David Bowie
Born 1947 · Age 79
English singer, songwriter and actor known for continual reinvention (Ziggy Stardust, Thin White Duke), influential across rock, pop and avant-garde music; active 1962–2016.
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Life & Career Timeline
Born David Robert Jones
Born in Brixton, London to Margaret Mary (Peggy) and Haywood Stenton 'John' Jones.
Family settled in Sundridge Park
Family moved to Sundridge Park where Bowie attended Burnt Ash Junior School and continued early education.
Early musical interests (ukulele, recorder, dance)
By age nine Bowie had taken up the ukulele and tea-chest bass, played piano and performed to his Wolf Cub group.
Received Grafton saxophone; began sax lessons
Mother gave him a Grafton saxophone; he took lessons from baritone saxophonist Ronnie Ross, shaping his early musical development.
Sustained serious eye injury
Friend George Underwood punched Bowie in the left eye during a fight; required operations and left permanent anisocoria (distinctive eye appearance).
Formed first band: The Konrads
Bowie formed The Konrads and began performing at local youth gatherings and weddings—his first serious group.
Left school to pursue music; worked as electrician's mate
After leaving Bromley Technical High School Bowie informed his parents of ambitions to be a pop star and briefly worked as an electrician's mate.
Early singles with local bands (Davie Jones era)
Released a series of unsuccessful singles with bands such as The King Bees and Manish Boys under the name Davy/Davie Jones.
Adopted stage name 'David Bowie' and released single
Changed stage name to David Bowie to avoid confusion with Monkees' Davy Jones; released 'Can't Help Thinking About Me' (Jan 1966) under the new name.
Released single 'The Laughing Gnome'
Released the novelty single 'The Laughing Gnome' (Apr 1967); it failed to chart.
Debut album 'David Bowie' (1967)
Released first solo album (title David Bowie, 1967) combining pop, psychedelia and music-hall; commercially unsuccessful at the time.
Signed to Mercury/Philips (post-'Space Oddity')
Contracted with Mercury Records and its UK subsidiary Philips as part of 'Space Oddity' success.
Met Angela Barnett
Met Angela (Angie) Barnett; she would become his wife in 1970 and be an influential figure in his life and career.
Released single 'Space Oddity'
'Space Oddity' issued 11 July 1969 (five days before Apollo 11); became his first UK top-five single and launched Bowie into broader recognition.
Released 'The Man Who Sold the World' album
Released album signaling a move to harder rock and more fully realised artistic identity.
Married Angela Barnett
Married model/actress Angela Barnett (commonly called Angie).
Released 'Hunky Dory' album
Hunky Dory released, featuring 'Changes', 'Life on Mars?' and showcasing Bowie's songwriting growth.
Birth of son Duncan Zowie Haywood Jones
Duncan (later film director Duncan Jones) was born; Bowie wrote 'Kooks' for him on Hunky Dory.
Produced/ wrote for other artists (Lou Reed, Mott the Hoople)
Produced Lou Reed's Transformer and wrote/produced 'All the Young Dudes' for Mott the Hoople—influential production work during 1972.
Launched Ziggy Stardust stage show (Tolworth)
Debuted Ziggy Stardust persona with the Spiders from Mars at the Toby Jug pub, Tolworth, starting the glam-rock era for Bowie.
Released 'The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust' album
Landmark concept album released and became defining record of glam rock; major commercial breakthrough in UK.
Top of the Pops performance of 'Starman'
Performance on Top of the Pops (6 July 1972) that brought Ziggy Stardust into millions of British living rooms and cemented his stardom.
Released 'Aladdin Sane' (UK No.1)
'Aladdin Sane' (described as 'Ziggy goes to America') became his first UK number-one album; spawned hits including 'The Jean Genie'.
Retired Ziggy Stardust onstage at Hammersmith Odeon
Dramatic on-stage 'retirement' of Ziggy Stardust (3 July 1973), signaling major persona shift and end of Spiders from Mars era.
Released 'Pin Ups' (covers album)
Released Pin Ups (Oct 1973), a covers album of 1960s songs that became another commercial success.
Released live album 'David Live'
David Live captured performances from Diamond Dogs tour and charted highly, reinforcing superstar status.
Released 'Diamond Dogs' album
Released dystopian concept album Diamond Dogs (May 1974) containing 'Rebel Rebel' and 'Diamond Dogs'.
Diamond Dogs Tour (June–Dec 1974)
Ambitious North American tour with theatrical staging, choreographed by Toni Basil; high-budget production filmed and recycled into documentary.
Released 'Young Americans' and single 'Fame' (US No.1)
Shifted to 'plastic soul' with Young Americans (1975); 'Fame' (co-written with John Lennon) became Bowie's first No.1 single in the US.
Fired manager Tony Defries; legal disputes ensued
Dismissed Tony Defries as manager; ensuing legal negotiations cost Bowie substantial sums in settlement/earnings concessions.
Appeared on Soul Train (one of first white artists)
Mimed 'Fame' and 'Golden Years' on Soul Train, notable early crossover into US R&B audiences.
Starred in 'The Man Who Fell to Earth' and released 'Station to Station'
Acted as Thomas Jerome Newton in Nic Roeg's film (1976) and released Station to Station, introducing Thin White Duke persona.
Moved to West Berlin to escape addiction and the spotlight
Relocated to West Berlin with Iggy Pop in Aug 1976 to overcome drug addiction and begin a creative period leading to the Berlin Trilogy.
Released 'Low' (start of Berlin Trilogy)
Recorded in France with Tony Visconti and Brian Eno influences; Low (1977) combined krautrock/ambient elements and reached UK #2.
Released 'Heroes'
Second Berlin Trilogy album recorded in Berlin; title track became one of his signature songs (1977).
Isolar II tour and release of live album 'Stage'
Extensive world tour (Isolar II) in support of Berlin-era albums; live recordings released as Stage (1978).
Released 'Lodger' (completing Berlin Trilogy)
Lodger (1979) mixed new wave and world music elements; reached UK top five and contained singles 'Boys Keep Swinging' and 'DJ'.
Divorced Angela Barnett
After months of court battles divorce proceedings concluded and the marriage formally ended in early 1980.
Released 'Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)' and 'Ashes to Ashes'
Scary Monsters (1980) produced the UK #1 single 'Ashes to Ashes' and signalled a creative-commercial balance.
Released 'Under Pressure' with Queen (UK No.1)
Collaboration with Queen became his third UK #1 single and a major hit internationally.
Signed with EMI America Records (reported $17M)
Left RCA and signed a new contract with EMI America reportedly worth $17 million.
Serious Moonlight Tour (1983) major stadium tour
Six-month global stadium tour in support of Let's Dance; reportedly sold over 2.5 million tickets across 15 countries.
Released 'Let's Dance' (greatest commercial success)
Let's Dance (1983), co-produced by Nile Rodgers, sold millions worldwide and produced global hits including the title track.
Won MTV Video Music Awards including Video Vanguard
At 1984 VMAs Bowie received two awards including the inaugural Video Vanguard Award recognition for music video innovation.
Duet 'Dancing in the Street' with Mick Jagger (charity single)
Collaboration with Mick Jagger released as a fundraising single for Live Aid; reached #1 in the UK and #7 in the US.
Performed at Live Aid (Wembley)
Performed at the multi-venue Live Aid benefit (13 July 1985), dedicating 'Heroes' to his young son and participating in global famine-relief effort.
Starred in 'Labyrinth' and 'Absolute Beginners'
Acted in Jim Henson's Labyrinth (1986) as Jareth the Goblin King and appeared in Absolute Beginners; continued acting alongside musical career.
Released 'Never Let Me Down' and launched Glass Spider Tour
Released what he later called a low point, Never Let Me Down (1987), and supported it with the large-scale Glass Spider Tour (approx. 86 concerts).
Formed rock band Tin Machine
Abruptly shifted focus to a band project (Tin Machine) to operate as a full-time band, stepping away from solo superstar status.
Released Tin Machine debut album (1989)
Tin Machine released their self-titled debut (1989); Tin Machine albums collectively sold around two million copies (approx.).
Married Iman Abdulmajid
After a two-year courtship Bowie married supermodel Iman in 1992, starting a long-term marriage that lasted until his death.
Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Honoured with induction in recognition of his musical influence and lasting impact on rock and popular music.
Released 'Telling Lies' as first-ever downloadable song (internet)
On 11 September 1996 'Telling Lies' was offered for download, an early example of direct artist-to-fan digital distribution.
50th birthday concert at Madison Square Garden (all-star)
Held a high-profile 50th birthday concert (Jan 1997) featuring Lou Reed, Frank Black, Dave Grohl, Sonic Youth and others.
Released 'Earthling' (Feb 1997)
Released Earthling (Feb 1997) exploring industrial and drum-and-bass influences; followed by a world tour including South America.
Issued 'Bowie Bonds' securitizing pre-1990 royalties
Financial innovation: securitised royalties from his pre-1990 catalogue (Bowie Bonds), raising $55 million up front; rights returned when bonds matured in 2007.
Launched BowieNet (artist-created ISP)
Launched BowieNet, an early artist-created internet service and fan community (1998), nominated for a WIRED Award in 1999.
Received honorary doctorate from Berklee and French Legion d'honneur
Awarded an honorary doctorate in music from Berklee College (1999) and received France's Legion d'honneur the same year.
Released 'Hours…' (Oct 1999)
Released Hours… (Oct 1999), an autobiographical album; continued career consolidation into the 21st century.
Headlined Glastonbury Festival (closing night)
Headlined the 2000 Glastonbury closing night to an estimated 150,000 people, revisiting a festival he played in 1971.
Released 'Heathen' (June 2002)
Heathen released (June 2002), marking a creative resurgence; Bowie worked closely with Tony Visconti and recorded at Allaire Studio.
Released 'Reality' album and launched A Reality Tour
Reality (2003) followed by the acclaimed A Reality Tour spanning 2003–2004; the tour became his last extensive touring activity.
Suffered heart attack onstage; retired from touring
Suffered a heart attack onstage in Germany during the Reality Tour which cut touring short; subsequently retired from touring in 2004.
Last live performance (charity event) and Lifetime Achievement Grammy
Performed live at a 2006 charity event (last public live performance) and received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (2006).
Appeared in Christopher Nolan's 'The Prestige'
Acted in The Prestige (2006), marking a notable later-career film role.
Curated High Line arts & music festival (May 2007)
Curated a 10-day arts and music festival for New York's High Line, showcasing his curatorial interest in art and music.
Received Webby Lifetime Achievement Award
Honored with a Webby Lifetime Achievement Award for innovation at the intersection of art and technology.
V&A 'David Bowie Is' exhibition (access to archive announced)
David Bowie Archive gave unprecedented access to Victoria & Albert Museum for the 'David Bowie Is' exhibition (2013), a major museum retrospective.
Released 'Where Are We Now?' and announced 'The Next Day'
On his 66th birthday Bowie released the surprise single 'Where Are We Now?' and announced his first studio album in a decade, The Next Day.
Released 'The Next Day' (first album in 10 years)
The Next Day released in 2013, reached #1 in the UK and 18 other countries and #2 in the US, marking a major comeback.
Released compilation 'Nothing Has Changed'
50th year in music celebrated with the career-spanning anthology Nothing Has Changed (2014).
Announced title '★' ('Blackstar') for 28th album
Announced that his 28th studio album would be titled Blackstar (★) and set for release on his 69th birthday (Jan 8, 2016).
Released 'Blackstar' (single) and short film premiere
Lead single/title track of Blackstar released 20 Nov 2015, accompanied by a short film directed by Johan Renck; theatrical premiere in Brooklyn.
Opened musical 'Lazarus' off-Broadway
Lazarus, co-written with Enda Walsh and directed by Ivo van Hove, opened 7 Dec 2015 in New York and ran to sold-out audiences.
Released single 'Lazarus' and performed on Colbert
Released 'Lazarus' (18 Dec 2015) with a video; musical songs from Lazarus were performed on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (17 Dec performance).
Released final studio album 'Blackstar' (★)
Released Blackstar on his 69th birthday (Jan 8, 2016); the album was critically acclaimed and later won multiple posthumous awards.
Died in New York City
Died peacefully on 10 January 2016, two days after Blackstar's release, after an 18-month private battle with cancer.
Posthumous Grammy Awards for 'Blackstar'
Blackstar received multiple posthumous Grammys (including Best Alternative Music Album, Best Engineered Album non-classical, etc.) in 2017.
Key Achievement Ages
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