David Bowie

Working out of Toronto, Canada, Martin Popoff (martinpopoff.com) has penned more than 100 books on hard rock, heavy metal, classic rock, and record collecting, including Rush: The Illustrated History, Led Zeppelin: Song by Song, Pink Floyd: Album by Album, Bowie at 75, AC/DC at 50, Kiss at 50, and In the Groove. In addition, he has appeared in Revolver, Guitar World, Goldmine, RecordCollector, bravewords.com, lollipop.com, and hardradio.com. Martin also worked on the award-winning documentaries Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage and ZZ Top: That Little Ol’ Band from Texas for Banger Films.

“Scream Like a Baby:” David Robert Jones is born in London, England.
January 8, 1947
 
“Teenage Wildlife:” Bromley Technical High School
1958
 
“Boys Keep Swinging:” David receives the punch seen ‘round the world from school chum George Underwood.
January 1962
 
“There Is a Happy Land:” Bowie sees the release of his first record, a single called “Liza Jane,” credited to Davie Jones & The King Bees.
June 5, 1964
 
“Silly Boy Blue:” David Bowie issues his debut album.
June 1, 1967
 
“Moonage Daydream:” Neil Armstrong becomes the first man to walk on the moon.
July 11, 1969 (release date of “Space Oddity” single), July 20, 1969 (the moonwalk),
 
“Wild Eyed Boy from Freecloud:” David Bowie issues his second album, also a self-titled.
November 14, 1969 (release date second David Bowie album, a.k.a. Space Oddity)
 
“All the Young Dudes:” Bowie and Mick Ronson perform live together for the first time.
February 5, 1970 (BBC session)
 
“Rebel Rebel:” David marries Angela Barnett.
March 12, 1970
 
“Sons of the Silent Age:” The Man Who Sold the World
November 4, 1970
 
“All the Madmen:” David meets Iggy Pop and Lou Reed on the US tour for The Man Who Sold the World.
Early 1971 (tour of the US)
 
“Lady Stardust:” Hunky Dory
December 17, 1971
 
“It’s No Game:” David Bowie tells Melody Maker magazine that he is gay.
January 22, 1972
 
“Across the Universe:” The rise of Ziggy Stardust
June 2, 1972 (release date of Ziggy Stardust), July 6, 1972 (“Starman” on Top of the Pops)
 
“The Pretty Things Are Going to Hell:” David produces Iggy and the Stooges’ Raw Power.
February 7, 1973
 
“Slip Away:” Aladdin Sane
April 13, 1973
 
“Here Comes the Night:” David Bowie “retires.”
July 3, 1973
 
“I’m Dreaming My Life:” Pin Ups
October 19, 1973
 
“A New Career in a New Town:” Ex-Pat
March 29, 1974 (moves away from Britain, never to reside there again)
 
“We Are the Dead:” Plastic Soul Pt. I
May 24, 1974 (release date of Diamond Dogs)
 
“Where Have All the Good Times Gone:” David Live
October 29, 1974
 
“I Can’t Explain:” David appears on The Dick Cavett Show.
December 5, 1974
 
“She’ll Drive the Big Car:” BBC airs Alan Yentob’s Bowie documentary Cracked Actor.
January 26, 1975
 
“Sweet Thing:” Plastic Soul Pt. II
March 7, 1975 (release date of Young Americans)
 
“Bring Me the Disco King:” David has his first US #1 when “Fame” it’s the top of the Billboard charts.
September 20, 1975
 
“Five Years:” After finding out he was broke, David breaks ties with manager Tony Defries.
October 1975
 
“Blackout:” The Thin White Duke
January 23, 1976 (release date of Station to Station)
 
“Across the Universe:” The Man Who Fell to Earth
March 18, 1976
 
“Can You Hear Me:” RCA issue the platinum-selling Bowie greatest hits record Changesonebowie.
May 21, 1976
 
““This Is Not America:” The Berlin Years
Late 1976 (move to Berlin plus beginning collaboration with Brian Eno)
 
“Modern Love:” David tells Playboy he’s bisexual.
September 1976
 
“The Loneliest Guy:” Low
January 14, 1977
 
“Dum Dum Boys:” The Idiot, Lust for Life and later, the recycling thereof
March 18, 1977 (The Idiot), August 19, 1977 (Lust for Life)
 
“Beauty and the Beast:” “Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy” with Bing Crosby
September 11, 1977
 
“Speed of Life:” David apologizes in Melody Maker for previous statements supporting fascism, blaming it on the drugs.
October 1977
 
“Future Legend:” A slow-burning hit with “Heroes” if not so much “Heroes”
October 14, 1977
 
“A Small Plot of Land:” Lodger
May 25, 1979
 
“Fashion:” David performs on Saturday Night Live, accompanied by Klaus Nomi.
December 15, 1979
 
“Cracked Actor:” David Bowie premieres in the theatrical production of Elephant Man.
July 29, 1980
 
“New Killer Star:” David appears on The Tonight Show.
September 5, 1980
 
“Art Decade:” Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)
September 12, 1980
 
“Too Dizzy:” “Under Pressure”
October 26, 1981 (release date of single), May 21, 1982 (release date of Hot Space)
 
“Look Back in Anger:” David criticizes MTV for not playing more videos by black artists.
January 1983
 
“Starman:” David signs a $17 million deal with EMI, kicking off the collaboration with Let’s Dance.
January 27, 1983 (signs the deal), April 14, 1983 (release date of Let’s Dance)
 
“The Stars (Are Out Tonight):” The Serious Moonlight tour hits the US Festival.
May 30, 1983
 
“Day-In Day-Out:” David tells Rolling Stone he’s a closet heterosexual.
1983
 
“Sense of Doubt:” Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence
September 2, 1983
 
“Shake It:” Tonight
September 24, 1984
 
“Hang Onto Yourself:” David Bowie’s influential older brother Terry Burns commits suicide.
January 16, 1985
 
“Beat of Your Drum:” Bowie and Jagger duet on “Dancing in the Street” in support of Live Aid.
July 13, 1985
 
“Fascination:” Labyrinth
June 27, 1986
 
“Rock ‘n’ Roll with Me:” David co-produces and writes six songs on Iggy Pop’s Blah-Blah-Blah album.
October 23, 1986
 
“Come and Buy Me Toys:” Never Let Me Down and The Glass Spider Tour
April 20, 1987 (release date of Never Let Me Down), March 17 – November 28, 1987 (Glass Spider tour)
 
“You Belong in Rock ‘n’ Roll:” “Tin machine, tin machine…”
May 22, 1989
 
“Reality:” The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert
April 20, 1992
 
“Girl Loves Me:” David marries Iman Abdulmajid.
April 24, 1992
 
“You’ve Been Around:” Black Tie White Noise
April 5, 1993
 
“Breaking Glass:” The infamous co-headline US tour with Nine Inch Nails
September 14, 1995 – October 31, 1995
 
“Dead Man Walking:” 1. Outside
September 26, 1995
 
“Win:” Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction
January 17, 1996
 
“Everyone Says ‘Hi:’” David’s 50th birthday concert at Madison Square Garden
January 9, 1997
 
“Joe the Lion:” David Bowie and the Urban Jungle
February 3, 1997 (Earthling release date)
 
“I Can’t Give Everything Away:” Bowie Bonds
February 6, 1997
 
“Looking for Satellites:” David launches Bowienet, essentially the first good website by a musician.
September 1, 1998
 
“Looking for Water:” ‘hours…’
October 4, 1999
 
“I’m Afraid of Americans” The Concert for New York City
October 20, 2001
 
“I Took a Trip on a Gemini Spaceship:” Heathen
June 11, 2002
 
“Boss of Me:” David Bowie turns down a knighthood
2003
 
“Fantastic Voyage:” David Bowie performs his last full concert.
June 25, 2004
 
“Fame:” The Grammys bestow upon Bowie a Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award.
February 8, 2006
 
“Dancing Out in Space:” David’s last public performance is a three-song set at a charity event at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York.
November 9, 2006
 
“Where Are We Now?:” Reality
September 16, 2003
 
“Lazarus:” The Next Day
March 8, 2013
 
“Golden Years:” David Bowie is opens at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
March 22, 2013 (opening day)
 
“Ashes to Ashes:” David Bowie delivers Blackstar, then dies in New York.
January 10, 2016