Ziggy Stardust and his alter ego David Bowie have impacted my life in big ways since back in the 70’s. I adore Bowie’s “The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust” LP and wore the darn thing out, also had a brush with him when a few of my good friends at the time went to see a performance of his when he burst into a tirade at them about them being Jimmy Page’s witches.
I also confess that for a time, I sported a Bowie “Ziggy Stardust” hair cut identical to the cover of the LP.
It all seems like water under the bridge and a moot point…until
A few months ago I shot Street Artist Space Invader a bit on Bowie’s “Moonage Daydream” just for some sport…tee hee. Didn’t hear back until Bowie passed away and then Space Invader used that reference as a tribute/homage to him. Our love affair began about a year ago as I was working on my first book on Street Art in Paris and was looking up some of the artists that I had catalogued.
In fact, as I posted my intentions of using a photo for my column that I shot in Paris from a cab, #spaceinvaderparis marked my copy of the photo that I was thinking about using and chose it to use. So it goes in the world of artists.
Bowie has left an imprint on so many artists and performers that it is hard to imagine anything that I do not having some sort of Bowie influence. None. It’s a safe bet that even Yoko Ono had her share of inspiration from Bowie…no doubt about it. After all, the man did pick up Sean Ono Lennon when he was in Switzerland and spent quality time with the lad after his father, John Lennon, had been assassinated. Lennon and Bowie had collaborated on projects together.
There are so many stories, so much music to tell about and so little space.
“Jean Genie”, “Let’s Dance”, “Rebel Rebel”, “Heros”, “Cat People”, “Blackstar” are all excellent ear candy and his remakes of classics such as “Where Have All The Good Times Gone” by The Kinks, “Like A Rolling Stone” by Bob Dylan are just a few of his stand out interpretations.
Bowie’s performance in the stellar 2006 film “The Prestige” was a dark and haunting reminder of how creepy things can get when two genius magicians compete. Nikola Tesla portrayed as never before.
I knew that Bowie had not been feeling well, but had no idea that it was as bad as it really was. The same thing happened when actress Angela McEwan passed away on December 20…many were shocked to hear who the dreaded culprit was…cancer.
Bowie’s name had been buzzing around for awhile prior to his passing because many thought he was making a comeback of some sort. He was actually working on his coda… There can be absolutely no comparison between Bowie and any other performance artist. He was the master. A very gifted original.
Bowie’s last artistic days were filled with lots of creative expressions that are destined to rise up to the stars above and shine brightly like no other star in the sky. A fitting tribute to a most talented composer and performance artist. Officially Blackstar debuted at the top of Billboard’s Top 200 Chart. It was released on his 69th birthday and then he crossed over shortly after. “Blackstar” is Bowie’s first #1 album and has broken Adele’s “25” record sales breaker.
Breakfast With The Beatles devoted their Sunday morning show to Bowie on 1/17/2016 and what a wonderful potpourri of truly amazing work was presented. Old tunes that were covers of other well known acts blew me away.
It’s comforting to know that there is an excellent David Bowie tribute band by the name “The Band That Fell to Earth: A David Bowie Odyssey” fronted by an excellent composer in his own right…Julian Shah- Tayler. I’ll still be able to get my Bowie fix when it strikes. As one Bowie fan put it “Ziggy Stardust has gone home to Blackstar” RIP David Bowie.
I guess that Nick Koff’s version of “Laugh Laugh” by the Beau Brummels and the memory it sparked of a sordid night at the Whiskey A Go Go in the dressing room with The Grass Roots and The Beau Brummels will have to wait until another time. Did spot a piece of art outside of The Trip where Koff was playing the gig that reminded me a bit of Space Invader. The artist’s name is Blake Bower and the mural rocks with icons: Janis Joplin, Slash, Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix and Carly Simon.
Been working with Promoter Adam Mays to bring a very cool band to NoHo by the name of The Dogs. We go back to the Coconut Teazer and Club Lingerie. Loren Molinare, The Dogs’ frontman and force to be reckoned with, is a seasoned veteran of the LA Rock Scene. It was Molinare that informed me that an Iron Butterfly concert that I had attended in the 60’s at the The Shrine Expo actually had a blank screen and that the only light show going on was the one in our heads…oops there goes the religious experience that my friend Larry had at that show. He thought that he saw God and wanted to go read The Bible. I thought that I saw Native American warriors passing around a peace pipe. Sigh
It also doesn’t hurt that Molinare’s other band is Little Caesar of “Chain Of Fools” fame.
The Dogs only play where it’s cool and happening and I think that NoHo Arts District is living up to the moniker of cool and happening. Fingers crossed!
Author: Caroline McElroy
The muse struck at a young age and began with Ernie’s Record Shop on Lankershim Blvd. In North Hollywood where I purchased my first Beatle record “I Wanna Hold Your Hand” and a record by Major Lance titled “Um,Um,Um,Um,Um,Um”. From there I saw the Beatles at the Hollywood Bowl and I was hooked…on Rock N’ Roll. At the age of 13 it seems as if the magical world of Rock N’ Roll opened up and welcomed me. A trip to Indio with Frank Zappa and possee, and subsequent gigs as a dancer at The Teen Fairs at the Hollywood Palladium sealed the deal. As a trained journalist, I’ve written for magazines, newsletters,newspapers and blogs. In addition, I have run a nightclub by the name of The Cave. Music is the thread that weaves a patchwork quilt of genres, venues and experience out of my life and in the process have introduced many fine acts to my followers. For the rest of my story dear readers, read my articles and it will unfold like the petals of a lotus flower. Sometimes you’ve gotta wear the hat to remind people who they are dealing with. LOL