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- I'm very much a character
when I go on stage
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and believe in my part
all the way down the line,
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right the way down.
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But I do play it
for all it's worth
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because that's the way
I do with my station.
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That's part of what Bowie
is supposedly all about.
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I'm an actor.
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- David Bowie,
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one of the greatest pioneer
artists and rock stars
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of the 20th century,
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a visionary, an
innovator, a provocateur,
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extravagant and controversial.
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He transcended music,
fashion, and art.
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A genuine songwriter,
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whose songs reached
unprecedented heights
around the world.
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A man who kept
expanding, exploring,
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and evolving
throughout his life.
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Inspiring and teaching
generations of musicians
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about blending different
styles of music,
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changeable and unpredictable.
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He remains immortal
in the hearts of many.
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- Music is like a
journey through your life
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and his music punctuated my
life in terms of question marks
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and exclamation
marks and everything.
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That's wonderful about music.
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I kinda followed it through.
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So yesterday is a tragic day
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for a lot of music lovers
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and he's about light
and music and love
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and everything that's
wonderful in the world
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when there's so much
dark in the world
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that some like barriers
they're creative
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and they can just lift anybody.
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So that's why I find
it so sad really
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that someone so special is gone.
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- Listen to the chords he used,
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they are so
unbelievably difficult.
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The song structures
are just incredible.
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He didn't write three
minute pop songs,
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he wrote pieces of art
that we could listen to.
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00:03:07,620 --> 00:03:10,560
- David Bowie was
a rock and roll revolution,
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driven, fierce, and always
wanting to escape conformity,
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an outsider, an adventurer,
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a man out of this world.
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David Bowie was born
David Robert Jones
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on January 8th, 1947 in
Brixton, South London.
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00:03:43,280 --> 00:03:44,830
He came from a
working class family.
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He had strong bonds with
Terry, his half-brother,
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but he grew up in an
unconventional household.
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A dark cloud roamed
over his family.
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A number of his mother's
relatives were touched
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by mental illness and
suffered from schizophrenia.
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Some also committed suicide.
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Terry's mental health
deteriorated later on
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and Bowie was scared
that he would also
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eventually be affected
by this illness.
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In fact, some even said that
the different personalities
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00:04:20,870 --> 00:04:23,630
that David created
throughout his life was a way
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of coping with his latent
schizophrenia tendencies.
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He grew up a complicated man.
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When he was just 15 years old,
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a traumatic event
happened to him.
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Bowie got in a fight over a
girl and got punched in the eye.
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This led him to four months
of hospital treatment,
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after which doctors
came to the conclusion
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that young David wasn't going
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00:04:47,790 --> 00:04:50,870
to see completely clearly again.
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He was left with a
permanently dilated pupil.
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00:04:54,280 --> 00:04:58,560
The incident gave Bowie those
unique extra terrestrial eyes
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00:04:58,600 --> 00:05:00,500
and his most iconic feature.
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00:05:01,980 --> 00:05:06,360
At 17 David was already
different and determined.
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He wore his hair long, really
long considering the times.
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After so many insults thrown
his way about his hairstyle,
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he decided he just wasn't
going to take it anymore.
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He formed a society called the
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Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Long-Haired Men.
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This move was his first
step on the path to fame
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that he would achieve
within five years.
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- Well, I think, we're
all fairly tolerant,
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but over the last two years
we've had comments like darling
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and can I carry a
handbag, thrown at us.
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I think you just
have to stop now.
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No, I like it, and I think
we all like long hair
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and we don't see why
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other people persecuted
us because of this.
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England has a marvelous
habit of being able
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to dissipate everything
through this marvelous media
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and long hair quickly
got dissipated.
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I mean, I used to be able
to stop traffic quite easily
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by just walking down the street,
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no move, not just that,
'cause I had long hair.
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00:06:03,080 --> 00:06:05,420
- A year later at the age of 18,
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00:06:05,460 --> 00:06:08,670
David Jones adopted
the name David Bowie
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00:06:08,700 --> 00:06:11,880
and from then on, he
dreamed of reaching fame.
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00:06:13,290 --> 00:06:15,850
Bowie was fascinated by
space travel and inspired
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00:06:15,880 --> 00:06:17,950
by the British
rocker, Vince Taylor,
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00:06:17,990 --> 00:06:20,470
the legendary Stardust cowboy,
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who after taking too many drugs
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and an emotional
breakdown decided
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he was an alien god on earth.
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He created an androgynous
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and flamboyant persona
called Ziggy Stardust.
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The name Ziggy came
from a tailor shop
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he had seen from a train window.
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Bowie took Ziggy Stardust
as a stage persona.
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Ziggy was for him an
alien rockstar sent
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to earth as a messenger.
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His intention was to
create a character
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who looks like he's
landed on Mars.
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With flame red hair and
striking colorful costumes,
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he quickly developed
his own style
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00:07:01,130 --> 00:07:05,170
and looked extraordinary
out of this world.
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His appearance
actually reflected
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00:07:07,900 --> 00:07:09,970
his feelings of
being an outsider.
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He said that he
often felt a drift
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and alienated from
the normal world,
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but that seemed to
appeal to audiences.
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It made him relatable because
he had something for everyone
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and appeal to people who
thought they were outsiders too.
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They were grateful
to him for that.
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He made them feel like it
was okay to be different.
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- Whenever I
photographed him live,
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00:07:35,550 --> 00:07:40,550
he always had the 20
different costumes and so on.
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He was very different and he
gave people the opportunity to,
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he made people understand that
it was okay to be different.
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And a lot of kids when
they're growing up,
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certainly in the
substances in late 60s,
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they weren't sure not only
of their own sexuality,
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00:07:58,260 --> 00:08:01,160
but of lots of things,
lots of kids are loners,
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00:08:01,190 --> 00:08:03,780
and not just said,
"Well, I'm different.
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You can be different
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00:08:05,020 --> 00:08:06,620
and just get out there
and be your self."
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00:08:06,650 --> 00:08:10,340
And I think he encouraged
a lot of people to do that.
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00:08:10,370 --> 00:08:13,790
And the fact that people
say he was chameleon-like,
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00:08:13,830 --> 00:08:18,760
but in a way I think, he
was an inventor as well,
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an originator, and he never
made the same album twice.
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I think when we were
watching Ziggy Stardust,
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we felt we were part
of a cult really,
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our parents were horrified
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that we would go and see a
man who dressed like that.
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00:08:34,430 --> 00:08:37,260
Bowie was always quite an
underground artist anyway.
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I mean, he was mainstream
because the tabloids
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in the UK were kind of
appalled by the way he looked
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and so it was easy for
them to put a splash
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00:08:49,410 --> 00:08:51,380
on the front cover
and criticize him.
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These are all papers now
who did 20 page pullouts
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about how great he was.
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But at the time they
weren't supportive at all.
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- It became obvious to me
that every young person
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00:09:02,940 --> 00:09:05,810
at some point in their
life thinks of themselves
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00:09:05,840 --> 00:09:09,260
as the other, the
outsider, the freak.
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And they had found in at least
one of Bowie's many personae,
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the other, the
outsider, the freak.
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They related to that,
it gave them hope.
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Bowie had something
for everyone,
including black people.
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Very important in the
United States where he did
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that soul album,
"Young Americans" and
the Live Soul Tour,
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and also in a famous
confrontation on MTV
in 1983, in which
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he criticized them for not
playing enough black music.
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The widest range of people
for the widest variety
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of reasons related to and
felt grateful to this man.
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And I think that that is
the lasting legacy of Bowie
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more so than any particular
song or any particular album.
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00:10:02,180 --> 00:10:04,560
- Just five days
before the first moon landing
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00:10:04,590 --> 00:10:09,290
in 1969, Bowie released
"Space Oddity".
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00:10:09,320 --> 00:10:11,560
It became his first
top five entry
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00:10:11,600 --> 00:10:14,150
on the UK single chart
after its release.
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00:10:22,090 --> 00:10:26,270
♪ This is Ground
Control to Major Tom ♪
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♪ You've really made the grade
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00:10:30,340 --> 00:10:35,350
♪ And the papers want to
know whose shirts you wear ♪
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00:10:36,800 --> 00:10:39,390
♪ Now it's time to leave
the capsule if you dare ♪
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In 1972, he released the
single "Life on Mars",
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which reached number
three in the UK.
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♪ Is there life on Mars
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- There was magic
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and mystery in his
music and lyrics.
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Following this success,
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00:11:07,660 --> 00:11:11,140
his Ziggy Stardust tour
catapulted him to stardom
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00:11:11,180 --> 00:11:15,490
as he toured over the UK and
the USA for a year and a half.
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This started a cult of Bowie
and a long lasting fandom.
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- I'm really trooping, you know.
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This is my life really,
writing or performing.
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I don't know, there's
not much else I want.
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- It was at that
point with Ziggy
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that his previous
releases started flooding
into the charts.
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00:11:35,130 --> 00:11:40,140
And in late 72 and 73
Britain had Bowie IDAs,
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where everything he'd done was
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in the chart at the same time.
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And it was a very
giddy period for people
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00:11:49,520 --> 00:11:51,910
who had not known his
work because it was
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00:11:51,940 --> 00:11:54,940
suddenly like this is the most
productive man of the year.
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00:11:56,120 --> 00:11:59,360
And in early 73,
"Space Oddity" was
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finally a hit single
in the United States.
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00:12:02,330 --> 00:12:04,710
Of course, "Space Oddity" was
helped in Britain by the fact
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that the BBC played it in
coverage of moon operations.
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00:12:10,860 --> 00:12:13,130
- Just when Starman
was a success,
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00:12:13,170 --> 00:12:15,960
just when the Ziggy Stardust
album was a huge success,
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00:12:16,000 --> 00:12:19,350
I saw him playing the
Glasgow, huge venue,
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00:12:19,380 --> 00:12:21,560
and it was so popular
to do two shows.
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00:12:21,590 --> 00:12:24,110
And I was working that night,
I was playing that night.
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So I went along to see
this afternoon show
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00:12:26,420 --> 00:12:28,940
and it was just astounding.
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00:12:28,980 --> 00:12:32,190
I heard four people on stage
making this amazing noise.
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00:12:32,220 --> 00:12:37,230
And the presence that the
man had it was uncanny.
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00:12:38,640 --> 00:12:41,370
It had them tight audience
that palm of his hands.
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00:12:41,400 --> 00:12:44,300
And I seem to remember
in my memory of it
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00:12:44,340 --> 00:12:46,340
'cause it gets colored
over the years,
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00:12:46,370 --> 00:12:49,830
my memory was completely
exciting, vibrant show.
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00:12:49,860 --> 00:12:52,380
In reality, it was four guys
on stage brilliant music
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00:12:52,420 --> 00:12:54,310
and a few flashing
colored lights,
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00:12:54,350 --> 00:12:56,940
but it was something I'd
never experienced before.
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It changed my opinion
on music forever.
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00:12:59,560 --> 00:13:04,570
♪ There's a starman
waiting in the sky ♪
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00:13:05,840 --> 00:13:07,150
♪ He'd like to
come and meet us ♪
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00:13:07,190 --> 00:13:08,980
♪ But he thinks he'd
blow our minds ♪
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00:13:09,020 --> 00:13:13,190
♪ There's a starman
waiting in the sky ♪
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00:13:13,230 --> 00:13:15,750
- Bowie became
famous not only for his music,
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00:13:15,780 --> 00:13:17,960
but also for his appearance,
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00:13:17,990 --> 00:13:20,890
something that the whole
world talked about.
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00:13:20,930 --> 00:13:25,380
He looked strange, but he
was made to be in history.
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00:13:28,310 --> 00:13:33,320
Bowie married Angie Barnett
in 1970, his first wife.
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00:13:34,420 --> 00:13:35,576
She was the one who
actually encouraged him
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00:13:35,600 --> 00:13:38,600
to feel confident in
dressing more feminine.
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00:13:38,630 --> 00:13:41,880
They had a son they
named Zowie Bowie,
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00:13:41,910 --> 00:13:46,430
now known as Duncan Jones,
who was born in 1971.
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00:13:47,610 --> 00:13:49,710
But it was more of a
marriage of convenience,
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00:13:49,750 --> 00:13:51,780
a show business marriage.
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00:13:51,820 --> 00:13:54,550
Their love was doomed
from the beginning.
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00:13:54,580 --> 00:13:55,790
He ended up getting tired
230
00:13:55,820 --> 00:13:58,550
of her wanting to
direct his career.
231
00:13:58,580 --> 00:14:01,170
Their golden years
turned to ashes
232
00:14:01,210 --> 00:14:03,380
and they divorced in 1980.
233
00:14:04,630 --> 00:14:06,770
Bowie declared himself
gay in an interview
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00:14:06,800 --> 00:14:11,800
in 1972 coinciding with his
campaign for stardom as Ziggy,
235
00:14:12,810 --> 00:14:14,740
which was deemed
very courageous.
236
00:14:16,120 --> 00:14:20,640
On other occasions, he declared
himself bisexual in 1976
237
00:14:21,500 --> 00:14:24,200
and in 1993, a closet hetero.
238
00:14:24,230 --> 00:14:26,200
He did say that these
were more a product
239
00:14:26,230 --> 00:14:29,170
of the times than
his own feelings.
240
00:14:29,200 --> 00:14:31,580
He knew that this would allow
him to get more attention
241
00:14:31,620 --> 00:14:35,310
from the media and draw
more audiences to his music.
242
00:14:36,760 --> 00:14:40,900
His goal was super stardom,
to reach worldwide success,
243
00:14:40,940 --> 00:14:44,010
and to be moving the culture.
244
00:14:44,040 --> 00:14:46,740
He refused to be
put in a category
245
00:14:46,770 --> 00:14:48,570
so that he could
have room to work in
246
00:14:48,600 --> 00:14:51,090
and could remain creative.
247
00:14:51,120 --> 00:14:53,880
No label could describe him.
248
00:14:53,920 --> 00:14:56,710
Some declare that he
was more transgressional
249
00:14:56,750 --> 00:15:00,920
than he was ever really gay,
heterosexual, or bisexual.
250
00:15:02,170 --> 00:15:05,200
He probably liked
experimenting out of curiosity,
251
00:15:05,240 --> 00:15:08,590
the same way he experimented
everything else in his life.
252
00:15:10,000 --> 00:15:13,490
Bowie was never politically
engaged or an activist,
253
00:15:13,520 --> 00:15:15,390
but by being a queer icon,
254
00:15:15,420 --> 00:15:18,940
he did a lot for the sexual
revolution of the 1970s.
255
00:15:20,110 --> 00:15:22,670
His influence was even
above the activists.
256
00:15:22,700 --> 00:15:26,530
- You often heard the word
visionary used about Bowie
257
00:15:28,090 --> 00:15:31,640
and he was, throughout the
1970s into the early 80s,
258
00:15:31,680 --> 00:15:34,540
ahead of everybody's curve.
259
00:15:34,580 --> 00:15:39,100
It's very interesting to
read a couple of comments
260
00:15:39,130 --> 00:15:44,140
by people from today's LGBT
community, trying to figure out
261
00:15:45,730 --> 00:15:48,900
how Bowie relates
to today's community
262
00:15:48,940 --> 00:15:51,630
by the standards of
today's community.
263
00:15:53,730 --> 00:15:55,296
Because everybody
notices, well, he didn't
264
00:15:55,320 --> 00:15:57,840
actually do any
political activism
265
00:15:57,880 --> 00:16:00,050
and that's because he was
above political activism
266
00:16:00,090 --> 00:16:02,670
and what he was doing
had a greater effect
267
00:16:02,710 --> 00:16:06,780
than political activism
because he didn't affect laws,
268
00:16:06,820 --> 00:16:11,550
he affected human beings
and he probably did as much
269
00:16:13,550 --> 00:16:17,860
for gay liberation
as any individual law
270
00:16:17,900 --> 00:16:18,970
during the time period
271
00:16:20,170 --> 00:16:23,760
because he liberated the
people in themselves.
272
00:16:23,800 --> 00:16:25,180
- He was weird.
273
00:16:25,210 --> 00:16:27,910
I mean, I have to say
working class kids growing up
274
00:16:27,940 --> 00:16:31,320
in Glasgow, quite a
hard city at the time,
275
00:16:31,360 --> 00:16:36,360
to see this androgyny on
national television was shocking
276
00:16:37,810 --> 00:16:41,920
and unbelievably exciting
'cause the music was great.
277
00:16:41,950 --> 00:16:43,720
The look of the
guy was fantastic.
278
00:16:43,750 --> 00:16:46,340
Him and Mike Ronson, he's
a guitarist sidekick,
279
00:16:46,370 --> 00:16:50,860
were just outstandingly
powerful, but brilliant music.
280
00:16:50,890 --> 00:16:53,930
So it kind of took that
whole, I don't know,
281
00:16:53,970 --> 00:16:55,310
we'll just call it glam rock,
282
00:16:55,350 --> 00:16:56,970
I'm not sure you'd
call it glam rock,
283
00:16:57,000 --> 00:17:00,460
that took that whole idea of
top of the pops been a bit fun
284
00:17:00,490 --> 00:17:02,670
and bubbly in water
and challenged
285
00:17:02,700 --> 00:17:05,320
that held a mirror
up to us all saying,
286
00:17:05,360 --> 00:17:07,670
"Okay, you know what you
think your life is okay,
287
00:17:07,700 --> 00:17:09,376
this is what we can
do, this is acceptable.
288
00:17:09,400 --> 00:17:14,400
This is okay to have
this bizarre presence
on your screen."
289
00:17:15,640 --> 00:17:18,300
Yeah, and you saw it,
you saw people react
290
00:17:18,340 --> 00:17:20,510
in very strange
and wonderful ways,
291
00:17:20,540 --> 00:17:24,580
but it was like a door opening
in the use of that period.
292
00:17:24,620 --> 00:17:29,310
It was a door opening that
exposed them to something
293
00:17:29,350 --> 00:17:31,560
that they had never
ever thought about.
294
00:17:31,590 --> 00:17:35,770
This fantastic, weird, almost
alien light character coming
295
00:17:35,800 --> 00:17:40,460
into your sitting room, it
was just incredibly exciting.
296
00:17:40,500 --> 00:17:43,710
- In 1972, he
released the lead single
297
00:17:43,740 --> 00:17:47,300
to his album "Aladdin
Sane" that would remain one
298
00:17:47,330 --> 00:17:51,330
of his signature tunes,
"The Jean Genie".
299
00:17:51,370 --> 00:17:54,480
It became Bowie's
biggest hit to date.
300
00:17:58,480 --> 00:18:02,030
♪ Jean Genie lives on his back
301
00:18:02,070 --> 00:18:05,760
♪ The Jean Genie
loves chimney stacks ♪
302
00:18:05,800 --> 00:18:07,450
♪ He's outrageous
303
00:18:07,490 --> 00:18:09,460
♪ He screams and he bawls
304
00:18:09,490 --> 00:18:13,290
♪ Jean Genie, let yourself go
305
00:18:14,700 --> 00:18:18,840
In July, 1973 Bowie and his
backing glam rock group,
306
00:18:18,880 --> 00:18:21,430
The Spiders from Mars, performed
307
00:18:21,470 --> 00:18:24,370
at the Hammersmith
Odeon in London.
308
00:18:24,400 --> 00:18:27,130
The sold out concert
was triumphant,
309
00:18:27,160 --> 00:18:29,270
but Bowie made the sudden
surprise announcement
310
00:18:29,300 --> 00:18:32,000
that the show would be the
last show he would ever do.
311
00:18:32,930 --> 00:18:34,310
Later understood to mean
312
00:18:34,340 --> 00:18:37,210
that he was retiring his
Ziggy Stardust persona.
313
00:18:39,110 --> 00:18:40,520
- It was the most exciting thing
314
00:18:40,560 --> 00:18:43,390
I'd ever seen on
stage to that day.
315
00:18:43,420 --> 00:18:48,430
Seeing Bowie marry that
theatricality in a way
316
00:18:49,810 --> 00:18:51,956
with rock music was something
nobody had had ever done.
317
00:18:51,980 --> 00:18:55,120
People were talking about
it for weeks beforehand
318
00:18:55,160 --> 00:18:56,920
and really, really
looking forward to it.
319
00:18:56,950 --> 00:18:59,680
And then on the night, so
many kids were dressed up.
320
00:18:59,710 --> 00:19:01,920
So many people wanted
look like Bowie
321
00:19:01,960 --> 00:19:03,860
and we'd all love to have Panart
322
00:19:03,890 --> 00:19:06,690
and various degrees of success.
323
00:19:08,100 --> 00:19:09,936
Your memory of it at the
time, you didn't have that
324
00:19:09,960 --> 00:19:12,970
to compare it to, you have
nothing to compare it to.
325
00:19:13,000 --> 00:19:17,350
And it was until and the most
exciting thing I've ever seen.
326
00:19:17,390 --> 00:19:18,730
I would still say it was one
327
00:19:18,770 --> 00:19:20,910
of the greatest
shows I've ever seen.
328
00:19:20,940 --> 00:19:23,840
♪ Ziggy played guitar
329
00:19:23,880 --> 00:19:27,430
♪ Jamming good with
Weird and Gilly ♪
330
00:19:27,460 --> 00:19:30,330
♪ And the Spiders from Mars
331
00:19:30,360 --> 00:19:32,500
♪ He played it left hand
332
00:19:32,540 --> 00:19:35,270
- It was some kind of
discovery in the 80s I think
333
00:19:36,610 --> 00:19:41,620
that a lot of what I
am is my enthusiasms,
334
00:19:43,580 --> 00:19:46,240
that I've always
been a very curious
335
00:19:46,280 --> 00:19:47,690
and enthusiastic person,
336
00:19:47,730 --> 00:19:50,490
again, it says from
when I was a teenager.
337
00:19:50,520 --> 00:19:52,900
And that it really
wasn't up to me
338
00:19:52,940 --> 00:19:55,940
to try and identify
exactly what that meant.
339
00:19:55,980 --> 00:19:58,840
I just had to accept
that I was a person
340
00:19:58,880 --> 00:20:00,330
who had a very short
attention span,
341
00:20:00,360 --> 00:20:03,220
who would move from one thing
to another quite rapidly.
342
00:20:03,260 --> 00:20:04,230
Throughout his career,
343
00:20:04,260 --> 00:20:06,120
he appeared in over 30 movies,
344
00:20:06,160 --> 00:20:09,230
television shows, and
theater productions.
345
00:20:09,270 --> 00:20:11,370
His love for acting manifested
346
00:20:11,410 --> 00:20:15,310
in the way he immersed himself
completely in the characters.
347
00:20:15,340 --> 00:20:18,170
He often stated that he
preferred dressing up as Ziggy
348
00:20:18,210 --> 00:20:19,790
rather than being David.
349
00:20:21,170 --> 00:20:23,420
His musical and film roles
added another dimension
350
00:20:23,450 --> 00:20:27,280
to his career, whatever
persona he was playing,
351
00:20:27,320 --> 00:20:30,730
the work was always
creative and imaginative.
352
00:20:32,320 --> 00:20:35,740
His theatricality and
creativity fascinated people.
353
00:20:36,880 --> 00:20:38,780
His shows like "Ziggy Stardust"
354
00:20:38,810 --> 00:20:42,850
and "Aladdin Sane" were filled
with shocking stage moments,
355
00:20:42,890 --> 00:20:46,510
where he looked almost as
if he was being possessed.
356
00:20:46,540 --> 00:20:48,860
As soon as he
walked on the stage,
357
00:20:48,890 --> 00:20:51,170
he unleashed this
crazy character,
358
00:20:52,310 --> 00:20:55,040
but off stage, he was
intensely private.
359
00:20:56,040 --> 00:20:57,520
- That's great.
360
00:20:57,550 --> 00:21:00,420
There must be moments where
the persona takes over,
361
00:21:00,450 --> 00:21:02,320
the character kind of dominate
362
00:21:02,350 --> 00:21:05,740
because all we ever get to
see, but then you see the guy
363
00:21:05,770 --> 00:21:08,740
behind it and it says
the character Manatee.
364
00:21:08,770 --> 00:21:12,880
So it's a vehicle for
him to express himself,
365
00:21:12,920 --> 00:21:14,430
but every time I ever met him,
366
00:21:14,470 --> 00:21:19,340
he was this funny, lovely,
warm, just great character.
367
00:21:21,030 --> 00:21:23,820
- I'm very much a character
when I go on stage.
368
00:21:23,860 --> 00:21:25,310
I feel it.
369
00:21:25,340 --> 00:21:26,836
Yeah, I believe in my part
all the way down the line,
370
00:21:26,860 --> 00:21:28,030
right the way down.
371
00:21:28,070 --> 00:21:30,620
But I do play it
for all it's worth
372
00:21:30,660 --> 00:21:32,116
because that's the way
I do with my station.
373
00:21:32,140 --> 00:21:36,280
That's part of what Beau
is supposedly all about.
374
00:21:36,320 --> 00:21:38,080
I'm an actor.
375
00:21:38,110 --> 00:21:42,290
- I think he was saying
tensely private off stage.
376
00:21:42,320 --> 00:21:47,330
And he can dress up and
be this outrageous figure
377
00:21:48,710 --> 00:21:52,640
of video and film on stage,
but off stage in a way,
378
00:21:53,780 --> 00:21:56,720
he was never much
of a public figure.
379
00:21:58,100 --> 00:21:59,310
- With his fame,
380
00:21:59,340 --> 00:22:01,100
came difficulties
and challenges.
381
00:22:01,140 --> 00:22:03,760
Some of his singles and
albums didn't have the success
382
00:22:03,790 --> 00:22:06,870
that he was expecting and
he was often disappointed
383
00:22:06,900 --> 00:22:09,040
and angered by the
crowd's response.
384
00:22:09,940 --> 00:22:13,460
At 27, 1974, he was also broke
385
00:22:13,490 --> 00:22:16,530
and in serious financial trouble
386
00:22:16,560 --> 00:22:18,570
due to lack of
business management.
387
00:22:19,980 --> 00:22:21,020
- I need the money.
388
00:22:22,540 --> 00:22:24,680
I desperately need the money.
389
00:22:24,710 --> 00:22:28,060
I've been a silly boy about
my financial arrangement.
390
00:22:29,300 --> 00:22:30,896
And it's only over the
last couple of years
391
00:22:30,920 --> 00:22:32,930
that I've been able
to get back anything
392
00:22:34,130 --> 00:22:37,210
from almost 10 years
working publicly.
393
00:22:37,240 --> 00:22:41,000
So I really, I really
have to do this.
394
00:22:41,040 --> 00:22:44,730
I mean, it sits my job
when it sort of it's
395
00:22:44,770 --> 00:22:47,940
like carting your paintings
around the exhibitions
396
00:22:47,980 --> 00:22:49,436
and the gallery is trying
to sell it for you,
397
00:22:49,460 --> 00:22:51,740
and for me, it's the
equivalent thing.
398
00:22:51,770 --> 00:22:52,910
- He also started
399
00:22:52,950 --> 00:22:54,840
to struggle separating
Ziggy Stardust
400
00:22:54,880 --> 00:22:57,470
from his own character off stage
401
00:22:57,500 --> 00:22:59,570
and his personality
became affected.
402
00:23:00,950 --> 00:23:02,470
Bowie was always striving
403
00:23:02,510 --> 00:23:06,270
for innovation, novelty,
and experimentation.
404
00:23:06,300 --> 00:23:08,310
And it turned out that
playing the same character
405
00:23:08,340 --> 00:23:10,340
over and over was exhausting.
406
00:23:11,310 --> 00:23:14,170
His enthusiasm started to fade.
407
00:23:26,150 --> 00:23:30,290
In 1975, at 28, he
relocated to Los Angeles
408
00:23:34,230 --> 00:23:36,710
leaving his Ziggy
alter ego behind.
409
00:23:40,060 --> 00:23:42,960
Bowie released his 10th
album "Station to Station"
410
00:23:43,000 --> 00:23:46,690
in 1976 with a new character.
411
00:23:46,720 --> 00:23:51,730
After Ziggy Stardust came
the elegant thin white Duke.
412
00:23:53,110 --> 00:23:55,196
Again, the persona was based
on a humanoid alien played
413
00:23:55,220 --> 00:23:59,050
by Bowie in the film, "The
Man Who Fell to Earth",
414
00:23:59,080 --> 00:24:03,430
the album may the top five
in both the UK and US charts.
415
00:24:03,460 --> 00:24:06,230
And this put him back on
solid financial ground.
416
00:24:06,260 --> 00:24:10,060
♪ The return of the
Thin White Duke ♪
417
00:24:10,090 --> 00:24:15,100
♪ Throwing darts
in lovers' eyes ♪
418
00:24:16,580 --> 00:24:20,340
♪ Here are we, one magical
moment, such is the stuff ♪
419
00:24:21,450 --> 00:24:25,420
♪ From where dreams are woven
420
00:24:25,450 --> 00:24:27,210
- Again, he was so different
421
00:24:27,250 --> 00:24:29,840
and the influence of
soul on this music
422
00:24:29,870 --> 00:24:31,870
and the kind of music
he'd been listening to
423
00:24:31,910 --> 00:24:36,220
in the US made a
completely different album.
424
00:24:36,260 --> 00:24:40,470
But I loved that persona as
well The Thin White Duke period.
425
00:24:40,500 --> 00:24:43,470
I don't know if it again
it's because I saw him then
426
00:24:43,500 --> 00:24:47,410
and I was so young and it
kind of formed an impression,
427
00:24:47,440 --> 00:24:50,030
but it was so mysterious.
428
00:24:52,130 --> 00:24:54,410
But it was very exotic for me
429
00:24:54,450 --> 00:24:56,760
as a young child, it
was very exciting.
430
00:25:00,830 --> 00:25:02,180
- However, the 70s were one
431
00:25:02,210 --> 00:25:04,590
of the worst
periods of his life.
432
00:25:04,630 --> 00:25:06,910
He became addicted to cocaine,
433
00:25:06,940 --> 00:25:10,080
which caused severe
weight loss and paranoia
434
00:25:10,120 --> 00:25:12,460
and it affected
his sanity deeply.
435
00:25:13,910 --> 00:25:17,880
He overdosed several times
during the year of 1976.
436
00:25:17,920 --> 00:25:20,780
He even claimed that
he was pro-fascism
437
00:25:20,820 --> 00:25:24,300
and compared Hitler to rock
stars, such as Mick Jagger,
438
00:25:24,340 --> 00:25:26,310
which he later on apologized for
439
00:25:26,340 --> 00:25:29,900
and blamed on his
psychosis from cocaine use.
440
00:25:29,930 --> 00:25:31,900
It was a time of huge emotional
441
00:25:31,930 --> 00:25:35,040
and inspirational
struggle for him.
442
00:25:35,070 --> 00:25:36,490
He claimed that
his drug addiction
443
00:25:36,520 --> 00:25:39,870
and delusional behavior
were due to Los Angeles,
444
00:25:39,910 --> 00:25:44,320
which he came to resent as he
felt the city alienated him
445
00:25:44,360 --> 00:25:47,120
and that he was living
like one of his characters.
446
00:25:48,120 --> 00:25:50,260
He was falling apart,
447
00:25:50,300 --> 00:25:53,710
but he realized it and
decided to make a change.
448
00:25:59,300 --> 00:26:01,510
- And as I really didn't
want to be by myself,
449
00:26:01,550 --> 00:26:03,930
I was living more and
more in the style of one
450
00:26:03,960 --> 00:26:08,140
of my characters who
wanted terrific success
451
00:26:08,180 --> 00:26:11,450
because they're all Messiah
figures most of them,
452
00:26:11,490 --> 00:26:16,430
either light or dark shadowings.
453
00:26:18,630 --> 00:26:21,570
And so because I
knew, I really felt
454
00:26:21,600 --> 00:26:24,710
that the material aspect was
something that had to be done
455
00:26:24,740 --> 00:26:27,300
in Los Angeles because
it's driven into you.
456
00:26:27,330 --> 00:26:29,990
It's the food of Los
Angeles, Hollywood rather,
457
00:26:30,020 --> 00:26:32,480
not Los Angeles,
unfair on Los Angeles.
458
00:26:35,860 --> 00:26:37,790
And so I just packed
up everything one day
459
00:26:37,830 --> 00:26:40,030
and I moved back
to Europe again.
460
00:26:41,420 --> 00:26:43,016
- He and his family
left California for Europe
461
00:26:43,040 --> 00:26:48,040
in late 1976 to improve his
physical and mental wellbeing.
462
00:26:49,040 --> 00:26:50,630
He moved to
Switzerland for a time
463
00:26:50,670 --> 00:26:52,500
where his cocaine use decreased
464
00:26:53,910 --> 00:26:56,780
There, he indulged in his
childhood passion of painting,
465
00:26:56,810 --> 00:26:58,810
which was a way for
him to make sure he was
466
00:26:58,850 --> 00:27:02,370
always doing something
productive and creative.
467
00:27:02,400 --> 00:27:05,090
He was also an art collector.
468
00:27:05,130 --> 00:27:07,580
That's the first thing I did
when I got back to Europe,
469
00:27:07,610 --> 00:27:10,690
was to sort of stop thinking
about music and performing
470
00:27:10,720 --> 00:27:13,590
for a bit and think about
something that I hadn't done
471
00:27:13,620 --> 00:27:15,280
for a long time,
which was paint.
472
00:27:16,690 --> 00:27:18,706
And that helped me get back
into music again actually.
473
00:27:18,730 --> 00:27:20,390
Whatever the job in hand is,
474
00:27:20,420 --> 00:27:22,220
is the style that
I tend to adopt.
475
00:27:22,250 --> 00:27:27,220
I'm pretty anti-consistency in
style much as I am in music.
476
00:27:28,640 --> 00:27:30,120
- Would you
give up music for art?
477
00:27:30,150 --> 00:27:33,230
- No, but neither would
I give up art for music.
478
00:27:33,260 --> 00:27:37,130
I am really fortunate
in having both the time
479
00:27:37,160 --> 00:27:38,820
and the inclination and
480
00:27:41,270 --> 00:27:45,690
possibly the talent
to work in both media.
481
00:27:45,720 --> 00:27:47,000
And I'm not a buyer of things.
482
00:27:47,030 --> 00:27:48,690
I think the only
thing that I buy
483
00:27:50,070 --> 00:27:53,380
addictively and obsessively
probably is art.
484
00:27:55,280 --> 00:27:58,840
I'm not really a house
man or a car man.
485
00:27:58,870 --> 00:28:01,220
The only nice car
I've ever bought
486
00:28:01,250 --> 00:28:06,260
for myself was a 1967
HR, one and half,
487
00:28:07,290 --> 00:28:09,710
which is I would get the half.
488
00:28:09,750 --> 00:28:13,820
And I don't know things,
I don't have a plane.
489
00:28:16,060 --> 00:28:18,170
I haven't got very much, Jone.
490
00:28:18,200 --> 00:28:19,580
I'm not a buyer of stuff.
491
00:28:20,620 --> 00:28:21,830
I do tend to regard money
492
00:28:21,860 --> 00:28:24,480
as the order to get
other things going.
493
00:28:25,900 --> 00:28:27,870
I feel more comfortable
with the money.
494
00:28:30,520 --> 00:28:33,840
- But he wasn't
completely over his drug use.
495
00:28:33,870 --> 00:28:37,570
He settled in West
Berlin in early 1977,
496
00:28:37,600 --> 00:28:39,710
joining his friend Iggy Pop
497
00:28:39,740 --> 00:28:42,300
to clean up and
revive his career.
498
00:28:43,710 --> 00:28:46,850
He felt we vitalized, even
though he struggled sometimes
499
00:28:46,890 --> 00:28:48,510
to stay clean and sober.
500
00:28:49,680 --> 00:28:51,650
While he was sharing
an apartment with Iggy,
501
00:28:51,680 --> 00:28:55,240
he started to gain more interest
in the German music scene
502
00:28:55,270 --> 00:28:58,730
and began focusing on
minimalistic ambient music.
503
00:29:00,280 --> 00:29:02,900
In October, 1977, he released
504
00:29:02,940 --> 00:29:05,660
his 12th studio album "Heroes".
505
00:29:05,700 --> 00:29:07,560
It became the best received work
506
00:29:07,600 --> 00:29:11,500
of his Berlin Trilogy
and a commercial success.
507
00:29:12,530 --> 00:29:16,430
♪ For ever and ever
508
00:29:16,470 --> 00:29:20,890
♪ We can be Heroes,
just for one day ♪
509
00:29:29,480 --> 00:29:34,490
♪ We can be Heroes
510
00:29:37,590 --> 00:29:40,490
♪ We can be Heroes
511
00:29:45,910 --> 00:29:48,740
- But Bowie not only knocked
it out of the park with heroes,
512
00:29:48,780 --> 00:29:52,540
he made heroes seem like
an anthem for the day,
513
00:29:52,570 --> 00:29:54,570
we can be heroes
just for one day.
514
00:29:54,610 --> 00:29:57,920
The fact that people
still want to heroes,
515
00:29:59,130 --> 00:30:01,170
even though it was
novel at the time,
516
00:30:01,200 --> 00:30:03,580
shows it's a quality piece
517
00:30:03,620 --> 00:30:05,930
regardless of the fact
that it was innovative.
518
00:30:07,410 --> 00:30:11,250
And similarly the whole
album still sounds great.
519
00:30:13,040 --> 00:30:14,420
- He's described his time here
520
00:30:14,460 --> 00:30:16,770
as the happiest
period of his life.
521
00:30:16,800 --> 00:30:19,560
The city seemed to correspond
with his personality
522
00:30:19,600 --> 00:30:22,770
from his interest in history
from the Weimar Republic
523
00:30:22,810 --> 00:30:25,780
to the Berlin he discovered
here in the 1970s,
524
00:30:25,810 --> 00:30:28,190
his passion for
discovery and innovation,
525
00:30:28,230 --> 00:30:31,020
his interest in art,
which whilst in Berlin,
526
00:30:31,060 --> 00:30:32,680
let him to take
up painting again.
527
00:30:32,720 --> 00:30:35,860
It was here that he seemed
to escape his demons to throw
528
00:30:35,890 --> 00:30:39,410
off creative burnout and
rejuvenate his inspiration.
529
00:30:40,860 --> 00:30:43,760
- By 1978, he'd
broken his drug addiction
530
00:30:43,800 --> 00:30:46,800
and was slowly recovering to
a healthy enough mental state.
531
00:30:48,010 --> 00:30:50,250
Isolar II world tour
was the first tour
532
00:30:50,280 --> 00:30:54,190
where he didn't have to take
copious quantities of cocaine
533
00:30:54,220 --> 00:30:55,700
before taking the stage.
534
00:30:57,120 --> 00:30:59,020
By the time he had reached 30,
535
00:30:59,050 --> 00:31:01,260
his marriage with
Angie had deteriorated.
536
00:31:02,400 --> 00:31:05,160
They reached a
breaking point in 1980
537
00:31:05,200 --> 00:31:07,650
and Bowie gained sole
custody of their son.
538
00:31:08,860 --> 00:31:12,270
This was a bold move
and he was determined
539
00:31:12,310 --> 00:31:14,270
to be a good role model for him.
540
00:31:19,110 --> 00:31:22,010
In 1980, he moved to New
York and made his debuts
541
00:31:22,040 --> 00:31:24,350
in Broadway with "Elephant Man",
542
00:31:24,390 --> 00:31:28,010
where he played a man with a
grotesque disfiguring disease.
543
00:31:29,500 --> 00:31:32,780
He identified with the role
as he always had an attraction
544
00:31:32,810 --> 00:31:36,880
to alienated people,
feeling like one himself.
545
00:31:36,920 --> 00:31:39,540
His work was
critically acclaimed.
546
00:31:39,580 --> 00:31:43,650
- But Bartholomew does
not care about Juliet,
547
00:31:45,030 --> 00:31:46,030
I care.
548
00:31:47,270 --> 00:31:50,860
- Does he take her pants,
does he get the doctor?
549
00:31:51,790 --> 00:31:53,210
Does you make sure?
550
00:31:54,070 --> 00:31:56,490
No, he kills himself.
551
00:31:57,900 --> 00:32:02,500
The illusion follows him because
he does not care about her.
552
00:32:03,980 --> 00:32:06,080
He only cares about himself.
553
00:32:07,290 --> 00:32:09,670
I always look for
characters who have
554
00:32:09,710 --> 00:32:11,880
either an emotional
or a physical limp.
555
00:32:13,300 --> 00:32:17,990
I find that for me not being,
I don't really see my future
556
00:32:19,370 --> 00:32:22,790
in acting to a greater extent
than my involvement now.
557
00:32:22,830 --> 00:32:24,830
So I really liked
to have characters
558
00:32:24,860 --> 00:32:27,350
that I can at least
play around with.
559
00:32:27,380 --> 00:32:32,080
In 1981, Bowie moved to the
new romantic and pop era.
560
00:32:32,110 --> 00:32:33,490
He paired with Queen
561
00:32:33,530 --> 00:32:37,150
for one off single
release "Under Pressure",
562
00:32:37,180 --> 00:32:39,080
the duet was a hit.
563
00:32:39,120 --> 00:32:43,120
♪ Pressure, pushing down on me
564
00:32:43,160 --> 00:32:47,440
♪ Pressing down on
you, no man ask for ♪
565
00:32:47,470 --> 00:32:51,410
♪ Under pressure, that
burns a building down ♪
566
00:32:51,440 --> 00:32:53,550
♪ Splits a family in two
567
00:32:53,580 --> 00:32:54,720
♪ Puts people on streets
568
00:32:54,750 --> 00:32:58,170
He reached his prime at
36 with "Let's Dance"
569
00:32:58,210 --> 00:33:01,930
and other hits such as "Modern
Love" and "China Girl".
570
00:33:01,970 --> 00:33:05,210
"Let's Dance" reached number
one in the UK, the US,
571
00:33:05,250 --> 00:33:08,560
and various other
countries in 1983.
572
00:33:08,600 --> 00:33:11,910
It sold more than 10
million copies worldwide,
573
00:33:11,940 --> 00:33:14,840
making it Bowie's best-selling
album of all time.
574
00:33:16,360 --> 00:33:20,680
♪ Let's dance put on your red
shoes and dance the blues ♪
575
00:33:24,370 --> 00:33:29,370
♪ Let's dance to the song
they're playing on the radio ♪
576
00:33:30,690 --> 00:33:32,170
- If you were starting out now,
577
00:33:32,210 --> 00:33:33,760
I think did I read somewhere
578
00:33:33,790 --> 00:33:36,210
that you said if you were
19, you wouldn't go into
.
579
00:33:37,280 --> 00:33:38,426
- I think that's
probably quite right.
580
00:33:38,450 --> 00:33:41,840
I think I'd probably
just be a fan
581
00:33:41,870 --> 00:33:43,390
and a collector of records.
582
00:33:43,420 --> 00:33:44,740
What would you do?
583
00:33:44,770 --> 00:33:46,250
- I wanted to be a musician
584
00:33:46,290 --> 00:33:50,220
because it seemed rebellious,
it seems subversive.
585
00:33:50,260 --> 00:33:54,750
It felt like one could
affect change to a form.
586
00:33:56,020 --> 00:33:58,470
It was very hard to hear
music when I was young.
587
00:34:00,680 --> 00:34:02,620
When I was really
young, you had to tune
588
00:34:02,650 --> 00:34:06,200
into AFM radio to hear
the American records.
589
00:34:06,240 --> 00:34:07,620
There was no MTV,
590
00:34:07,650 --> 00:34:10,480
it wasn't sort of
wall-to-wall blanket music.
591
00:34:10,520 --> 00:34:13,760
And so therefore, it
had a kind of a call
592
00:34:13,800 --> 00:34:15,320
to arms kind of feeling to it.
593
00:34:15,350 --> 00:34:17,800
Is that this is the thing
that will change things.
594
00:34:17,840 --> 00:34:21,190
This is a dead dodgy
occupation to have.
595
00:34:21,220 --> 00:34:24,780
It still produce signs
of horror from people
596
00:34:24,810 --> 00:34:28,120
who you said you're, I'm in
rock and roll is my goodness.
597
00:34:28,160 --> 00:34:29,640
Now, it's a career opportunity.
598
00:34:31,090 --> 00:34:32,610
- His fan base exploded
599
00:34:32,650 --> 00:34:34,990
as he entered popular culture
600
00:34:35,030 --> 00:34:38,240
by becoming less underground
and controversial.
601
00:34:38,270 --> 00:34:39,960
He reached a wider audience
602
00:34:40,000 --> 00:34:43,210
and appeared more
accessible and mainstream,
603
00:34:43,240 --> 00:34:46,420
topping charts along with Tina
Turner and Michael Jackson.
604
00:34:46,450 --> 00:34:49,700
- I think his breakthrough
kind of crossover album is
605
00:34:49,730 --> 00:34:53,910
obviously "Let's Dance"
and that's when I felt
606
00:34:53,940 --> 00:34:56,430
he'd got a bit too
commercial for me.
607
00:34:56,460 --> 00:34:59,050
'Cause you kind of
like your artists
608
00:34:59,090 --> 00:35:00,810
to be unknown and be underground
609
00:35:00,850 --> 00:35:03,680
and you to be part of the
secret society almost.
610
00:35:03,710 --> 00:35:04,880
- David Bowie is great.
611
00:35:05,890 --> 00:35:06,890
- And ugly.
612
00:35:08,990 --> 00:35:10,270
- I'd like to embrace the idea
613
00:35:10,300 --> 00:35:13,440
that there's a new
demystification process going on
614
00:35:13,480 --> 00:35:15,450
between the artist
and the audience.
615
00:35:15,480 --> 00:35:18,350
I think when you look back
at say this last decade,
616
00:35:18,380 --> 00:35:21,830
there hasn't really been
one single entity, artist,
617
00:35:21,870 --> 00:35:24,390
or group that have personified
618
00:35:24,420 --> 00:35:27,730
or become the brand
name for the 90s.
619
00:35:27,770 --> 00:35:31,360
And like it was starting to
fade a little in the 80s.
620
00:35:31,390 --> 00:35:33,570
And in the 70s there were
still definite artists.
621
00:35:33,600 --> 00:35:35,546
In the 60s, there were the
Beatles and the Hendrix.
622
00:35:35,570 --> 00:35:37,740
In the 50s, there was Presley.
623
00:35:37,780 --> 00:35:40,160
Now it says
subgroups and genres.
624
00:35:40,200 --> 00:35:42,090
It's hip-hop, it's girl power.
625
00:35:43,540 --> 00:35:45,130
It's a communal kind of thing.
626
00:35:45,170 --> 00:35:46,550
It's about the community,
627
00:35:46,580 --> 00:35:49,410
it's becoming more and
more about the audience
628
00:35:49,450 --> 00:35:51,450
because the point
of having somebody
629
00:35:51,480 --> 00:35:54,170
who led the forces
has disappeared
630
00:35:54,210 --> 00:35:56,660
because of the capillary
of rock is too well known.
631
00:35:56,690 --> 00:36:00,530
It's a currency that is
not devoid meaning anymore,
632
00:36:00,560 --> 00:36:03,320
but he's certainly only a
conveyor of information.
633
00:36:03,360 --> 00:36:05,770
It's not a conveyor of rebellion
634
00:36:05,810 --> 00:36:07,980
and the internet has
taken on that as I say it.
635
00:36:08,020 --> 00:36:11,880
And so I find that a
terribly exciting era.
636
00:36:11,920 --> 00:36:14,780
So from my standpoint,
being an artist,
637
00:36:14,820 --> 00:36:17,780
I'd like to see what
the new construction is
638
00:36:17,820 --> 00:36:19,920
between artists and audience.
639
00:36:19,960 --> 00:36:23,930
There is a breakdown, there's
a personified, I think,
640
00:36:23,960 --> 00:36:26,620
by the rave culture
in the last few years,
641
00:36:26,660 --> 00:36:29,350
where the audience is
at least as important
642
00:36:29,380 --> 00:36:32,390
as whoever is
playing at the rave.
643
00:36:32,420 --> 00:36:35,980
It's almost like the artist
is to accompany the audience
644
00:36:36,010 --> 00:36:37,560
and what the audience is doing.
645
00:36:37,600 --> 00:36:40,120
And that feeling is very
much permeating music.
646
00:36:40,150 --> 00:36:42,120
- However, he
eventually came to realize
647
00:36:42,150 --> 00:36:46,120
that being mainstream was
not what he was really after.
648
00:36:46,160 --> 00:36:48,020
He was more used
to being stubborn,
649
00:36:48,060 --> 00:36:50,580
obscure, and confrontational.
650
00:36:50,610 --> 00:36:52,300
- It's quite a relief, really.
651
00:36:52,340 --> 00:36:57,340
I feel a lot more free
in what I do.
652
00:36:58,650 --> 00:37:01,900
I just needed a positive
decision to only do what I want
653
00:37:01,930 --> 00:37:04,760
to do and not do things
for the sake of what
654
00:37:06,830 --> 00:37:10,350
either David Bowie or whoever
I was playing last time thing
655
00:37:10,390 --> 00:37:13,530
like juke or something,
what he was expected to do.
656
00:37:13,560 --> 00:37:16,330
- Bowie always
loved pushing limits,
657
00:37:16,360 --> 00:37:18,710
challenging himself.
658
00:37:18,740 --> 00:37:20,850
He in fact, believed
that a good artist has
659
00:37:20,880 --> 00:37:24,330
to go out of their depth to
become meaningful, and that
660
00:37:24,370 --> 00:37:27,920
it requires some kind of
social dysfunctional nature.
661
00:37:27,960 --> 00:37:32,960
- Incredibly interested artist.
662
00:37:34,140 --> 00:37:37,800
He was interested in
various kinds of music
663
00:37:39,180 --> 00:37:41,800
and of course the various arts.
664
00:37:41,830 --> 00:37:45,940
And he picked up elements from
the avant-garde and all sorts
665
00:37:45,980 --> 00:37:49,500
of areas and incorporated
them into his own work.
666
00:37:49,530 --> 00:37:54,400
I got to a stage two
years ago where I found
667
00:37:54,430 --> 00:37:58,300
that the experimenting that
I was doing was eradicating
668
00:37:58,330 --> 00:38:00,990
a lot of the subject
matter of my writing,
669
00:38:01,030 --> 00:38:02,540
but now I feel for
the next few years,
670
00:38:02,580 --> 00:38:07,340
I'll be concentrating a lot
more basic kind of material.
671
00:38:13,180 --> 00:38:16,730
- In January,
1985, during Bowie's prime,
672
00:38:16,770 --> 00:38:20,840
he received a devastating news
that would break his heart.
673
00:38:20,870 --> 00:38:23,770
His brother Terry had
committed suicide.
674
00:38:25,050 --> 00:38:28,020
It was a difficult and
tragic period for him.
675
00:38:28,050 --> 00:38:29,400
He would later on write a song
676
00:38:29,430 --> 00:38:32,610
about the death of his
brother called "Jump",
677
00:38:32,640 --> 00:38:35,160
but he had to put
his struggle aside.
678
00:38:37,960 --> 00:38:40,550
In 1988, he formed a new act,
679
00:38:40,580 --> 00:38:44,170
Tin Machine, a hard
rock supergroup.
680
00:38:44,210 --> 00:38:47,240
He wants more reinvented
rock and roll.
681
00:38:48,420 --> 00:38:52,010
However, it was hard to
top his previous hits.
682
00:38:52,040 --> 00:38:54,180
Tin Machine didn't
have as much success.
683
00:38:54,220 --> 00:38:58,120
As he had expected as he
was once again experimenting
684
00:38:58,150 --> 00:39:00,950
by doing different things
to challenge himself,
685
00:39:00,980 --> 00:39:03,540
he fell on it from many people.
686
00:39:05,160 --> 00:39:08,330
♪ You belong in rock 'n roll
687
00:39:08,370 --> 00:39:12,930
♪ You belong in rock 'n roll
688
00:39:12,960 --> 00:39:16,510
♪ Well so do I
689
00:39:16,550 --> 00:39:20,520
♪ I love how she moves me
690
00:39:20,550 --> 00:39:21,970
♪ It makes me
691
00:39:22,000 --> 00:39:25,110
The 1990s seem to be the
legend's forgotten decade,
692
00:39:25,140 --> 00:39:27,490
where his work was overlooked,
693
00:39:27,530 --> 00:39:29,110
but he didn't dwell
on the negatives
694
00:39:29,150 --> 00:39:32,120
and he was determined to move
on to the next adventure.
695
00:39:32,150 --> 00:39:33,770
- He had a lot from the 90s.
696
00:39:33,810 --> 00:39:37,540
He had his bad period
for a few years,
697
00:39:37,570 --> 00:39:39,300
but I think in my opinion,
698
00:39:39,330 --> 00:39:42,090
he came back, he
came through that.
699
00:39:42,130 --> 00:39:44,300
And I think in
his own admission,
700
00:39:44,340 --> 00:39:47,170
he would say he was
often taking the money
701
00:39:49,030 --> 00:39:52,340
and his creativity
suffered massively.
702
00:39:52,380 --> 00:39:56,590
- In my tour of television
studios the day Bowie died,
703
00:39:56,620 --> 00:39:59,830
not a single person asked
me about Bowie in the 1990s.
704
00:39:59,870 --> 00:40:01,210
It's as if his work
705
00:40:01,250 --> 00:40:03,220
in that decade had
existed only for his fans.
706
00:40:03,250 --> 00:40:05,530
And even though one of his
albums did reach number one
707
00:40:05,560 --> 00:40:07,010
in Britain during that decade.
708
00:40:07,050 --> 00:40:11,290
But the curious thing is
that Bowie in the 90s was
709
00:40:11,330 --> 00:40:13,990
still an extraordinarily
influential person.
710
00:40:15,190 --> 00:40:17,750
- In 1992, he
married his second wife
711
00:40:17,780 --> 00:40:22,480
in Switzerland, the Somali
American fashion model, Iman,
712
00:40:22,510 --> 00:40:25,790
with whom he had one
daughter named Alexandria.
713
00:40:27,380 --> 00:40:30,860
In 1996, his musical success
was finally recognized
714
00:40:32,350 --> 00:40:35,010
and he was inducted into the
rock and roll hall of fame.
715
00:40:36,320 --> 00:40:39,360
This was a groundbreaking
accomplishment.
716
00:40:39,390 --> 00:40:40,940
- Mr. David Bowie.
717
00:40:49,950 --> 00:40:51,376
- While me and my
buddies are hanging out
718
00:40:51,400 --> 00:40:53,400
on the Hollywood
Entertainment Museum,
719
00:40:55,200 --> 00:40:58,820
I would've just whip out a
mirror on the opposite side,
720
00:40:58,860 --> 00:41:00,450
that's my star up there
721
00:41:01,620 --> 00:41:05,690
with my name written
backwards, divaD eiwoB.
722
00:41:08,210 --> 00:41:09,730
Thank you very much.
723
00:41:09,770 --> 00:41:11,296
If I make any more bad albums,
you can come all over here
724
00:41:11,320 --> 00:41:13,180
and walk all over me, all right?
725
00:41:19,710 --> 00:41:21,710
- He finally
had reached a stable,
726
00:41:21,740 --> 00:41:24,820
successful life, which
gave him more time to focus
727
00:41:24,850 --> 00:41:28,410
on both his passions,
music and painting.
728
00:41:29,720 --> 00:41:31,890
- I'm doing a music
for self gain.
729
00:41:31,930 --> 00:41:35,720
I'm doing a lot of
stuff on the internet.
730
00:41:35,760 --> 00:41:40,040
I'm doing a lot of painting
and a little bit of sculpting.
731
00:41:41,280 --> 00:41:43,700
I'm enjoying married
life tremendously.
732
00:41:43,730 --> 00:41:48,460
It was my 7th wedding
anniversary the
other day on the 6th,
733
00:41:48,490 --> 00:41:49,490
6th of June.
734
00:41:51,770 --> 00:41:55,120
The hub of my creativity comes
from what I do, where I go,
735
00:41:55,160 --> 00:41:58,810
and I put myself in places that
maybe I've never been before
736
00:42:01,130 --> 00:42:04,540
or that I feel there's a
certain tension involved.
737
00:42:04,580 --> 00:42:06,580
I can't really write
or produce much
738
00:42:06,620 --> 00:42:08,930
if I'm in a place
that's relaxing.
739
00:42:08,960 --> 00:42:12,310
I have to have a set of
conflicts going around me,
740
00:42:12,350 --> 00:42:13,970
not necessarily of my own doing,
741
00:42:14,000 --> 00:42:16,760
I've learned that that
is particularly bad idea.
742
00:42:16,800 --> 00:42:18,250
- What do you mean?
743
00:42:18,280 --> 00:42:20,870
- Well, I don't create my
own conflicts in my own life.
744
00:42:20,910 --> 00:42:23,460
I think I might've done
that to quite an extent
745
00:42:23,490 --> 00:42:27,150
when I was young as actually
things are going too smoothly,
746
00:42:27,190 --> 00:42:30,400
being an addictive personality,
747
00:42:30,430 --> 00:42:32,610
I would be drawn
to create conflicts
748
00:42:32,640 --> 00:42:35,300
that would reduce the
attention necessary to write.
749
00:42:35,330 --> 00:42:39,790
Now, I find that I can do it
by observation more than being
750
00:42:40,930 --> 00:42:45,070
deeply involved in a
mess to become to write.
751
00:42:45,100 --> 00:42:46,976
- That means, at personal level,
you don't do drugs anymore.
752
00:42:47,000 --> 00:42:47,930
- No, absolutely not.
753
00:42:47,970 --> 00:42:49,180
- And you don't drink.
754
00:42:49,210 --> 00:42:50,380
- I don't drink either, no.
755
00:42:50,420 --> 00:42:51,676
- Not even a glass
of wine or anything?
756
00:42:51,700 --> 00:42:53,326
- No, it would kill me
if I start it again.
757
00:42:53,350 --> 00:42:54,870
- What do
you mean it would kill you?
758
00:42:54,910 --> 00:42:57,460
- I'm an alcoholic, so it
would be a kiss of death
759
00:42:57,490 --> 00:42:59,010
for me to start drinking again.
760
00:43:01,050 --> 00:43:05,330
My relationships with
my friends, my family,
761
00:43:05,360 --> 00:43:06,990
everybody around me, are so good
762
00:43:07,020 --> 00:43:09,060
and have been for
so many years now.
763
00:43:09,090 --> 00:43:14,030
I wouldn't do anything to
destroy that again, you know?
764
00:43:15,270 --> 00:43:16,486
It's very hard to
have relationships
765
00:43:16,510 --> 00:43:19,210
when you're doing
drugs and drinking.
766
00:43:19,240 --> 00:43:21,350
I felt for me personally anyway.
767
00:43:21,380 --> 00:43:26,180
And you become closed off,
unreceptive, insensitive,
768
00:43:26,210 --> 00:43:27,606
all the dreadful things
that you've heard
769
00:43:27,630 --> 00:43:29,490
every other pop
singer ever saying.
770
00:43:29,530 --> 00:43:32,810
And I was very lucky that
I found my way out of that.
771
00:43:35,500 --> 00:43:40,500
♪ A whisper of hope
that seems to fade ♪
772
00:43:41,570 --> 00:43:42,950
- In 1999, the front cover
773
00:43:42,990 --> 00:43:47,060
of "Hours" showed an older
Bowie with shoulder length hair.
774
00:43:47,100 --> 00:43:49,790
From then on, he never
released anything
775
00:43:49,820 --> 00:43:52,480
as frenetic as he
did in the 1990s.
776
00:43:53,620 --> 00:43:55,930
- A lot of what I
am is my enthusiasm.
777
00:43:55,970 --> 00:43:58,210
That I've always
been a very curious
778
00:43:58,240 --> 00:43:59,590
and enthusiastic person.
779
00:43:59,630 --> 00:44:02,490
Again, this is from
when I was a teenager
780
00:44:02,520 --> 00:44:05,290
and that it really
wasn't up to me to try
781
00:44:05,320 --> 00:44:07,940
and identify exactly
what that meant.
782
00:44:07,980 --> 00:44:10,500
I just had to accept
that I was a person
783
00:44:10,530 --> 00:44:12,150
that had a very
short attention span,
784
00:44:12,190 --> 00:44:14,850
would move from one thing
to another quite rapidly
785
00:44:14,880 --> 00:44:17,510
when I got bored with the other.
786
00:44:17,540 --> 00:44:19,990
I became comfortable
with that and didn't try
787
00:44:20,020 --> 00:44:23,990
and identify myself or trying
to ask myself who I was.
788
00:44:24,030 --> 00:44:26,720
The less questioning
I did about myself
789
00:44:26,760 --> 00:44:30,240
as to who I was, the
more comfortable I felt.
790
00:44:31,690 --> 00:44:34,180
So now I have absolutely
no knowledge of who I am.
791
00:44:34,210 --> 00:44:36,630
I'm extremely happy.
792
00:44:36,660 --> 00:44:40,040
- In 2003, Bowie
performed his Reality Tour,
793
00:44:40,080 --> 00:44:42,250
which would become
his last tour.
794
00:44:43,500 --> 00:44:47,430
♪ And I'm never ever gonna get
795
00:44:47,470 --> 00:44:52,160
♪ And I'm never ever gonna get
796
00:44:52,190 --> 00:44:55,780
♪ Never ever gonna get old
797
00:45:02,760 --> 00:45:05,620
The show was cut short after
a blocked artery forced him
798
00:45:05,660 --> 00:45:08,070
to have emergency heart surgery.
799
00:45:08,110 --> 00:45:11,420
He retired from live
performing three years later
800
00:45:11,460 --> 00:45:15,050
and stepped out of the public
eye to focus on his family,
801
00:45:15,080 --> 00:45:17,740
but he never stopped being
part of the music scene
802
00:45:17,770 --> 00:45:19,810
and continued to produce albums.
803
00:45:33,720 --> 00:45:36,340
On January 10th, 2016,
804
00:45:36,380 --> 00:45:39,900
the world was shaken
by heartbreaking news,
805
00:45:39,930 --> 00:45:43,280
David Bowie died
from liver cancer.
806
00:45:43,320 --> 00:45:45,280
He apparently had
been quietly battling
807
00:45:45,320 --> 00:45:47,970
with it for 18 months.
808
00:45:48,010 --> 00:45:50,490
He had told very
few people about it,
809
00:45:50,530 --> 00:45:54,530
focusing rather on creating
a new album "Blackstar",
810
00:45:54,570 --> 00:45:57,740
which would reveal itself
being a farewell album.
811
00:45:59,190 --> 00:46:01,300
Blackstar reflected
the theme of death
812
00:46:01,330 --> 00:46:04,890
and mortality and
mysticism of the afterlife.
813
00:46:04,920 --> 00:46:07,580
And he wanted his last
album to outlive him.
814
00:46:09,100 --> 00:46:11,960
Days before his death, people
didn't guess that he was ill.
815
00:46:13,140 --> 00:46:15,690
He put on a brave
face until the end.
816
00:46:15,730 --> 00:46:16,900
And even the press wrote
817
00:46:16,930 --> 00:46:19,420
that he looked very
well and healthy,
818
00:46:19,450 --> 00:46:23,320
but behind the podium from
his Lazarus musical premiere,
819
00:46:23,360 --> 00:46:25,980
he collapsed from exhaustion.
820
00:46:27,190 --> 00:46:29,950
Having kept his illness
a secret from the world,
821
00:46:29,980 --> 00:46:33,430
he died two days after
his 69th birthday
822
00:46:33,470 --> 00:46:37,750
and the release of his 25th
and final album "Blackstar",
823
00:46:37,780 --> 00:46:40,890
which took on a whole
new unexpected depth.
824
00:46:42,580 --> 00:46:47,590
♪ By the time I
got to New York ♪
825
00:46:50,140 --> 00:46:55,150
♪ I was living like a king
826
00:46:57,290 --> 00:47:01,770
♪ There I'd used
up all my money ♪
827
00:47:01,810 --> 00:47:06,090
- Obviously, the Blackstar
album, everybody's now,
828
00:47:06,120 --> 00:47:10,260
since he died, has seen
the meaning in the lyrics
829
00:47:10,300 --> 00:47:12,680
and it's really obvious now,
830
00:47:12,710 --> 00:47:14,850
but obviously without him dying,
831
00:47:14,890 --> 00:47:16,620
it wouldn't have been
that obvious at all.
832
00:47:16,650 --> 00:47:20,240
- He was just always out
there ahead extraordinary.
833
00:47:20,270 --> 00:47:23,790
And then the ultimate
834
00:47:24,930 --> 00:47:26,940
artistically planning
for his own death.
835
00:47:28,110 --> 00:47:30,870
When they were making
the album Blackstar,
836
00:47:30,910 --> 00:47:34,560
which actually was in
the first half of 2015,
837
00:47:36,460 --> 00:47:39,470
at one point, Tony
Visconti, his producer,
838
00:47:39,500 --> 00:47:43,500
looked to him and said, "You're
writing a farewell album,"
839
00:47:45,260 --> 00:47:46,300
and Bowie laughed.
840
00:47:47,750 --> 00:47:52,720
Tony Visconti was the first
to realize, this is goodbye.
841
00:47:54,760 --> 00:47:59,760
To make even your final
weekend a work of art.
842
00:48:01,140 --> 00:48:04,700
This is just off the
scale of performance art.
843
00:48:04,730 --> 00:48:08,530
It takes your breath
away, such courage,
844
00:48:09,740 --> 00:48:12,910
and the scene where
he walks backwards
845
00:48:12,950 --> 00:48:14,880
into the wardrobe
and closes the door.
846
00:48:34,730 --> 00:48:36,000
- All his life, he dealt
847
00:48:36,040 --> 00:48:38,840
with personal and
professional struggles.
848
00:48:38,870 --> 00:48:42,490
And his career wasn't always
filled with successes,
849
00:48:42,530 --> 00:48:45,950
but he always overcame
what life through at him.
850
00:48:45,980 --> 00:48:47,330
- People were actually ringing
851
00:48:47,360 --> 00:48:50,850
in a state of shock
and incredibly upset.
852
00:48:50,880 --> 00:48:55,300
So many people were so touched
by it and so shocked by it
853
00:48:55,330 --> 00:48:59,230
because I think Bowie, because
he was quite over-worldly,
854
00:48:59,270 --> 00:49:03,830
you never really thought
he had the same mortality.
855
00:49:03,860 --> 00:49:06,660
And it was a shock, it
was a terrible shock.
856
00:49:06,690 --> 00:49:09,620
- You can never imagine
such a loss until it happens
857
00:49:09,660 --> 00:49:11,900
because he was a life force.
858
00:49:11,940 --> 00:49:14,730
And the reason why so
many people are touched
859
00:49:14,770 --> 00:49:19,700
by this news is because he
touched their personal lives.
860
00:49:20,950 --> 00:49:22,840
In the 1970s, with all
of those various images
861
00:49:22,880 --> 00:49:25,610
that he went through, he was
always doing some variation
862
00:49:25,640 --> 00:49:29,020
of the other, the outsider,
and every young person thinks
863
00:49:29,060 --> 00:49:31,720
of themselves as the other,
the outsider, the freak,
864
00:49:31,750 --> 00:49:35,240
and they latched on to one or
more of those Bowie images.
865
00:49:35,270 --> 00:49:37,200
And thus his loss
is very personal
866
00:49:37,240 --> 00:49:39,340
to so many people
watching at this moment.
867
00:49:40,760 --> 00:49:42,730
- Bowie channeled
his family's mental illness
868
00:49:42,760 --> 00:49:45,830
by expressing himself
through different personas.
869
00:49:45,870 --> 00:49:49,530
He overcame drug addiction
and found peace and stability.
870
00:49:49,560 --> 00:49:52,250
He never stopped
reaching for the stars
871
00:49:52,290 --> 00:49:54,880
and influenced generations.
872
00:49:54,910 --> 00:49:56,950
Family, frustration,
873
00:49:56,980 --> 00:50:00,810
and failure would shape
the icon we know today.
874
00:50:00,850 --> 00:50:01,990
- He's one of a kind.
875
00:50:04,090 --> 00:50:06,720
This is one reason why
the grief is so widespread
876
00:50:06,750 --> 00:50:10,720
and so deep is because
people know that this is it.
877
00:50:10,750 --> 00:50:11,760
That was it.
878
00:50:13,170 --> 00:50:15,730
Just to think that the earth
is billions of years old
879
00:50:15,760 --> 00:50:18,590
and you happen to live at
the same time as David Bowie.
880
00:50:19,760 --> 00:50:22,490
Well, we did see someone
unique that's for sure.
881
00:50:23,660 --> 00:50:25,560
- He did everything
and he never stopped.
882
00:50:25,600 --> 00:50:29,220
He never stopped challenging
himself for his audience
883
00:50:29,260 --> 00:50:31,020
and I think that's
incredibly special.
884
00:50:31,050 --> 00:50:32,400
I mean, when you look
885
00:50:32,430 --> 00:50:36,370
at today's artists no
one's pushing it like that.
886
00:50:37,540 --> 00:50:39,206
It just doesn't touch
people in the same way.
887
00:50:39,230 --> 00:50:40,540
- It's
magic, his music is magic.
888
00:50:40,580 --> 00:50:43,200
It takes you places,
it's other worldliness,
889
00:50:43,240 --> 00:50:45,510
it's so spiritualist in a sense,
890
00:50:45,550 --> 00:50:47,240
but it's about romance and love
891
00:50:47,270 --> 00:50:48,496
and everything that's
good in the world
892
00:50:48,520 --> 00:50:50,410
about being different
and being accepted.
893
00:50:50,450 --> 00:50:52,690
- He teaches us that
change is possible,
894
00:50:52,730 --> 00:50:54,630
that we're not fixed
as human beings,
895
00:50:54,660 --> 00:50:57,110
that we can be anything
that we wanna be.
896
00:50:57,150 --> 00:51:00,010
And he also really spoke
to people that are unique
897
00:51:00,050 --> 00:51:02,080
that don't quite fit
in because he was kind
898
00:51:02,120 --> 00:51:06,220
of this alien angel child that
came down to set us all free.
899
00:51:07,740 --> 00:51:11,640
- When he was at his peak, it
was completely all inspiring.
900
00:51:13,160 --> 00:51:17,270
And you go to see the shows and
they'd be utterly different.
901
00:51:18,860 --> 00:51:21,830
Not all of them successful,
but hey, it didn't matter
902
00:51:21,860 --> 00:51:25,660
because come back in six months
and there'd be a new one.
903
00:51:25,690 --> 00:51:27,086
And that's literally
the way it was.
904
00:51:27,110 --> 00:51:30,520
And this is how Bowie could
have the occasional mess
905
00:51:31,630 --> 00:51:33,080
and no one held that against him
906
00:51:33,110 --> 00:51:34,646
because they knew they're
trying something different
907
00:51:34,670 --> 00:51:36,606
and then he'd be back in six
months or something else.
908
00:51:36,630 --> 00:51:41,330
- When I was a teenager,
I had it in my mind
909
00:51:41,360 --> 00:51:43,920
that I would be a
creator of musicals.
910
00:51:43,950 --> 00:51:45,750
I sincerely wanted
to write musicals
911
00:51:47,680 --> 00:51:49,680
for the West End or
for Broadway, whatever.
912
00:51:49,720 --> 00:51:53,410
I didn't see much further
than that as a writer
913
00:51:53,440 --> 00:51:54,860
and I really had
the idea in my head
914
00:51:54,890 --> 00:51:57,070
that people would do my songs.
915
00:51:57,100 --> 00:51:59,210
And I was not a
natural performer.
916
00:51:59,240 --> 00:52:01,730
I didn't feel the
decency at all.
917
00:52:01,760 --> 00:52:04,490
I had created this one
character, Ziggy Stardust,
918
00:52:04,520 --> 00:52:07,250
that it seemed that I would
be the one that would play him
919
00:52:07,280 --> 00:52:09,220
because nobody else
was doing my songs
920
00:52:09,250 --> 00:52:10,490
and the chances of him
921
00:52:10,530 --> 00:52:13,260
actually getting musical
mounted were very small.
922
00:52:13,290 --> 00:52:16,050
And so I became Ziggy
Stardust for that period.
923
00:52:16,090 --> 00:52:19,300
And things sort of
led, I liked the idea
924
00:52:19,330 --> 00:52:21,020
and I felt really
comfortable going
925
00:52:21,060 --> 00:52:22,820
on stage as somebody else.
926
00:52:22,850 --> 00:52:27,860
And it seemed a rational
decision to keep on doing that.
927
00:52:29,480 --> 00:52:31,410
And so I've got quite
decided with the idea
928
00:52:31,450 --> 00:52:33,550
of just creating
character after character.
929
00:52:35,420 --> 00:52:37,520
And I think probably
there must've been a point
930
00:52:37,560 --> 00:52:40,390
in the late 70s,
or in otherwise,
931
00:52:40,420 --> 00:52:42,180
where I felt that
the characters were
932
00:52:42,220 --> 00:52:45,600
in fact getting in the
way of myself as a writer
933
00:52:45,630 --> 00:52:47,880
and I endeavored to
kind of kill them off
934
00:52:47,910 --> 00:52:52,920
and start writing for me as
just a singer songwriter.
935
00:52:54,160 --> 00:52:55,756
I'm not sure if I was
ever successful in that
936
00:52:55,780 --> 00:52:59,030
because I do take a
degree of theatricality
937
00:52:59,060 --> 00:53:00,480
when I go on stage all the time.
938
00:53:00,510 --> 00:53:03,690
It's sort of that's how I
deal with the stage situation.
939
00:53:03,720 --> 00:53:05,310
I'm still not
comfortable on stage.
940
00:53:05,340 --> 00:53:07,860
- But I mean David Bowie
himself is an invention.
941
00:53:07,900 --> 00:53:10,380
I mean, do you think
you've yourself as Bowie
942
00:53:10,420 --> 00:53:12,070
or David Jones
from South London?
943
00:53:14,010 --> 00:53:17,220
- Less and less Bowie,
Bowie, Bowie.
944
00:53:17,250 --> 00:53:22,120
- The astonishing body of work
that an amazing collection
945
00:53:22,150 --> 00:53:25,670
of music that is so
original all the time,
946
00:53:25,710 --> 00:53:28,810
and that sometimes draws on
what's around at the time
947
00:53:28,850 --> 00:53:31,850
and all the times kind
of sets the agenda
948
00:53:31,890 --> 00:53:33,820
for all the new musicians.
949
00:53:33,850 --> 00:53:36,030
I don't think there's a
single rock musician today
950
00:53:36,060 --> 00:53:39,000
who hasn't been influenced by
Bowie in some way or other.
951
00:53:40,620 --> 00:53:43,170
- He was a giant of
the music industry.
952
00:53:43,210 --> 00:53:47,040
Not just someone who had been
successful over a long period,
953
00:53:47,070 --> 00:53:49,520
which is a very
difficult thing to do,
954
00:53:49,560 --> 00:53:53,110
but someone who consistently
pushed the boundaries,
955
00:53:53,150 --> 00:53:55,980
who consistently challenged
956
00:53:56,010 --> 00:53:57,670
what people would
expect to hear.
957
00:53:59,430 --> 00:54:01,160
- He earned
our respect as he chose
958
00:54:01,190 --> 00:54:05,230
to stay true to himself
rather than commercially safe.
959
00:54:05,260 --> 00:54:08,410
- The odds against another
David Bowie are astronomical
960
00:54:08,440 --> 00:54:10,860
because of the
commercial pressures
961
00:54:10,890 --> 00:54:15,100
of the music industry forced
most artists to conform.
962
00:54:15,140 --> 00:54:17,386
Occasionally, there's someone
who stays true to themselves
963
00:54:17,410 --> 00:54:20,830
like Adele and the public
latch onto that and love it.
964
00:54:20,870 --> 00:54:22,970
But very few, even
of those kinds
965
00:54:23,010 --> 00:54:25,250
of artists have the
variety of interests
966
00:54:25,280 --> 00:54:27,320
and talents that Bowie did.
967
00:54:27,360 --> 00:54:29,810
Even now to watch him
in his film roles,
968
00:54:29,840 --> 00:54:33,090
whether they're great films
or not, he is charismatic,
969
00:54:33,120 --> 00:54:35,710
he is a presence
to contend with.
970
00:54:35,740 --> 00:54:38,260
And I think of so many
people watching right now
971
00:54:38,300 --> 00:54:40,640
who will in their minds have
an image of David Bowie,
972
00:54:40,680 --> 00:54:42,160
but it won't be the same image
973
00:54:42,200 --> 00:54:43,990
because he did so
many different things.
974
00:54:44,030 --> 00:54:45,620
Such a variety of styles
975
00:54:45,650 --> 00:54:49,480
and images can only come
from an inquiring mind.
976
00:54:49,520 --> 00:54:54,520
And that's what Bowie had an
intensely interested mind.
977
00:54:55,940 --> 00:54:57,116
He was always picking up
elements of the avant-garde
978
00:54:57,140 --> 00:54:59,250
and bringing them
into the mainstream.
979
00:54:59,280 --> 00:55:01,700
And thus in the 1970s alone,
980
00:55:01,730 --> 00:55:04,670
we had this amazing
progression, science fiction
981
00:55:04,700 --> 00:55:09,710
to bisexuality, to American
soul music, to electronic music,
982
00:55:10,880 --> 00:55:13,090
and the images, Ziggy
Stardust, Aladdin Sane,
983
00:55:13,130 --> 00:55:15,960
The Thin White
Duke, the Soul Look,
984
00:55:15,990 --> 00:55:18,030
the Berlin Electronic
Music Look.
985
00:55:18,060 --> 00:55:19,510
There was so much to digest.
986
00:55:19,550 --> 00:55:24,240
In the 1970s alone, 24
hits singles, 15 albums.
987
00:55:24,270 --> 00:55:25,720
This is amazing.
988
00:55:25,760 --> 00:55:27,286
And that's why people have
been digesting his work
989
00:55:27,310 --> 00:55:29,520
ever since, there's
just so much there.
990
00:55:30,940 --> 00:55:33,560
- My phone started
ringing at 7:00 o'clock
991
00:55:33,590 --> 00:55:37,250
in the morning that David
Bowie's death was announced.
992
00:55:37,290 --> 00:55:40,500
I have not had so many requests
for broadcast commentaries
993
00:55:40,530 --> 00:55:43,980
since John Lennon
day 36 years ago.
994
00:55:44,950 --> 00:55:46,300
That's phenomenal.
995
00:55:46,330 --> 00:55:49,440
That tells you the
widespread impact of Bowie
996
00:55:49,470 --> 00:55:51,990
amongst the current generation
997
00:55:52,030 --> 00:55:53,526
'just that hundreds
of millions of people
998
00:55:53,550 --> 00:55:57,650
all had personal relationships
with David Bowie.
999
00:55:59,240 --> 00:56:03,660
And this is what became so
movingly apparent so quickly.
1000
00:56:03,690 --> 00:56:06,450
This showed you that
somehow some aspect
1001
00:56:06,490 --> 00:56:10,600
of his life had affected
the widest possible range
1002
00:56:10,630 --> 00:56:12,360
of world personalities
1003
00:56:12,390 --> 00:56:14,700
and of course people
who were not famous.
1004
00:56:15,600 --> 00:56:17,670
I found this deeply moving.
1005
00:56:17,710 --> 00:56:21,400
Genius is an overused word,
but I think musically,
1006
00:56:21,440 --> 00:56:25,610
creatively, artistically
David Bowie was a genius.
1007
00:56:25,650 --> 00:56:27,370
For someone of my age,
1008
00:56:27,410 --> 00:56:30,000
he provided a lot of the
soundtrack of our life.
1009
00:56:30,030 --> 00:56:31,890
So we mourn the loss
of a great talent.
1010
00:56:31,930 --> 00:56:34,450
We think about his
family and friends
1011
00:56:34,480 --> 00:56:37,420
who've lost a loved
one too early,
1012
00:56:37,450 --> 00:56:41,350
but I think also we an
immense British talent
1013
00:56:41,390 --> 00:56:43,560
who has enriched
all of our lives.
1014
00:56:43,600 --> 00:56:45,630
- I grew up listening
to David Bowie.
1015
00:56:45,670 --> 00:56:47,220
My mom was really,
really loved him
1016
00:56:47,250 --> 00:56:49,980
and I suppose he was
my first introduction
1017
00:56:50,020 --> 00:56:52,220
to sort of queerness
and outsider-ness
1018
00:56:52,260 --> 00:56:55,570
and just such a strong
joyful presence.
1019
00:56:55,610 --> 00:56:57,570
- Having him as an
influence from when
1020
00:56:57,610 --> 00:57:02,030
I was very young influenced
everything I've done really
1021
00:57:02,060 --> 00:57:05,380
from how I dress to
artwork to everything.
1022
00:57:05,410 --> 00:57:08,210
And just to being
confident in who I am.
1023
00:57:08,240 --> 00:57:11,380
He's done more for me
than anyone could really.
1024
00:57:16,420 --> 00:57:21,220
- I felt he just liberated so
people from mundane things.
1025
00:57:24,910 --> 00:57:26,400
He came from suburban,
1026
00:57:26,430 --> 00:57:28,990
just a lot of people
could relate to that.
1027
00:57:29,020 --> 00:57:33,470
And the how he just
made life just sexy
1028
00:57:33,510 --> 00:57:35,850
and vibrant
throughout his career.
1029
00:57:35,890 --> 00:57:38,720
It's gonna be a very different
world without Bowie in it.
1030
00:57:40,690 --> 00:57:42,960
I hadn't really given it a
lot thought about his passing,
1031
00:57:43,000 --> 00:57:44,450
'cause why would I?
1032
00:57:44,480 --> 00:57:47,870
It's like really thought he
would live forever, really.
1033
00:57:59,150 --> 00:58:01,160
- Few artists
mark the 20th century
1034
00:58:01,190 --> 00:58:03,230
like David Bowie did.
1035
00:58:03,260 --> 00:58:05,230
He was an astonishing,
passionate,
1036
00:58:05,260 --> 00:58:09,200
and eclectic performer that
didn't belong in a box.
1037
00:58:09,230 --> 00:58:11,790
Searching for change
was the only constant
1038
00:58:11,820 --> 00:58:13,930
that didn't change
throughout his life.
1039
00:58:15,270 --> 00:58:19,000
He was a true artist in
every sense of the word.
1040
00:58:19,040 --> 00:58:22,180
His art included not
only his music and sound,
1041
00:58:22,210 --> 00:58:27,220
but also his style
and appearance, his
films, and videos.
1042
00:58:28,390 --> 00:58:30,320
Bowie had a unique
vision and courage
1043
00:58:30,360 --> 00:58:34,050
and seem to turn
everything into art.
1044
00:58:34,090 --> 00:58:36,570
The Human League
Founder, Martyn Ware,
1045
00:58:36,600 --> 00:58:38,540
declared that he lived his life
1046
00:58:38,570 --> 00:58:41,230
as though he were
an art installation.
1047
00:58:41,260 --> 00:58:44,160
His influence is deep.
1048
00:58:44,200 --> 00:58:49,200
- His generosity, his energy,
his spirit, so full, so real.
1049
00:58:50,720 --> 00:58:53,970
That's the essence of being
alive because let's face it,
1050
00:58:54,000 --> 00:58:55,550
how many people can die
1051
00:58:55,590 --> 00:58:58,110
and have 28 albums sell
in large quantities.
1052
00:59:01,110 --> 00:59:02,870
- What he
did is absolutely timeless,
1053
00:59:02,910 --> 00:59:05,050
will be listening to
in 100 years' time.
1054
00:59:05,080 --> 00:59:08,430
Any musicians out there,
listen to the chords he used,
1055
00:59:08,460 --> 00:59:11,740
they are so
unbelievably difficult.
1056
00:59:11,780 --> 00:59:14,160
The song structures
are just incredible.
1057
00:59:14,190 --> 00:59:15,850
He doesn't write three
minute pop songs,
1058
00:59:15,890 --> 00:59:18,680
he wrote pieces of art
that we can listen to.
1059
00:59:18,720 --> 00:59:23,100
- If you were there in the
60s and 70s, you were there,
1060
00:59:23,130 --> 00:59:24,720
if you weren't, you missed.
1061
00:59:25,930 --> 00:59:28,450
You can still love the
music, don't worry.
1062
00:59:28,480 --> 00:59:30,970
But to have been there
as well as to have lived
1063
00:59:31,000 --> 00:59:34,350
through a very special
moment in musical history,
1064
00:59:34,390 --> 00:59:38,150
and David Bowie is one of
the giants of the period.
87154
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