Starman

by Paul Trynka

  Sadly, since I started work on this book and its predecessor, Open Up and Bleed, the following interviewees have passed away: Ron Asheton, Les Conn, Hugh Attwooll, Carol Clerk and Derek ‘Dek’ Fearnley. All of them were enthralling raconteurs; I will miss speaking to them again, as I will Ian MacDonald, always one of the most thought-provoking writers on MOJO, and Mick Ronson, who was unfailingly tolerant with me as a star-struck, novice writer.

  INDEX

  Abbott, Maggie, 202, 229–230, 240

  Allaire studio (Catskills), 381–382

  Alomar, Carlos, 209–210, 214, 222, 245, 248, 254, 337, 365, 372; Young Americans sessions, 214, 215, 224, 225; Station to Station sessions, 242, 243, 244; Low sessions, 259, 261, 262; “Heroes” sessions, 273–274, 275–276; Isolar II tour (1978), 286, 287, 288; Lodger sessions, 288, 289, 290; Serious Moonlight tour, 318, 319, 321; 1995 tour, 367, 368

  Altham, Keith, 277–278, 279, 280

  Anger, Kenneth, 232, 235–236

  The Animals, 33, 43

  Antoniou, Pat (née Burns, aunt of DB), 10, 15, 75, 109, 110, 310, 311, 329, 380

  Apollo moon landing (July 1969), 96, 100

  Apollo Theater (Harlem, New York), 208

  Armstrong, Janet, 332

  Armstrong, Kevin, 330–331, 332, 333, 334–335, 340, 342, 344, 345–346, 351, 365

  art college system, 19–20

  Asano, Suchi, 323, 324, 334, 371

  Asheton, Ron, 175, 258, 391

  Attwooll, Hugh, 197, 207, 227

  Ayers, Tom, 132, 147

  Bad Company, 204, 256, 257

  Bangs, Lester, 216

  Bardell, Wayne, 49, 54, 206, 229

  Barrett, Syd, 135, 194, 388–389

  Bart, Lionel, 2, 77, 93, 124, 128, 129

  Basil, Tony, 211

  Bass, Dorothy, 15, 20, 21–22, 32, 33

  Bauhaus (band), 310

  Bayer, Sam, 366

  The Beatles, 67, 71, 74, 102, 158, 175, 188, 315, 347, 396

  The Beatstalkers, 67, 78, 79, 303, 304

  Bebbington, Dave, 101, 102, 107

  Beckenham Arts Lab, 92–93, 100, 101, 102, 108, 109, 130, 133, 198

  Beckenham Free Festival (August 1969), 101–102, 117

  Belew, Adrian, 286, 287, 289, 290, 291, 347, 348–350

  Berlin, 189, 249, 250, 257–258, 264–265, 266–270, 271–277, 283–284, 285, 307–308, 362; performance of ‘Heroes’ by the Wall (6 June, 1987), 336

  Berry, Chuck, 17, 18, 101, 139, 152, 153, 155, 209, 210, 214

  Berry, Mike, 54–55, 57

  Bingenheimer, Rodney, 131, 132, 163, 173, 174

  Birkett, Jack, 81, 82

  Black Francis, 370, 395 Blackboard Jungle (film, 1955), 17

  Blackmore, Ritchie, 233, 264

  Blair, Tony, 92, 368

  Bloom, John, 34, 35

  Blowup (Antonioni film), 13

  Blur, 293, 357

  Bolan, June, 107–108

  Bolan, Marc (Mark Feld), 55, 64, 77, 112, 114, 160, 161, 163, 193–194, 206, 216, 311; Les Conn and, 35, 36, 50, 51–52; friendship/rivalry with DB, 36, 52, 53, 85–86, 88, 107–108, 179, 194, 202, 216, 219, 277–281; as Mod, 36, 53, 54; shows with John’s Children, 73–74; T. Rex, 78, 86, 98, 121, 124, 159, 278; Tony Visconti and, 78, 85, 86, 107, 124, 125, 202, 280, 281; guitar on ‘The Prettiest Star’, 107–108; ‘Ride a White Swan’, 124, 137; glamming up of (1971), 154, 156, 162, 163; Marc (TV series), 277–281; death of (16 September, 1977), 280–281, 283

  Bolder, Trevor, 1, 150, 151, 157, 159, 160, 180, 194–195, 205–206, 341; Mick Ronson and, 112, 141, 193, 198, 357; in Ronno, 125, 139; Hunky Dory sessions, 140, 141, 142; Tony Defries and, 145, 186–187, 189, 191; US tours (1972–3), 168, 170, 171, 174, 186–187; Hammersmith Odeon (3 July, 1973), 191, 192, 193

  Bono, 3, 355, 383

  Bonzo Dog Band, 73

  Bowes, Nita, 92

  Bowie, Angie (née Barnett), DB’s career and, 95, 98, 104, 106, 113–114, 116, 124–125, 160, 178, 302; relationship with DB pre-marriage, 95–96, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 105–107, 108, 115–116; Ken Pitt and, 96, 100, 106, 107, 115; sexuality of, 106, 129; shops for costumes (February 1970), 113–114; breakdown of relationship with DB, 115, 169, 176–178, 194, 205, 217, 218, 232, 249, 254, 260, 268; open relationship with DB, 116, 164, 176, 177, 182, 190; Scott Richardson as ‘official’ lover, 116, 177, 178; wedding (21 March, 1970), 116; DB’s 1971 obscurity period, 126, 127, 128, 129; pregnancy (1970–1), 130; birth of son Zowie (30 May, 1971), 138; Warhol troupe and, 144, 218; trip to USA (September 1971), 150; criticism of DB as cold and selfish, 153, 311; Ziggy Stardust image and, 154, 166, 302; US tour (1972), 169, 173, 175, 176–178; Tony Defries and, 176, 177, 178, 207; at Oakley Street house, 200; claims of Jagger–DB affair, 202; on DB’s cocaine use, 205; Coco Schwab and, 221, 254, 284, 302; in LA (1975), 236, 237; Clos des Mésanges residence (Switzerland), 249, 253, 254, 268, 283; disrupts Low sessions, 260; in Berlin, 268, 283–284; on Iggy Pop and DB, 269–270; suicide attempt, 283; end of marriage to DB, 283–285; divorce settlement, 302; son Zowie breaks contact with, 302

  Bowie, David (David Jones)

  CHARACTERISTICS AND QUALITIES:

  ambition, 3, 4, 27, 38–39, 49, 74, 85, 185; gay persona, 3, 95, 128–129, 155–157; charisma and charm, 4, 16, 23, 35, 36, 53, 65, 128, 146, 166, 191, 240, 312, 388; self-doubt, 7–8, 52, 79–80, 200; heterosexual male crushes on, 16, 69, 156; coolness, 22, 26, 44, 55; kindness, 22, 149, 206, 219, 246, 248, 297, 311, 312, 335, 341; confidence, 22–23, 35–36, 37, 43, 44, 46, 49, 78, 91, 98, 158, 293, 304, 326–327; womanising (pre-Angie), 23, 36, 43, 55, 66–67; cigarette smoking, 33, 84, 195, 205, 285, 331, 333, 364, 383, 384; talent for self-promotion, 33, 34, 36, 44–45, 48–49; flirtatiousness, 36, 58, 85, 94, 155; ruthlessness, 36, 38–39, 74, 282, 311; suggested selfishness, 39, 248, 311, 341; conservatism, 41, 138, 301, 355, 371; man-child aura, 53, 63, 65, 67, 139, 177, 194, 206–207; narcissism, 54, 157, 237, 248; sexual orientation, 55, 77, 94, 95, 129, 155–157; as loner, 63; children’s trust of, 67; creative risk-taking, 70, 71, 112; genius for delegation, 70, 119, 120, 194, 315; fan persona, 74, 149, 162, 311–312, 327; sharing of songs, 77–78, 161–162, 164, 178, 255, 334; obsession with UFOs, 83–84, 229; effects of celebrity/fame, 90, 166, 206–207, 228, 354, 380, 390; passivity/reliance on others, 91, 98, 99, 104, 108, 119, 125–126, 194, 200, 218; criticism of as cold and manipulative, 91–92, 149, 182, 206, 311; womanising, 95, 131, 164, 173, 190, 217, 231, 232, 256, 284–285, 322–323, 326; motivational/inspirational abilities, 120, 141, 179–180, 383–384; sympathy for outsider musicians, 135, 151–152, 153; obsession with Americana, 150, 151, 170, 208–209; fear of flying, 169–170, 271; coffee drinking, 195, 205, 331; obsession with the occult, 231–232, 235–237, 238, 243; ‘Thin White Duke’ persona, 250–251; nickname of ‘The Dame’, 311, 328, 358; self-awareness, 328

  FILM, TV, RADIO AND STAGE: Top of the Pops, 1–3, 162–163; The Dick Cavett Show, 3, 223; Soul Train, 3; Parkinson show, 10; Ready, Steady, Win, 29; Ready, Steady, Go!, 38, 62; Tonight with Cliff Michelmore (November 1964), 44–45; The Pistol Shot (BBC TV), 84; promotional film (including ‘Space Oddity’, 1969), 90, 283; The Virgin Soldiers, 90; BBC session (October 1969), 103; BBC ‘In Concert’ (February 1970), 104, 110–111, 112–113; BBC radio session (March 1970), 118; BBC ‘In Concert’ (June 1971), 138–139; Basquiat (film, 1996), 148; BBC session (January 1972), 154; Lift Off with Ayshea, 162, 277; Russell Harty Show (January 1973), 179, 180; rumoured film project (Stranger in a Strange Land), 188; The 1980 Floor Show (NBC), 196; Cracked Actor (Yentob documentary, 1975), 219–220, 223, 229, 230; The Man Who Fell to Earth, 229–230, 232, 235, 238, 239–241, 245; The Dinah Shore Show, 271; Marc (Granada TV), 277–281; Bing Crosby Christmas Special (1977), 283; Just a Gigolo, 285–286; ‘Ashes to Ashes’ video, 294; The Elephant Man (play), 295–299, 327; Baal (TV play, 1981), 305–309; The Hunger (film, 1983), 309–310, 378; Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence (film), 313–314, 319; ‘Let’s Dance’ and ‘China Girl’ videos, 318–319, 320; Jazzin’ f
or Blue Jean (Julien Temple video), 327–328; Absolute Beginners (film), 329–332, 334; Labyrinth (film), 332, 334, 378; BBC Radio Theatre show (June 2000), 379; Zoolander (film), 379; The Prestige (film), 388; Extras (TV), 389

  FINANCES AND MANAGEMENT: royalties from ‘Space Oddity’, 106, 109, 119; MainMan contract (1972), 137, 217–218, 228; break with Mercury, 143–144; contract with RCA (1971), 147, 150; riches as fully fledged rock star, 199–200; Isolar management company, 247–248, 288, 319, 321, 347, 372, 378; shortage of funds (1976), 253–254; EMI contract (1983), 317; sponsorship deals, 337, 340, 348; ‘Bowie Bonds’, 372–374, 391–392; buys rights back from Defries, 373; Outside (PR company), 375; losses in recession (from 2007), 392; see also Defries, Tony; EMI; Lippman, Michael; MainMan; Pitt, Ken

  HEALTH: fainting fit (February 1973), 181; Visconti’s concerns (1974), 215; cocaine use and, 222, 234, 236–239; deterioration seen on Cracked Actor, 229, 230; mental deterioration (summer of 1975), 233, 234–239; improvement in 1976 period, 240–241, 245–246; problems on Reality tour (2003), 384–385; heart attack and surgery (June 2004), 385, 386, 387, 390

  INTERESTS AND ACTIVITIES: science fiction, 11, 135; painting and drawing, 13, 20, 240, 267, 305–306, 361, 364; as ‘petrol-head’, 13, 128; literature, 42, 76–77, 121, 135, 199, 280, 296; Tibetan Buddhism, 79, 84, 155, 242; dance, 80–83, 340; use of recreational drugs, 83–84, 88, 89, 92; mime, 86, 88, 90, 148, 211; antiques, 106, 258, 267, 275, 285, 380; photography, 135; boxing sessions, 383

  LIVE PERFORMANCES AND TOURS: as child/in early teens, 17, 19, 20, 25; 1962–June 1964 period, 25, 26–27, 29, 30, 31–32, 35, 36, 38; July 1964–1966 period, 42, 43, 45, 47, 52, 57, 60, 62–65, 69; 1967–69 period, 73–74, 82–83, 86, 87–88, 95, 100, 101–102, 103, 104; with Lindsay Kemp, 82–83; Turquoise/Feathers ‘multimedia’ trio, 87–88, 95; 1970 period, 108, 111, 113, 114–115; 1971 period, 145, 150; at Friars, Aylesbury, 150, 157–158, 164; 1972 period, 157–158, 159–161, 162, 164, 165, 166–167, 168–179; crowd surfing, 160; Rainbow Theatre (summer 1972), 165, 166–167, 261; tours of USA (1972–73), 167, 168–179, 180–182, 185–187, 249; tour of Japan (1973), 178, 187–189; 1973 period, 180–182, 185–193; Earls Court show (May 1973), 189–190; proposed US tour (autumn 1973), 190, 191; Hammersmith Odeon (3 July, 1973), 191–193; Hunger City stage set, 208, 209, 211, 218–219, 221; tour of USA and Canada (1974), 211–213, 218–224; Station to Station tour (1976), 245, 247–249, 250–251, 252–253, 270; The Idiot tour (1977), 270–271; Isolar II tour (1978), 286–288, 291; Serious Moonlight tour (1983), 319–324; San Bernadino festival (1983), 322; Berlin (6 June, 1987), 336; Glass Spider tour (1987), 336–338, 339–340, 390; Dominion Theatre (July 1988), 340; Tin Machine tours, 345–347, 351–354; Sound + Vision tour (1990), 347–350; Freddie Mercury memorial concert, 354–355, 358; 1995 tour, 367–368; VH1 Storytellers performance, 377, 393; Glastonbury Festival (2000), 378–379; in recent years (since 2000), 380, 382–383, 384–385, 386–389; Reality tour (2003–04), 384–385

  MUSICAL CAREER: guitar playing, 1, 57, 88, 203–204, 225; role as ‘tasteful thief’, 2–3, 142; attitude towards Spiders, 3, 170, 187, 191; on plagiarism, 3; ‘repositioning the brand’, 3–4, 216; ukulele playing, 19, 394; saxophone playing, 22, 25, 26, 27, 28, 194, 274; the Kon-Rads, 25, 26–30, 274; stage presence, 30, 33, 36, 42, 160, 211, 222, 287, 321; The Hooker Brothers, 31–32; The King Bees, 32–33, 34, 35, 36–39, 41; joint ‘sales pitch’ with father (January 1964), 33, 34; recording debut (1964), 37; The Manish Boys, 40–47, 48, 57, 305; The Lower Third, 47–50, 52, 56, 57–58, 60–61, 62, 63; adoption/pronunciation of name Bowie, 51; airbrushing of past, 53–54, 63, 135, 284; as ‘fifth Small Face’, 53–54; Mod scene and, 53–54; unreleased Pye material, 57; The Buzz, 62–63, 64–65, 66–67, 68, 69; signs to Decca, 68–69; The Riot Squad, 73–74, 77–78; twelve-string guitar, 87, 97, 98, 127, 198; Junior’s Eyes, 97–98, 101, 103, 108, 110; The Hype, 114, 116–117, 122, 125, 126, 163; role of subordinates, 119, 120, 384; obscurity in 1971 period, 126–130, 135; piano playing, 127, 270, 271; mistakes Doug Yule for Lou Reed, 130–131, 362; promotional tour of USA (1971), 130–133; rapid rehearsal and recording, 142, 152, 171–172, 194, 198, 203, 215, 244, 331; aim to break America, 144, 145, 146–150, 195–196, 197–198; The Spiders from Mars, 150, 157–158, 159–163, 164, 166–167, 170, 174–175, 186–187, 188–189, 191, 192–193; invention of Ziggy Stardust, 151–152, 153–154; Ziggy cover art photographs, 154; Melody Maker interview (1972), 155–157; premier of Ziggy show (January 1972), 157–158; produces Mott the Hoople, 164, 335; produces Lou Reed’s Transformer, 165, 335; produces Iggy Pop, 175, 176, 253, 254–258, 261, 271–272, 282, 334–335, 395; ‘retirement’ (3 July, 1973), 192–193, 219; plans new musical (Tragic Moments), 195; plans for 1984 show blocked, 195–196; The Astronettes, 196, 198, 202, 373; funk/soul period, 197–199, 212–213, 215–217, 221; cutand-paste approach post-Spiders, 199, 200, 202, 203, 225; the ‘contrary action’ and, 244–245, 325; failed attempt at The Man Who Fell to Earth soundtrack, 245, 257–258, 262; heavy-handedness of entourage, 279–280, 378–379; as patron of late seventies New Wave, 291; music video medium, 318–319, 327, 328, 366; white reggae experiment, 325–326; ‘Dancing in the Street’ duet with Jagger, 332; Live Aid concert (1985), 332–333; production skills, 335; re-releases and CD reissues, 347–348; relationship with past catalogue, 352–353; as founding father of Britpop, 357; Brit award for Lifetime Achievement (1996), 368; end of century ‘greatest’ polls, 377; Meltdown Season (Royal Festival Hall, 2002), 382–383; prospects of permanent retirement, 389, 390, 393–394, 396; desire for ‘glorious exit’, 390, 393; back catalogue availability (from 2012), 392; lasting influence and legacy, 395–396

  PERSONAL LIFE: marriages see Bowie, Angie (née Barnett); Iman Abdul Majid; cocaine use see under cocaine; 40 Stansfield Road residence, 7, 9, 11–12, 353; birth of (8 January, 1947), 9; childhood, 11–17, 18–19, 20–21; education, 12, 14, 15–16, 19, 20–21, 22–23, 24, 28, 30–31; move to Bromley (1954), 13; Plaistow Grove residence, 14, 15, 52, 59, 74, 75–76, 78, 360; lasting friendships, 16–17, 301, 394–395; religion and, 20, 243–244, 354–355; early interest in girls, 21, 22, 23–24; early teenage years, 21–25, 26–28; eye damaged by punch (1962), 23–25; as Face on London scene (1964), 40; schizophrenia of brother, Terry, 76, 109–110, 120–121, 310–311; death of father (5 August, 1969), 100–101, 102; airbrushing of past, 135; affair with Cyrinda Foxe, 170–171, 176–177; 89 Oakley Street residence (Chelsea), 199–200; isolation/dislocation (1973–7), 200, 204, 219–220, 222, 225, 228, 229, 233, 237–238, 241, 281; psychological crisis (from late 1973), 200, 201, 204–207, 210, 217–218, 219–224, 225, 227, 228–229, 230–243; move to New York (1974), 208–211; parenting style, 222, 255–256, 300–301, 303, 334, 378, 392–393; clashes with Jimmy Page in New York, 231; lives in LA (1975), 232–239, 241–245; exorcism (June 1975), 236; Clos des Mésanges residence (Switzerland), 249, 253, 254, 268, 283, 300–301, 303, 309; trip to Moscow (1976), 251–252; lives in Berlin (1976–8), 257–258, 264–265, 266–270, 271–277, 283–284, 285; dislike of ex-wife, 284, 302, 331; fracas with Lou Reed (April 1979), 292, 293; relationship with fans, 297–298, 301–302, 345, 385; hires bodyguard after Lennon murder, 301; based in New York (from 1982), 314; Upper Lausanne residence, 314, 315, 371; Geeling Ng and, 318, 322; suicide of brother, Terry, 328–329; Gillman biography (1986), 329; Mustique holiday home, 334, 361; Nichols lawsuit (1987), 339; engagement to Melissa Hurley, 343–344, 350; researches genealogy of the Jones family, 353; absent from Ronson memorial concert, 357–358; visit to Haus der Künstler near Vienna, 362–363; fiftieth birthday celebration, 370; in New York with Iman, 371–372, 379–380, 382, 383, 385, 386, 396; Bermuda holiday home, 375