The Bite Magazine - Autumn/Winter 2019 - Issue 26

bite exhibition Images courtesy of Cult Media Collective T he memory of David Bowie will forever be in many of our minds, especially in those who were avid fans of the late singer-songwriter and actor, and those who were very close to him. It was with deep shock and sadness when the news of his passing hit the mainstream in 2016, two days after the release of his final album Blackstar. The chameleon artist and entertainer was a leading figure in the music industry and considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. His flamboyant and androgynous alter-ego Ziggy Stardust emerged after a period of experimentation in 1972, follow- ing the release of his first top-five entry on the UK Singles Charts ‘Space Oddity’ in 1969. Keeping with the futurist space theme during the glam rock era, Bowie had success with ‘Starman’ and album T he Rise and Fall of Ziggy Star- dust and the Spiders from Mars . He then moved toward a sound he characterised as ‘plastic soul’ which garnered him a major successful crossover into the US market. Starring in the cult film The Man Who Fell to Earth fitted the criteria of his space-influenced alter-ego and sci-fi el- ement. Even his 1980 single ‘Ashes to Ashes’ had this par- ticular influence which could be seen as a sequel to ‘Space Oddity’. The song revisited the fictional astronaut Major Tom who was now in space and had regained communi- cation with Ground Control. Even though he told them he was happy, he was deemed as nothing but a ‘junkie’ strung out in heavens high, hitting on an all-time low. Bowie made appearances in other films such as Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence as Major Jack Celliers in 1983; Labyrinth as Jareth, the Goblin King in 1986; The Last Temptation of Christ as Pontius Pilate in 1988; and The Prestige as Nikola Tesla in 2006. Books and exhibitions have been written and based on him including the David Bowie Exhibition at V&A Museum and accompanying book Da- vid Bowie Is in 2013; T he Best of Bowie; The Songs of Bowie; Bowie In His Own Words, and David Bowie: The Last In- terview.