I heard the news today…* Bowie the country hit maker; Killerstar’s new single; new editions of “Labyrinth” and “Basquiat;” Bowie’s art; Lou Reed’s “Transformer,” plus lists, profiles and MUCH MORE!
This is my weekly summary of news about Bowie. The bolded titles link to the original stories I summarize below. Read on…
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NEWS
Bowie’s #1 Country Hit? David Bowie has achieved his first-ever #1 on the country charts posthumously, thanks to Chris Young’s latest single, “Young Love & Saturday Nights,” which is based on Bowie’s 1974 hit “Rebel Rebel.”
KillerStar’s New “Falling Through” Video. KillerStar, a band featuring several of David Bowie’s longtime collaborators, has released a new acoustic video for their song “Falling Through” from their upcoming KillerStar Reimagined album, which includes reworked tracks produced by Mark Plati, who previously worked with Bowie. Click HERE to see the video.
More on Herbie Flowers. I linked to an early story about the death of bassist Herbie Flowers last week, but there’s been much more coverage this week. This particular link is to the New York Times obituary. Flowers played on more than 500 albums including Diamond Dogs.
4K UHD and Blu-ray Labyrinth will be available on November 19. Shout! Studios is releasing new Limited Edition 4K UHD and Blu-ray Collector’s Sets for Jim Henson’s films The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth on November 19, featuring remastered versions of the movies, exclusive artwork, collectibles, and special features, including insights from cast and crew such as Bowie’s portrayal in Labyrinth.
Stigmata Soundtrack review. This is a repost of a 1999 review of an album that includes a version of Bowie’s “The Pretty Things Are Going to Hell.”
Basquiat Restored. This story mentioned that the 1996 biopic Basquiat, featuring David Bowie as Andy Warhol, has been restored and was screened starting September 13 at the IFC Center in New York and the Laemmle Noho in Los Angeles. I’m not entirely sure what restoration entails— I saw the movie again a few months ago and it seemed pretty together to me.
Brothers Who Sang on “Let’s Dance” Honor Their Mother’s Final Wish. Frank and George Simms, who sang backing vocals on David Bowie’s Let’s Dance album, recently buried their mother’s ashes in Chelsea, Oklahoma, fulfilling her wish to return to her childhood home.
A vaguely Bowie-influenced wedding. Karen Elson married Lee Foster, co-owner of the legendary Electric Lady Studios, in a quintessentially New York wedding on the studio’s rooftop, a venue that has hosted artists like David Bowie, the Rolling Stones, and Taylor Swift.
‘Ground Control’ Safety Tips for Backcountry Hikers. This article from Stowe Mountain Rescue uses “Space Oddity” as a metaphor to emphasize the importance of establishing “Ground Control” before venturing into the backcountry. It advises hikers to inform someone reliable about their plans, carry a spare battery for their phone, and ensure timely communication in case of emergencies to increase the likelihood of a successful rescue.
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PROFILES
Brian Eno. Inspired by the new(ish) Eno documentary, this article discussed Eno’s creative process, which inevitably explores his work with Bowie.
Holly Johnson. Holly Johnson of Frankie Goes to Hollywood revealed that David Bowie made a supportive and touching phone call to him after Johnson was diagnosed with AIDS, describing it as “like getting a phone call from God,” and they spent over an hour discussing art and music.
Iggy Pop’s Net Worth. The story, not surprisingly, mentions Bowie.
Lennon Gallagher. The son of Liam Gallagher has become the face of a new Napapijri London Fashion Week campaign, and during the shoot, his mother Patsy Kensit revealed that her definition of “iconic” is David Bowie, reflecting her longtime admiration for the music legend.
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THE STORY BEHIND THE MUSIC
Lou Reed’s Transformer. Reed’s defining album Transformer was made after he relocated from New York to London, collaborating with David Bowie and Mick Ronson, marking a transformative moment in his career that blended gritty storytelling with glam rock.
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LISTS
Iconic VMA Recipients. Despite David Bowie’s public disputes with MTV over diversity, he received the inaugural VMA’s highest award, recognizing his immense impact on music videos, with The Beatles and Richard Lester winning in 1984 before the award’s official title.
25 Rock Stars Who Made the Cover of Time Magazine. Bowie made the cover twice— and I have both issues framed in my house.
13 Streaming Cult Movies. Labyrinth is on the list.
Five Best Queen Songs. “Under Pressure” is on the list.
Odd hobbies of the stars. Bowie’s painting made the list, which doesn’t seem all that odd to me, but what do I know? My hobby is writing a blog about Bowie. The featured image at the top of this page, as well as the image immediately above this entry, are Bowie self-portraits.
Male Celebrities With Incredible Style. Bowie makes the list because of his ability to work with artists to hone his look, which influenced the fashion world, designers, and audience members.
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FAR OUT MAGAZINE
The online magazine always manages to post Bowie stories. This week featured:
1. How Bowie ended up on Scarlett Johansson’s album.
2. Who played guitar on “Let’s Dance”
3. Little Richard inspired Bowie
4. RIP Herbie Flowers.
5. Bowie on “It’s No Game.”
6. Nirvana’s best covers
7. Artists’ careers changed by 9/11
8. On “Word on a Wing”
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THIS BLOG THIS WEEK
Click on the bolded titles to link to posts from the past week:
September 8: Last week’s news summary
September 9: Cover of the Week: HAATO covers “I’m Deranged”
September 10: Drive-in Saturday Tuesday Movie Review: The Thin Man (1934)
September 11: Heathen and 9/11
September 12: Lowe and Maggiore talk “Leon Sessions,” Pt. 2
September 13: Free Form Friday: For the Love of Vader.
September 14: Exclusive Interview with Nick Smart, founding co-editor of David Bowie Glamour Magazine
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And with that, “we’ve finished our news…”*
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*“I’ve heard the news today” is Bowie’s adaptation of the Beatles lyric, which is heard in “Young Americans.” **“We’ve finished our news” is a line from, “Oh You Pretty Things”
