Saturday 16th June

After many struggling attempts at fame, young David Jones finally came up with a formula for not only success and worldwide acclamation but some wonderful music too.  After shedding the neo-Anthony-Newley vocal affectations of his ‘Laughing Gnome’ era he came up with the magnum-opus of ‘Space Oddity’ with its plaintive vocals and wonderful rising orchestration.  This seemed to come completely out of the blue, and David didn’t really appear to have a clue where to go with it.  There were a few fey songs like ‘Cygnet Committee’ and ‘The Man Who Sold The World’, but it didn’t really gel until he met Mick Ronson and recorded ‘Hunky Dory’.  This album is possibly his best, though most people, myself included, only bought it after they heard ‘Ziggy Stardust’.

David created a separate persona, a super alien rock star, an androgynous red haired and sequin covered being who either took David over or had a life of his own.  Fame and fortune and drug abuse soon followed, along with three brilliant albums ; ‘Ziggy’ itself, ‘Alladin Sane’ and ‘Pin-Ups’.   The sense of excitement was constant – you were never sure if David would implode or where the next album would take him and Ziggy.  And even though Ziggy was officially killed off at Hammermith Odeon in 1973, he still lingered on in the next album ‘Diamond Dogs’ – a darker and harder sound, but still some great songs.  Then all of a sudden and out of the blue Ziggy disappeared and David emerged with a new sound and another great album, ‘Young Americans’.  This was David’s take on Soul and American Black Music and was incredible.  It was followed by ‘Station to Station’, another twist of the kaleidoscope, still recognizably Bowie, but a bit sombre and brooding.  We will leave David now, as his fans wait ever expectant of what on earth he will come up with next.