Month: January 2015

 

“Hooked to the silver screen”

 

This Bowie Birthday evening sees two further US screenings of Hamish Hamilton’s David Bowie is documentary. Follow the links below for more info.

 

FAIRFAX, VA

DALLAS, TX

 

David Bowie Is takes audiences on an extraordinary journey through the ground-breaking exhibition at London’s Victoria & Albert Museum. Described by The Times as “stylish & outrageous,” the exhibition features a remarkable collection of photographs, stage costumes, and other rare possessions from the David Bowie Archive. With fascinating insight into Bowie’s most memorable music videos, never-before-seen handwritten lyrics, and special guests including Japanese designer Kansai Yamamoto, Pulp’s Jarvis Cocker, and other collaborators, this exclusive cinematic event reveals the creativity and evolution of one the most influential artists of our time.

 

“And 193 thousand peoploids split into small tribes”

 

The Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago (MCA) has released a press release with some incredible statistics regarding the fifteen-week run of the David Bowie Is exhibition.

Many thanks to everybody who has ensured the continued success of this exhibition, particularly all of you that have supported it by attending and those of you still to visit one of the remaining stops on the David Bowie Is World Tour. (See bottom of page) 

Read the full press release below.

 

DAVID BOWIE EXHIBITION BREAKS RECORDS AT MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART CHICAGO

 

More than 193,000 people visited the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago (MCA) during the 15-week run of the David Bowie Is exhibition, setting a new attendance record for the museum. As the most successful exhibition in the MCA’s 47-year history, David Bowie Is also set new attendance records for all of the Bowie-related programs and performances, some selling out in less than an hour, and the highest sales for the MCA Store with the addition of the Bowie-themed satellite store. The MCA was the only US venue for this groundbreaking exhibition.

 

MCA Pritzker Director Madeleine Grynsztejn says, “We brought this exhibition to the MCA because it was an ideal bridge to connect with new audiences who are interested in the multidisciplinary arts that have been a hallmark of the museum. We are thrilled that so many people from around the country visited us for the first time, and we are especially proud of the enthusiasm and support we had in Chicago, where members of the community had a chance to rediscover the MCA. We will continue to build on the success we’ve had with Bowie with another exciting year of programs in 2015.”

 

There was an overwhelming response to the exhibition from the Chicago community: during its run, restaurants, hotels, and venues had Bowie-inspired events; people regularly came to the MCA dressed as one of David Bowie’s stage personas; and a record-breaking 52 million Twitter accounts saw the exhibition hashtag #DavidBowieIs. Visitors to the MCA website numbered more than one million.

 

Demonstrating Bowie’s lasting influence on multiple areas of contemporary culture, nearly all of the Bowie-related programs at the MCA were sold out. This included programs with internationally renowned cultural figures from disciplines such as music, film, and literature with talks by Kevin Barnes, Bryan Ferry, Neil Gaiman, Todd Haynes, Sandy Powell, and St. Vincent; performances by Boy George, Michael Clark Company, Bobby Conn, Disappears, Tim Kinsella, Jon Langford and Sally Timms, ONO, and White Mystery; and a David Bowie Film Festival.

 

MCA Chief Financial Officer Peggy Papaioannou developed a new financial model to optimize capacity during the MCA’s first time having timed tickets, a special admission price, and extended hours. Also, a special “Bowie Superfan” ticket was sold in advance of general ticket sales for Bowie enthusiasts who wanted to book their travel early. The nationwide synchronized release of David Bowie’s new three-CD compilation Nothing Has Changed by Columbia Records, and the US screenings of the David Bowie is happening now documentary, created by the Victoria and Albert Museum, London and directed by Hamish Hamilton, contributed to the national attention and success of the exhibition run.

 

The MCA hosted an opening day Bowie Tribute Concert drawing thousands of Chicagoans to Daley Plaza on September 23, which Mayor Rahm Emanuel officially declared “David Bowie Day” in Chicago. The artEdge 2014: David Bowie Is gala, presented by Louis Vuitton, drew the biggest names in Chicago’s social scene with a special performance by music legend Bryan Ferry. Over 750 people attended the gala, which raised more than $2.85 million, benefiting MCA exhibitions and programs.

 

The exhibition also attracted a record number of notable figures, especially from the music world. Celebrity visitors included Sophia Bush, Margaret Cho, Billy Corgan, Gillian Flynn, Adrian Grenier,  Daryl Hannah, George Lucas, William H. Macy, Bob Mould, Rita Ora, Aubrey Plaza, Jason Schwartzman, Earl Slick, Usher, Peter Wolf, Neil Young, and many others.

 

The Bowie-themed store was designed by the MCA to offer hundreds of Bowie-inspired design objects, some of which were produced exclusively for the MCA. During the run of the exhibition, the MCA Store sold 189,000 items including 7,000 Bowie exhibition catalogues, 14,000 t-shirts produced exclusively for the MCA, and 2,100 limited edition prints including a Chicago edition of Bowie as Aladdin Sane by Brian Duffy.

 

David Bowie Is presents the first international exhibition of the extraordinary career of David Bowie—one of the most pioneering and influential performers of our time. The exhibition focuses on his creative processes and collaborative work with artists and designers, and demonstrates how his work has both influenced and been influenced by wider movements in art, design, music, and theater. The exhibition’s multimedia design introduces advanced sound technology by Sennheiser and video installations to create an immersive journey through Bowie’s artistic life. David Bowie Is was organized by the Victoria and Albert Museum, London. MCA Chief Curator Michael Darling curated the Chicago presentation of the exhibition.

 

The exhibition continues its international tour with upcoming stops at the Philharmonie de Paris | Cité de la Musique in Paris (March—May 2015), the Australian Centre for the Moving Image in Melbourne (July—Nov 2015), and the Groninger Museum in the Netherlands (December 2015—March 2016)

 

“Oh, look out you rock ‘n rollers”

 

On January 7th 1972, the day before David Bowie’s 25th birthday, RCA in the UK issued their first ever David Bowie single in the shape of Changes/Andy Warhol. (North America got it the month before)

The track was the first to be lifted from Hunky Dory, an album these days considered by most (with a full set of working ears), to be one of the very best of all time.

However, despite being a Tony Blackburn Record Of The Week on BBC Radio 1 (a big deal back then), neither album nor single worried the UK charts upon release.

Viewed from today’s perspective, it’s hard to understand why the public didn’t pick up on either the single or the album. Whatever the reasons, Bowie didn’t seem unduly bothered and that’s possibly because he was already well on the way to unleashing the world-conquering Ziggy Stardust album and concept.

Changes is the opening track on Hunky Dory and you can listen to it now on Spotify. We should warn you though that it’s highly unlikely you won’t want to listen to the whole album while you’re there!

 

“When you rock ’n’ roll with me”

 

Tony Visconti and friends presented an intimate show to the audience of the City Winery, in New York on Saturday night.

Here’s a brief review of the show and the setlist kindly provided by Major Tom Wilcox.

 

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Review by Tom Wilcox

The TV Show, City Winery, New York

Saturday 3rd January 2015

 

Tony Visconti and special guests delivered an exhilarating and masterful performance to a packed City Winery in New York last night.

The perfectly balanced set of 19 songs was selected from the three or four thousand songs that Visconti has played on, produced or mixed over his fabled career in music. The exceptional highlights for Bowie fans included Suzanne Vega’s divine singing on ‘The Man Who Sold The World’, a haunting version of the dystopian epic ‘Sweet Thing/Candidate’ sung by Richie Barone and a roof-lifting, barn-storming ‘Young Americans’ sung by Nakia.

The band recreated the essential feeling of the songs with careful attention to each tune’s unique nuances. Visconti’s distinctive, dynamic, bass playing grooved imperiously with Dennis Diken’s drums. Gerry Leonard – described by Visconti on the night as “one of the best guitar players I have ever worked with” – was sublime, as ever. Joe McGinty’s keyboards and Peter Hess’s horns completed the rich soundscape.

The principal singer Richie Barone brought passion and theatricality to the night, not least on an emotive ‘Sweet Thing/Candidate’. The rotation of guest singer between the ascending talents of Kiah Victoria, Nakia and Larkin Graham, as well as very special guest Suzanne Vega, added much to the freshness and excitement of the evening.

The New York audience loved  this performance which once again illustrated the unique quality and variety of Visconti’s career. Tony Visconti’s renaissance as a performing bass player continues to delight and entertain.

 

Musicians:

Bass and vocals: Tony Visconti

Vocals, guitar and harmonica: Richard Barone

Guitar: Gerry Leonard

Vocalists: Suzanne Vega, Kiah Victoria, Nakia, Larkin Grimm

Drums and vocals: Dennis Diken and vocals

Keys: Joe McGinty

Sax/Flute: Peter Hess

 

Set List:

1. A New Career In A New Town (David Bowie)

2. Rock & Roll With Me (David Bowie)

3. You Have Killed Me (Morrissey)

4. Jet (Paul McCartney & Wings)

5. Boys Keep Swinging (David Bowie)

6. Ballrooms of Mars (T.Rex)

7. Young Americans (David Bowie)

8. Yet Another Midnight (Richard Barone)

9. Your Wildest Dreams (The Moody Blues)

10. Dove (Tyrannosaurus Rex)

11. She Was Born To Be My Unicorn (Tyrannosaurus Rex)

12. Beautiful Daughter (The Move)

13. Sweet Thing/Candidate (David Bowie)

14. The Man Who Sold The World (David Bowie)

15. Will You (Hazel O’Connor)

16. Fashion (David Bowie)

17. “Heroes” (David Bowie)

18. Oh Baby (T.Rex)

19. Get It On (T.Rex)

 

“Chicago’s in love with the way she talks”

 

We told you about Annie Clark of St. Vincent appearing at the MCA on Saturday (January 3rd) for a conversation with Jessica Hopper about David Bowie’s influence on her work as a songwriter and performer.

Annie also kindly provided us a line about Bowie which is worth repeating for those of you that missed it…

“David Bowie’s mutating aesthetic and persona are as much an instrument as his voice or guitar. Sound and vision: hero, icon, alien.“

Well now a YouTube user named seijinlee has uploaded the majority of the interview in six parts for your viewing pleasure.

Among many other interesting Bowie-related topics discussed, a few of the subjects covered are hinted at in our montage: favourite Bowie costume (Kansai Yamamoto), favourite Bowie song (It’s No Game (Part 1)), favourite era (Zigy Stardust).

Also pictured are Annie’s “Bowie talking point notes from the very fun Q & A with Jessica Hopper.”

And fun it certainly was, as you can now witness for yourselves here.

 

“Throwing darts in lovers’ eyes“

 

As the Chicago Tribune correctly suggests, there couldn’t be a better artist to close out the last day of the Museum of Contemporary Art’s David Bowie Is exhibition this coming Sunday (Jan 4th) than Neil Gaiman.

Bowie fans will no doubt be aware of Gaiman’s references to Bowie in his work over the years, not least of all the unfinished short story, The Return Of The Thin White Duke, with illustrations by Yoshitaka Amano (see insert pix in accompanying montage), which was published in the Summer 2004 edition of V Magazine.

On Sunday at the MCA, Gaiman will read the finished version of The Return Of The Thin White Duke from Trigger Warning, his new book of short stories.

Neil explained to Christopher Borrelli of the Chicago Tribune:

 

“It’s an old piece of fiction, started around 2004, “The Return of the Thin White Duke.” It was written in two parts. I finished it for this book, but the first part was with artist Yoshitaka Amano, who was commissioned to do pictures for a magazine called V. His images were Bowie and (Bowie’s wife, the model) Iman as sci-fi characters. Then I was asked to write a story, so it became about Bowie and Iman in this future New York.“

 

The main picture in our montage is of Gaiman as Jareth the Goblin King from a brief Labyrinth spoof created by his wife Amanda. Over to Christopher Borrelli again…

 

Q: There’s also this funny video of you circulating online where you play Bowie with your wife (artist Amanda Palmer). You’re wearing a mullet that makes you look like Bowie from “Labyrinth”.

 

A: Oh my God. Yes, it was long before we were married. I just got off a plane from America to see my then-girlfriend Amanda. She said, “Neil, I am so glad you are here, and also there’s this lane I go jogging through every day that reminds me of ‘Labyrinth’ so I’m going to film my version with some friends who are puppeteers and we have a Bowie wig and you’ll play Bowie.” I remember saying no. But she is persuasive.

 

Embarrassingly enough for Neil, you can watch that video here.

Read the full Chicago Tribune interview here.

If you didn’t manage to get a ticket for the reading on Sunday, we’re afraid you’re unlikely to get one now. The event sold out in less than an hour. 

 

“And he could have married Annie”

 

Another sold out event (see previous news item) in the closing days of the David Bowie is exhibition at the MCA in Chicago, takes place on the penultimate day of the museum’s hugely successful run, Saturday (Jan 3rd), between 18:00 and 19:30.

Musician Annie Clark, (who records as St. Vincent and whose most recent album, St. Vincent, was named album of the year by NME… deservedly so), joins Chicago-based writer Jessica Hopper in conversation about David Bowie’s influence on her work as a songwriter and performer.

Annie very kindly sent us this exclusive tribute…

 

“David Bowie’s mutating aesthetic and persona are as much an instrument as his voice or guitar. Sound and vision: hero, icon, alien.“

 

Thanks for that Annie, very much appreciated.

 

St. Vincent on FB

St. Vincent official site

 

FOOTNOTE: Though the event sold out very quickly, it may be worth noting the MCA statement regarding sold out shows: “Tickets may be available for sold out events. Patrons are encouraged to come one hour prior to the program start time to join the waitlist.”

 

“And so the story goes, they wore the clothes“

 

The February 2015 issue of Classic Rock magazine has a six page feature by Rob Hughes debating the birth of Glam Rock.

Rob is among those that would argue David invented the genre during his performances at the Roundhouse with The Hype in February/March 1970 as the colourfully clad Rainbow Man, dressed in blue cape, silver jacket, spangly tights and thigh-length boots.

The rest of the band adopted the superhero theme with Mick Ronson borrowing a suit of David’s to appear as the not overly convincing Gangster Man. Drummer John Cambridge was possibly the least committed in hat and tassel-sleeved jacket as Cowboy Man. And Tony Visconti could easily have been committed, dressed as Hype Man…you’ve seen the pictures!

If stories are to be believed, Cambridge (who had travelled to the gig ’in character’), apparently had the last laugh when the band had to return home in their stage wear after their civvies were stolen from the dressing room while they were onstage!

By all accounts one person glued to the front of the stage during the flamboyantly dressed Hype’s set, was a very impressed Marc Bolan looking for a new angle himself. Perhaps he found one that night.

The Classic Rock piece is a good article, but the Glam Rock crown is one that many have attempted to gift either Bowie or Bolan, depending on their definition of Glam Rock.

In a December 1998 DavidBowie.com/BowieNet web chat with Bowie and Visconti, photographer Mick Rock proffered this theory: “Marc Bolan was Glitter Rock. David Bowie was Glam. It’s a subtle difference, but a definite difference.“.

However, it seems it’s not an accolade Bowie is particularly bothered about either way. During the same web chat, David himself suggested another possible contender thus: “Wee Willie Harris started Glam. And I’m not joking.“.

It’s true that the diminutive Harris was the first Rock ’n’ Roller to dye his hair anything other than black. See the evidence for yourself in the colour photos from 1958 on this NPG page.

The February 2015 issue of Classic Rock is out now.