The life of David Bowie

David Robert Jones, also known as David Bowie, was born on January 8, 1947. He had his first musical experience at the age of 13, when he started to learn the saxophone. He played on several bands and in 1966 the 'David Bowie' we all know was born. With high hopes and a handful of forgotten singles Bowie started his career, but only in 1969 his voice was truly heard, through the words "ground control to major Tom". Space Oddity started it all, at a time when young David experimented with mixed media, cinema, mime, Tibetan Buddhism, acting and love.

After his hit on his first album, Bowie's career seemed to be falling in the next years (I can't understand how, this was literally the time "The man who sold the world" came out) but, in 1972 David would show the world probably his most famous persona: Ziggy Stardust. This character and album were followed by others in a similar vein, rock albums built around a central character and concerned with futuristic themes of Armageddon, gender dysfunction/confusion, as well as more contemporary themes such as the destructiveness of success and fame, and the dangers inherent in star worship.

The 70's were wild for David Bowie, he was doing drugs (who wasn't) and following is music career he also started acting, being his first major film "The man who fell to earth" (seems appropriate for him I guess). The following year, he released "Station to Station," containing some of the material he had written for the soundtrack to this film [which was not used]. As his drug problem heightened, his behavior became more erratic. Reports of his insanity started to appear, and he continued to waste away physically. He fled back to Europe, finally settling in Berlin, where he changed musical direction again and recorded three of the most influential albums of all time, an electronic trilogy with Brian Eno "Low, Heroes and Lodger".

In the 80's David finally got control of his drug use, and started investing more in his acting career. Around that decade he also released albums like "Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)", "Never let me down" and "Let's Dance" (and I know you know that one, you're singing it mentally right now, I know).

If I were to describe in detail all of David's achievements and milestones throughout the years I would end up with a book, so I'll skip to the 90's now. Around that time Bowie again changed direction and re-launched his solo career with "Black Tie White Noise", a wedding album inspired by his recent marriage to Iman. He released three albums to considerable critical acclaim and reasonable commercial success. In 1995, he renewed his working relationship with Brian Eno to record "Outside." After an initial hostile reaction from the critics, this album has now taken its place with his classic albums (it's always like this with the critics isn't it?). 

In 2003, Bowie released an album entitled 'Reality.' The Reality Tour began in November 2003 and, after great commercial success, was extended into July 2004. In June 2004, Bowie suffered a heart attack and the tour did not finish its scheduled run.After recovering, Bowie gave what turned out to be his final live performance in a three-song set with Alicia Keys at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York in November 2006. After this event Bowie returned to acting, and he actually voiced a character in SpongeBob SquarePants (how amazing is that?!).

In 2014, Bowie won British Male Solo Artist at the 2014 Brit Awards, 30 years since last winning it, and became the oldest ever Brit winner. Two years later he released his album "Blackstar", dying 2 days after the LP was out (even dying dude was such a badass). Following Bowie's death two days later, on 10 January 2016, producer Tony Visconti revealed Bowie had planned the album to be his swan song, and a "parting gift" for his fans before his death. 

On 15 January, "Blackstar" debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart; nineteen of his albums were in the UK Top 100 Albums Chart, and thirteen singles were in the UK Top 100 Singles Chart. The song also debuted at #1 on album charts around the world, including Australia, France, Germany, Italy, New Zealand and the US Billboard 200. At the 59th Annual Grammy Awards, Bowie won all five nominated awards: Best Rock Performance; Best Alternative Music Album; Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical; Best Recording Package; and Best Rock Song. The wins marked Bowie's first ever in musical categories.

We all know David Bowie was special, a superior being among men, even if you're not a fan, the influence this man had on pop culture is undeniable. This is my homage to the man who sold the world, the great David Bowie!