
04 David Bowie – Everyone Says ?Hi? (Metro Mix)
05 George Michael – The Grave
06 Ronan Keating – In The Ghetto
07 Lee Ryan – Stand Up As People
08 Beverley Knight – Love?s in Need of Love Today
09 Moby – Nearer
10 New Order – Vietnam
11 Bassment Jaxx featuring Yellowman – Love is the Answer
12 Spiritualised – Hold On (War Child Mix)
13 Charlatans – We Got to Have Peace
14 Beth Orton – Ooh Child
15 Tom McRae – Border Song
16 Billy Bragg – The Wolf Covers Its Tracks
17 Yusuf Islam – Peace Train
18 Jesse Jackson – Keep Hope Alive

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Peace Songs (15th April, 2003, Sony Music Canada/BMG Canada)

Disc 1
01 Avril Lavigne – Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door
02 Chantal Kreviazuk – Redemption Song
03 Jarvis Church (featuring K’naan) – One
04 k-os – Livin’ In A World Corrupt
05 Kyprios – Stand Up
06 G. Love & Graph Nobel – Love
07 David Usher (with My Brilliant Beast) – If You Tolerate This
08 David Bowie – Everyone Says Hi (Metro Mix)
09 The Charlatans – We Gotta Have Peace
10 In Essence – Change Is Gonna Come
11 Beth Orton – Ooh Child
12 Our Lady Peace – Imagine
13 Tom McRae – Border Song
14 Spiritualized – Hold On (War Child Mix)
15 Basement Jaxx (featuring Yellowman) – Love Is the Answer
16 Moby – Nearer

Disc 2
01 Yusuf Islam – Peace Train
02 Jann Arden – Fighting For The World
03 Bryan Adams – Don’t Drop That Bomb On Me
04 Bruce Cockburn – It’s Going Down Slow
05 Paul McCartney – Calico Skies
06 Gord Downie & the Country of Miracles – If I Had A Hammer
07 Liam Titcomb – War
08 Elvis Costello & the Imposters – Everybody’s Cryin’ Mercy
09 Leonard Cohen – Anthem
10 Barenaked Ladies – Lovers In A Dangerous Time (Live)
11 Garou – Le Monde est Stone (Live)
12 Celine Dion – Prayer
13 Eurythmics – I Saved The World Today
14 Travis – The Beautiful Occupation
15 Billy Bragg – The Wolf Covers Its Tracks

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It seems a Dutch version of the album, Hoop, is due for a May 5th release. We’ll give you the tracklisting of that CD as soon as we have it.

Those of you already familiar with the War Child site will know about the archive gallery area that includes contributions from David in the Little Pieces and Pagan Fun Wear sections. If you haven’t checked it out previously you should do so now.

*Where’s the justice in that?!

I’d send my photograph to my honey…

The five winners of the above Roseland 2002 print signed by, (ladies first) Rex Ray, David Bowie and Myriam Santos-Kayda (actually signed as Mask), will be comforted to learn that their prizes are on the way to them.

The five winners of Myriam’s signed book, David Bowie: Live in New York, will receive their prizes as soon as the book is printed and signed by the aforementioned trio. All things being equal (whatever that means) this will be around the autumn. (Hallo Dukebox)

I would also like to make it clear to all ten winners that I do have all of your names and addresses… you can stop the panicked communications now! };-)

I must be only one in a…*

No Mick Rock pictures today, more in next week’s auction. Instead we have some of the actual display boards from the MTR Bowie exhibition.

Read the descriptions below each item, then click on the appropriate image to take you to that auction.

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This lot comprises two 48″x30″ display boards mounted on 1/4″ foamcore, these are the actual display boards from the MTR Bowie exhibition of last year. Utilising text describing the visual presentation of David’s career, and illustrated by images from eight of his videos, (from 1972’s The Jean Genie to 1999’s Thursday’s Child) these four foot high boards were used as an introduction to the exhibition in the foyer of the MTR.

*Obviously these are unique items of which only one of each would have been made. Please bear in mind that these pictures were taken with a digital camera and don’t do the original display board’s justice.

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Unless you’ve been asleep for a couple of years, I’m pretty sure everybody here will recognise this stunning image produced by Markus Klinko and Indrani for the Heathen album cover. This 48″x48″ (that’s four foot square to you) display board is mounted on 1/2″ foamcore and was originally displayed along with the boards above in the foyer of the MTR.

This is about the only time this image has appeared without the Heathen text along the bottom of it, *and again it’s a unique item of which only one would have been made.

This picture was also taken with a digital camera and again, really doesn’t do the original display board justice.

Please note: These two auctions are only open to those who can arrange to pick the items up themselves from the New York BowieNet office. We will not ship these items! If you bid, understand that it will be your responsibility to pick these items up within 10 days of the end of the auction. Thank you and good luck!

Do you see that thing?

In his latest instalment, David Bowie picks up where he left off in his last journal entry. He also explains just why he may have to wear the bizarre contraption above during future concert appearances.

I’ll say “Don’t ask me…”

Back in June of last year David Bowie and his band performed a marvellous set of live songs to an invited audience of fans and BowieNet contest winners. The event was the A&E Live by Request show in New York, and here are the tracks that were broadcast at the time:

Fame – Changes – China Girl – Slow Burn – Starman – Let’s Dance – Slip Away – Ziggy Stardust – “Heroes” – 5:15 The Angels Have Gone – Sound + Vision – Ashes To Ashes – I’m Afraid of Americans…

The show has since been broadcast in Europe too, but it seems a few of you have still to see it. Well, now you can. In yet another BowieNet exclusive, BowieNet members can now experience the music and the fun once again. Click on the image above, sit back and enjoy!

I keep a photograph, It burns my wall with time…

As visitors to the MBs will already know, BowieNetter Alboreto has decided to auction the above Bowie photo on ebaY. But this is no ordinary picture, it’s an unpublished shot that was taken by Tony Visconti during the recording of Safe back in 1998. The Safe session marked the first DB/TV collaboration since the recording of Baal in 1981.

This ultra glossy 6.5″ x 4″ photo card print was kindly donated by Tony, and signed by both DB and TV, so that Alboreto might raise some extra cash for his charity walk… of which, he has written a few words for us:

I’ve been raising money for some time now so that in May I can walk the Great Wall of China. The majority of the money raised goes to Amnesty International to help publicise and prevent human rights abuses world-wide, a cause very important to me because I value my freedom and our ability to express ourselves in any way we see fit.

I have done plenty of different things to raise money (around £3,000 in total) and I was hoping to get some Bowie in there somewhere! BNetter rebeccab suggested I email a few people close to Bowie and Tony Visconti very wonderfully offered his assistance. I must say that Tony is one of the nicest people I have ever encountered. I must also thank all of the BNetters who have made individual donations, I love this place!

Thanks Alboreto. Bidding is already well under way, so if you fancy owning a unique, and genuine, signed Bowie photograph, why not place a bid now and help Alboreto and Amnesty in the process. You can reach the auction by clicking on David’s microphone.

And I’m gone through a crack in the past…

BowieNetters Peter Foulstone and Alex Alexander have just completed the latest of their fascinating limited edition fan publications. The series has collected together rare pictures and press cuttings from deep within the vaults of Bowie history, and each of the books so far has been a valuable resource for the collector and casual fan alike…David Robert Jones 1947-1961 is no exception.

Here’s the blurb from the boys:

David Bowie brand new book, David Robert Jones 1947-1961

28 glorious pages in handy A5 size. A limited edition of 50 copies only, each being individually signed by the authors. This brand new book covers the years before David became famous. With over 30 rare pictures (90% of which are not available on the net) including the much talked about American Football article and picture. Also covers David’s houses and schools through these years. This is mainly a pictorial guide which neatly encapsulates the early years.

The TOTAL PRICE for the book is: – £4.99 or $7.99 – PAYPAL accepted at alex3602@hotmail.com, or UK cheques and cash to:alex3602@hotmail.com

Peter Foulstone,
179, chichester road,
Portsmouth,
Hants,
P02 OAJ.
UK

Incredibly, the price above includes shipping, so get your order in now before they’re all snapped up.

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

The May issue of VOGUE is a real treat for Bowie fans and fashion freaks alike. Not only does the front cover of this edition have a nicely-timed Aladdin Sane flash across the face of Kate Moss, but it also boasts a six page pictorial feature of Kate wearing a few of the more memorable items of clothing from David’s seventies wardrobe.

These incredible shots of Ms Moss were taken by the quite brilliant Nick Knight, and the timeless look of the outfits on Kate belies the fact that they are around thirty years old. For reference purposes, the mag has an impressive spread of the clothes modelled by the original owner.

From left to right: Blue three piece by Freddie Burretti, 1973; Black waistcoat and trousers by Ola
Hudson and white shirt by Paul Smith, 1976; Knitted asymmetric costume and wrist/ankle bands by
Kansai Yamamoto, 1973. All pictures of Kate by Nick Knight. Dodgy PhotoShop montage by Blammo.

The pictures of Kate would be enough in themselves, but this issue doesn’t stop there. The magazine also has a two-page spread reproducing an e-mail conversation/two-way interview between David and designer Hedi Slimane… Hedi designed the clothes for the Heathen shows. The correspondence took place back in February, and here’s a bit of one of David’s contributions:

Since I was a teenager, the city of Berlin stood for a kind of Europeanism that appealed, more than anything because of the association with both Dada and Expressionism. I was immensely influenced by both when I was younger and frequently tried to pull elements of both into my own work.

A good example of the Dada input would be the Saturday Night Live sequence, around 1980, in which I re-worked Tristan Tzara?s Cabaret Voltaire skits into song performances. So much fun? One sequence had me dressed as a pipe-smoking Chinese airline stewardess, dragging a huge fake pink poodle on a leash. The dog had a TV monitor inside its mouth on which the real-time performance was playing.

It’s all quite fascinating stuff, and BowieNet members can read the whole thing by clicking here. You should be able to find a copy of VOGUE in all decent newsagents from Monday… if not earlier!