Month: November 2016

 

“I’m a blackstar, way up”

 

Rolling Stone magazine has made David Bowie’s ★ LP their 2nd best album of 2016.

 

Sandwiched between Chance the Rapper (Coloring Book #3), and Beyoncé (Lemonade #1), this is what the magazine has to say about ★

 

There’s never been a musical farewell anything like Blackstar: The Cracked Actor saved his bravest and boldest performance for the final curtain. David Bowie showed up on his 69th birthday to drop a surprise masterpiece, let an astonished world puzzle over the music for a couple of days, and then slipped off into the sky. Nearly a year later, Blackstar still gives up fresh mysteries with every listen. Right from the start, this came on as one of the Starman’s most dizzyingly adventurous albums, stretching out in jazzy space ballads like “Lazarus” or the ten-minute title epic. (Producer Tony Visconti revealed Bowie was soaking up fresh inspiration from artists like Kendrick Lamar and D’Angelo.) But it took Bowie’s death to reveal Blackstar as his rumination on mortality – anguished, bittersweet, mournful, refusing to give in to self-pity even as he sang his passionate final word, “I Can’t Give Everything Away,” a song every bit as moving as “Heroes.” After a 50-year spree of rock & roll mind-bending, David Bowie still wasn’t running out of ways to shock people. Damn. Blackstar remains an inspiration – and a challenge – to us all. R.S.

 

See the full Rolling Stone 50 Best Albums of 2016 list here.

 

 

#BowieRollingStone  #BowieRS  #BowieBlackstar  #Blackstar  

 

“And the papers want to know whose T-shirts you wear“

 

For those of you not subscribed to the David Bowie newsletter, In the spirit of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, there’s 15% off all T-Shirts and apparel in the Bowie Store today (Sunday) and tomorrow (Monday).

 

We can’t guarantee that these T-shirts will make you look as good as the twins in our picture, but you’ll be the coolest kid on the block, probably.

 

No code required. Offer ends midnight Monday (November 28). Shop here.

 

 

#BowieTShirt

 

“Sordid details following”

 

As with most of the stops on the V&A’s record-breaking David Bowie is tour, a special 7″ 45 has been produced to coincide with the exhibition’s Japanese opening at Warehouse TERRADA G1 Building in Tokyo on January 8th, 2017.

 

Pictured here are both sides of the limited edition vinyl picture disc, and appropriately enough, both original photographs were taken by Japanese photographer, Masayoshi Sukita.

 

But can you guess which two tracks are featured on this release? All will be revealed next week.

 

Go here for exhibition information and ticket links.

 

 

#ボウイ展  #DBisTokyo  #BowieTokyo  #DavidBowieIs  #BowieVinyl  #MasayoshiSukita 

 

“It’s No Game (Part 1)”

 

Sony Music in Japan have announced today that following the opening on January 8th, 2017, of DAVID BOWIE IS in Tokyo, they will issue four limited edition, colour vinyl Bowie albums in celebration.

 

The 180g limited edition pressings will be released on January 11th, 2017, in the following colours…

 

Heathen (SIJP-35): Blue

Reality (SIJP-36): Clear

A Reality Tour (SIJP-37 ~ 9) 3 x Blue

The Next Day (SIJP-40 ~ 1) 2 x Yellow

 

Go here for more.

 

 

#ボウイ展  #DBisTokyo  #BowieTokyo  #DavidBowieIs  #BowieVinyl #BowieARealityTour  #BowieHeathen  #BowieReality  #BowieTheNextDay  

 

“That’s the message that I sent”

 

In the week that David Bowie’s ★ re-enters the Official Vinyl Albums Chart Top 10 at #9 (18 November 2016 – 24 November 2016), MOJO magazine in the UK has made the record their Album Of The Year, 2016. Congratulations to all involved in the creation of ★ and thanks to all of you who helped make the album such a big success.

 

Following the full-page appreciation of ★, wherein Mark Paytress talks about the album with Tony Visconti, there’s a four-page timeline of ‘The Year Of Bowie’ by Andrew Male.

 

Elsewhere, that other ex-pupil of Lindsay Kemp, Kate Bush, singles out ★ in a section titled: The Best Thing I’ve Heard All Year.

 

Kate also sang Bowie’s praises in an interview with The FADER, here’s an excerpt…

 

FADER: What contemporary artists do you admire?

 

KB: I don’t listen to a lot of contemporary music, especially when I’m working. I tend to watch films or do other stuff. But one of the most powerful things that I heard recently was Blackstar by Bowie. I thought it was beautiful. Very moving of course, but I think one of the best things he’s ever done.

 

FADER: You wrote a beautiful tribute to Bowie after he passed away. What was your relationship with him like?

 

KB: Well I was asked whether I would write something, and because he meant such a lot to me, I really felt moved to do so. He was one of my great heroes when I was growing up. He was such a brave artist, so unusual, and I loved his music. I met him a few times; he was really charming and playful. But I just sort of admired what he achieved creatively.

 

FADER: Bowie always challenged gender norms, which I think your work does too.

 

KB: Oh, thank you. I think when I’m working creatively, I don’t really think of myself of writing as a woman. I just think of writing as me, as a person, if that makes sense.

 

 

Read the full thing here.

 

The January 2017 issue of MOJO is out now.

 

 

#BowieMOJO  #BowieBlackstar  #Blackstar  

 

“At the centre of it all”

 

Uncut magazine in the UK has awarded David Bowie’s ★ album and the Who Can I Be Now? box set best new release and best archive release of the year, respectively. The Bowie At The Beeb box also makes it into the Top 20 of best archive releases of the year.

 

Congratulations to all involved in the creation of these albums and thanks to all of you who helped make them such a success.

 

Elsewhere in the mag there’s an article by David Cavanagh, as outlined by Editor‎ ‎John Mulvey, thus:

 

As it’s nearly 2017, though, we hope you’ll also allow us a little retrospective contemplation, as we round up the finest albums, archive releases, films and books of the year. There’s a strong piece from David Cavanagh, too, in which he tries to make clear-eyed sense of the year’s appalling losses. “The shock of losing Bowie knocked 2016 entirely off its axis,” he writes. “From that day forward, nobody’s death – not in music, not in sport, not in comedy, not in daily life – would be judged as an individual tragedy.

 

“Instead it would be viewed as more incontestable proof that 2016 was a year like no other, a year with a hex on it, a year gone rogue.”

 

Still, our Top 75 new albums list reveals that, in spite of everything, 2016 turned out to be an uncommonly rich year for music.

 

 

The January 2017 issue of Uncut is out now.

 

 

#BowieUNCUT  #BowieBlackstar  #Blackstar  #WCIBNBox  #WhoCanIBeNowBox  #BowieAtTheBeeb  

 

“I’d send my photograph to my honey”

 

Proud Chelsea will showcase the last remaining signed collection of Duffy’s photographs of David Bowie, in their ‘Bowie by Duffy’ exhibition which launches in London in January.

 

Keep reading for more.

 

#DuffyBowie  #BowiebyDuffy  #ProudGalleries

 

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

 

Proud Chelsea Exhibition

Bowie by Duffy

6th January – 5th February 2017

 

Proud Galleries is delighted to present ‘Bowie by Duffy’; a celebration of the dynamic relationship between two of the last century’s greatest artistic innovators. This exhibition of original prints signed by the late Brian Duffy, is a moving insight into the minds of two exceptional creatives in partnership between 1972 – 1980.

 

Duffy’s iconic images emphasise the longevity of Bowie’s distinctive persona and offer a poignant retrospective to one of the most pioneering and influential performers of modern times, on the anniversary of what would have been his 70th birthday and his untimely death.

 

Duffy worked with Bowie over a period of eight years, conducting five photographic shoots that captured the essence of this perpetual shapeshifter and some of the world’s most memorable images, including the acclaimed Aladdin Sane album cover, now referred to as the ‘Mona Lisa of Pop’. The iconic image is instantly recognised worldwide.

 

Beginning his career as a fashion designer, Duffy’s eye for detail and design transposed into his work as a photographer in a compelling and unique style. His photographs were published in numerous magazines such as Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar, creating some of the most memorable images of celebrities and fashion from the 60’s and 70’s. Determining the face of the era, Duffy enraptured the nation with a creativity that characterised him as redefining documentary fashion photography.

 

Proud Chelsea will showcase the last remaining signed collection of Duffy’s photographs of David Bowie, a compilation which embody the artistic eye of the photographer and Bowie’s unique innovation and influence. ‘Bowie by Duffy’ will be a tribute to a musical innovator, cultural icon and a legend of revolutionary music, art and style.

 

Image courtesy of Proud Galleries. Photo Duffy © Duffy Archive, Photo Duffy © Duffy Archive & The David Bowie Archive

 

“You see this? This is your doing…”*

 

If you already know about this, you may want to go straight to this exclusive artist presale now.

 

The VIP Ticket includes:

 

• Premium seats (rows A, B, C, D – circle – reserved seats)

• Jump the Q

• Poster

• T shirt

 

For those not familiar with this CdB event, here’s a recap:

 

To honour David Bowie’s 70th birthday, Bowie band members, friends, and a massive ensemble of top recording and touring musicians from around the world are getting together for a one-time only series of global goodwill concerts, in aid of local charities, called Celebrating David Bowie. 

 

The London concert takes place in David’s South London birthplace at the O2 Academy Brixton, on what would have been his 70th birthday, 8 January, 2017. Gary Oldman will perform along with others yet to be announced, with proceeds from the show benefitting the Children & the Arts charity,

 

The concerts, announced sporadically, all take place in cities that have a strong connection with David Bowie and his work. All feature the core 30 musicians travelling, plus another 40 or more local musicians, to create a sound like no other.

 

* You probably worked it out already, but today’s Bowie lyric quotation is actually a part of the dialogue Gary Oldman shouts in the wonderfully disturbing video for The Next Day.

 

FOOTNOTE: Gary Oldman and David Bowie are pictured here during the US leg of the A Reality Tour. The picture was taken backstage following David’s show at The Wiltern Theatre, Los Angeles, on 07 Feb 2004. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage)

 

 

CELEBRATING DAVID BOWIE

www.CelebratingDavidBowie.com

Go here for the full press release:

http://smarturl.it/BNetPRBrixtonCdB

 

 

#CelebratingDavidBowie  #CDB

 

“Watching some good friends…”

 

To honour David Bowie’s 70th birthday, Bowie band members, friends, and a massive ensemble of top recording and touring musicians from around the world are getting together for a one-time only series of global goodwill concerts, in aid of local charities, called Celebrating David Bowie. 

 

The London concert takes place in David’s birthplace in South London at O2 Academy Brixton, on what would have been his 70th birthday on 8 January, with proceeds from the show benefitting the ‘Children & the Arts’ charity (http://www.childrenandarts.org.uk/).

 

The concerts, announced sporadically, all take place in cities that have a strong connection with David Bowie and his work. All feature the core 30 musicians travelling, plus another 40 or more local musicians, to create a sound like no other.

 

CELEBRATING DAVID BOWIE

O2 Academy Brixton Sunday 8 January 2017

Tickets £55.00 adv – £150.00 adv VIP from www.ticketweb.co.uk or 0844 477 2000

O2 Priority presale from Wednesday, November 16 at 9:00am and general sale from Friday, November 18 at 9:00am.

 

Keep reading for the full press release.

 

#CelebratingDavidBowie  #CDB

www.CelebratingDavidBowie.com

 

Academy Events presents

 

CELEBRATING DAVID BOWIE

 

EXCLUSIVE WORLDWIDE BENEFIT SHOWS FEATURING KEY

BOWIE MUSICIANS MIKE GARSON, EARL SLICK, ADRIAN BELEW, GAIL ANN DORSEY, STERLING CAMPBELL, GERRY LEONARD AND MANY MORE

 

WITH VERY SPECIAL GUESTS INCLUDING GARY OLDMAN

 

O2 ACADEMY BRIXTON – SUNDAY 8 JANUARY 2017

 

In aid of the Children & the Arts charity

 

Monday 14th November 2016; To honour David Bowie’s 70th birthday, Bowie band members, friends, and a massive ensemble of top recording and touring musicians from around the world are getting together for a one-time only series of global goodwill concerts, in aid of local charities, called Celebrating David Bowie. 

 

The London concert takes place in David’s birthplace in South London at O2 Academy Brixton, on what would have been his 70th birthday on 8 January, with proceeds from the show benefitting the ‘Children & the Arts’ charity (http://www.childrenandarts.org.uk/).

 

The concerts, announced sporadically, all take place in cities that have a strong connection with David Bowie and his work. All feature the core 30 musicians travelling, plus another 40 or more local musicians, to create a sound like no other.

 

The concept grew out of two informal large ensemble shows with over 70 musicians in Los Angeles and San Francisco in the spring of 2016 including Gary Oldman, Seal, Ewan McGregor, Jerry Harrison of Talking Heads, and Bowie band alumni from Space Oddity to the latest Blackstar album. Then came the unforgettably moving tribute to David at The BRIT Awards 2016 where his touring band performed with Lorde to cover ‘Life On Mars’.

 

Bowie’s close friend Gary Oldman, who delivered an emotional speech about David at The BRIT Awards, and this giant ensemble from Los Angeles and New York City, are joined in London by former Bowie band members Mike Garson, Earl Slick, Adrian Belew, Mark Plati, Gerry Leonard, Gail Ann Dorsey, Sterling Campbell, Zachary Alford, Holly Palmer and Catherine Russell, along with many other special guests to be announced.

 

Individually these musicians performed, wrote and recorded together with David through several decades including the 1973’s Ziggy Stardust tour, the Diamond Dogs tour, Isolar II (Heroes) tour, to the hugely successful Serious Moonlight tour, the Sound And Vision greatest hits tour to Glastonbury 2000, Heathen, his final A Reality Tour and many of them appeared on Bowie’s triumphant comeback album, The Next Day.

 

After The BRIT Awards performance, Bowie’s last touring band refrained from further opportunities to honour him as it was still too emotional, but as word reached them about the sincerity of this particular group with Gary Oldman, they slowly decided to come on board to say goodbye to David properly in a grand show, keeping in line with his tremendous legacy. Far from a tribute and never referred to as one, this ensemble includes David Bowie people, playing David Bowie music and in David Bowie style. This is the first and last time this inner circle will do anything like this and these shows are likely to be the last time that they perform his music together; sadly, this may be the closest anyone will come to a David Bowie live experience ever again.

 

CELEBRATING DAVID BOWIE

O2 Academy Brixton Sunday 8 January 2017

Tickets £55.00 adv – £150.00 adv VIP from ticketweb.co.uk or 0844 477 2000

O2 Priority presale from 16.11.16 at 9am and general sale from 18.11.16 at 9am

 

www.celebratingdavidbowie.com              

#CdB #CelebratingDavidBowie

 

“Dress my friends up just for show”

 

Be sure to be in London for what would have been David’s 70th birthday on January 8th, 2017. Stay tuned for venue announcement.

 

#CelebratingDavidBowie  #CdB

 

www.CelebratingDavidBowie.com