David Bowie RIP

I didn't listen much to Bowie in college or as a young adult. Based on what i did listen to he certainly would have fit in nicely. I listened to British prog, Genesis, Yes and i listened to Led Zeppelin and deep purple. I was dabbling in jazz fusion.

When i did start buying Bowie CDs in 2001 it was like a new present for the senses and now i own 18 of them. He was so diverse and so brave with his art. The album Low could have ruined his career commercially and it is insanely good.

Because of Bowie's Berlin trilogy i started listening to German art rock, what the Brits call "Krautrock" groups like Kraftwerks, Neu and Harmonia. Another wonderful discovery.

 

Everybody is saying what a surprise this was. Bowie despite years of being so young looking and so youthful for his years wasn't expected to die. He was a smoker.

A lot of self indulgent celebrities would have taken their illness public lecturing us about awareness and raising money for their disease. Bowie obviously did not do that.

Cancer has been in that family lately. Bowie's daughter in law is a cancer surviver. Director Duncan Jones was engaged to Rodene Ronquillo and when she was diagnosed with cancer he promptly married her to show his support. She survived and now his dad is gone.

 

Too many people identify Bowie by that Ziggy period and the Ziggy character which was only for 2 albums and just 2 years. They were incredible but people judge him or look at him only that way. The glam Bowie, the gay Bowie.

People seem obsessed with his sexuality and that androgynous Ziggy character which was 43 years ago. Not the Thin white Duke or the plastic soul Bowie or the slick 80s Bowie. Why is that?

 

SRV played on the Let's dance album he should have played on the serious moonlight tour. Earl slick filled in just fine in his place.

Another thing about Bowie is the plethora of incredible guitar players he worked with. Ronson, Slick, Adrian Below, Robert Fripp, Reeves Gabrels. An incredible eclectic group of musicians.