I heard the news today…* RIP David Johansen; Asher Moss covers “The Man Who Sold the World;” Bowie returns to UK charts; VH-1 Storytellers now streaming; Bowie style book slated for release; Bowie featured in Iowa bar, plus coverage of Dublin Bowie Festival, reflections, profiles, lists and much more!
Welcome to my weekly roundup of Bowie news! Click on the bolded article titles to read the originals. While there were many Bowie related stories this week, perhaps the biggest story of interest to Bowie fans was the death of Bowie’s contemporary, David Johansen. Johansen’s death has been followed by an outpouring of tributes from fellow musicians, fans, and friends, including many Bowie collaborators, who took to social media to share memories and expressions of loss. Aside from that, there was considerable coverage of the Dublin Bowie Festival, especially by Irish media as well as a variety of other stories, with several that I found especially interesting in the “reflections” section of the below summary. With that said, read on…
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NEWS
RIP David Johansen. Tributes are pouring out from friends and fans alike mourning the loss of Johansen, the charismatic frontman of the New York Dolls, who passed away at 75. As the last surviving member of the Dolls’ original lineup, Johansen remained active until the end, hosting his SiriusXM show and seeing his life chronicled in Martin Scorsese’s 2023 documentary Personality Crisis: One Night Only. A friend and contemporary of David Bowie, Johansen’s gritty yet flamboyant style helped shape the sound and attitude of punk, influencing bands like The Clash and the Sex Pistols while leaving behind a legacy that extended through his solo work, his Buster Poindexter persona, and the Dolls’ celebrated reunion.
Asher Moss covers “The Man Who Sold the World.” Asher Moss, known for his work in photography and film, has ventured into music with a reinterpretation of “The Man Who Sold the World,” blending 90s art-rock with contemporary electronic influences. Accompanied by a visually striking video (embedded above), his version features ethereal vocals, layered synths, and a haunting atmosphere that reimagines the classic for a modern audience.
Bowie Storms The Charts Again! David Bowie’s songs “Modern Love” and “Isn’t It Evening” have returned to the U.K. charts, with the former gaining traction due to its inclusion in Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, while “Isn’t It Evening,” a collaboration with Earl Slick, has reentered the Official Physical Singles chart, and his albums Legacy and the Labyrinth soundtrack also continue to chart.
Bowie lyrics capture Newcastle’s soccer struggles. Using a lyric from David Bowie’s song Candidate to describe Newcastle United’s unpredictable season, this article previews their upcoming soccer match against Liverpool FC, highlighting Liverpool’s strong defense and midfield, Newcastle’s recent performances, and the author’s personal connection to the game.
VH-1 Storytellers Now Streaming. Bowie is among those who appeared on the show, which you can now see on Paramount +. The appearance also turned into a nifty live album.
Artists pick their favorite Bowie songs ahead of orchestral celebration. This is Irish Independent story part of the coverage of the Dublin Bowie festival. Unfortunately, it is paywalled, but if you have a subscription, here’s a link.
Warframe Techrot Encore Preview: Robot David Bowie. I previously ran a story about this update to a video game, but I’m running this one because it has an image of the Bowie-inspired character. If you link to the story, scroll down to about the middle to see the image.
The best, worst and most shocking BRIT Awards looks. Rita Ora wore an androgynous grey suit inspired by David Bowie at the 2024 BRIT Awards, while Kate Moss previously honored Bowie by wearing his iconic Ziggy Stardust playsuit at the 2014 ceremony.
Bowie’s Style Philosophy Hits Bookshelves This March. Releasing on March 25, Style Codes: David Bowie by Natalie Hammond explores Bowie’s insights on fashion and personal style, drawing from his interviews to guide readers in defining their own aesthetic.
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REFLECTIONS
Gail Ann Dorsey. This article is paywalled, but if you want to take the plunge to read Dorsey’s reflections on playing with Bowie in Belfast, here’s a link to the story in the Belfast Telegraph— take it from there.
A Not-So-Straight Line From Little Richard to Bowie to Saturday Night Fever. This is the New York Times’ take on Jon Savage’s book, The Secret Public, in which Bowie emerges as a pivotal figure whose genderfluid persona and music helped challenge societal norms and shape Gen X’s understanding of the sexual revolution.
When Bowie Performed “Heroes,” with a Bottle Cap Strapped to His Shoe. In October 1996, David Bowie performed an acoustic version of “Heroes” at Neil Young’s Bridge School Benefit concert, accompanied by Reeves Gabrels on guitar and Gail Ann Dorsey on bass, using a bottle cap taped to his shoe to create a subtle percussive beat.
Greatest Interview Series Features bowie in ’96. Unfortunately, this Telegraph interview is paywalled, but if you are already a subscriber or want to subscribe to read it, here’s the link.
How Bowie Redefined Masculinity and Queer Culture. Bowie redefined masculinity and queer culture in the 1970s by blending flamboyant fashion, boundary-pushing artistry, and open discussions of his sexuality, inspiring greater self-expression, challenging traditional gender norms, and leaving a lasting impact on music, fashion, and cultural identity.
When David Bowie smuggled cocaine to Iggy Pop in a space suit. In 1975, Bowie and either Dennis Hopper or Dean Stockwell, both allegedly high and dressed in space suits, visited Iggy Pop in a psych ward to deliver cocaine, though the details remain disputed, highlighting both Bowie’s complex friendship with Iggy and the chaotic excess of rock culture in the 1970s.
Things That Came Out About David Bowie After He Died. After David Bowie’s death in 2016, previously unknown details emerged about his friendships with Mick Jagger and Trent Reznor, his private battle with cancer, unreleased music, plans to collaborate with Brian Eno, extensive art collection, and potential role in The Lord of the Rings, revealing new facets of his life, career, and influence.
London’s influence on musicians. One of the musicians mentioned in the piece is Bowie, who drew heavily from London’s underground music and fashion scene in his transformation into Ziggy Stardust, with performances at venues like the Hammersmith Odeon leaving a lasting impact on the city’s music culture.
Decoding “Ashes to Ashes”. This article explores the creation, musical complexity, and thematic depth of “Ashes to Ashes,” highlighting its connection to Major Tom, its innovative production, and its role in closing a chapter on Bowie’s 1970s era.
Bowie’s Legacy of Reinvention in Modern Music. The article highlights how Bowie’s ever-evolving artistry set the standard for musical reinvention, influencing contemporary artists like Chappell Roan and a new generation of musicians who embrace transformation in both sound and persona.
Who or what was the Jean Genie? The Daily Mail’s “Answers to Correspondents” section explains that David Bowie’s song “The Jean Genie” is a play on words referencing French writer Jean Genet, Iggy Pop’s wild stage persona, and Bowie’s muse Cyrinda Foxe, with lyrics influenced by New York’s art scene and music culture.
Bowie’s Obsessive Compulsive Personas. This article explores David Bowie’s use of personas as a way to navigate identity, performance, and psychological complexity, drawing parallels between his shifting artistic characters and the experience of obsessive-compulsive disorder, particularly the struggle with intrusive thoughts and the challenge of separating them from one’s true self.
When Bowie played Basildon Arts Lab. In 1970, Bowie and his newly formed but as-yet-unnamed band played a pivotal set at the Basildon Arts Lab, marking a turning point in his career as they soon rebranded as Hype and gained traction following a BBC Radio performance, ultimately securing a deal with Mercury Records.
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PROFLIES
Bowie alumni Gail Ann Dorsey and Mark Plati. As the Dublin Bowie Festival ’25 begins, Bowie alumni Gail Ann Dorsey and Mark Plati reflect on their time working with David Bowie, sharing stories about recording, touring, and their personal connections with him, while also preparing for a series of festival performances celebrating his legacy.
Gail Ann Dorsey. This links to another interview Dorsey gave in Ireland while at the Dublin Bowie festival.
Emm Gryner. This event listing promotes Emm Gryner’s March 28th, concert at Hugh’s Room Live in Toronto while also serving as a mini-biography, highlighting her career as a Canadian singer-songwriter, her time touring in Bowie’s backup band in 2000 and 2001, and her extensive independent music releases, collaborations, and industry recognition.
David Fennell. The full story is behind a paywall, but it offers a glimpse into the interests of Belfast-born crime author David Fennell, who counts David Bowie, The Lord of the Rings, and a pint of Guinness among his favorite things.
Boy George. In the debut episode of The Lulu Podcast: Turning Points, Boy George reminisces about skipping school to see David Bowie return from Berlin, shares his deep admiration for Bowie, and discusses how his upbringing, family dynamics, and personal relationships shaped him.
Marco Perez. Perez, a Swiss-Italian-American film editor, credits Floria Sigismondi’s music videos for David Bowie as a major influence on his career, leading to a body of work spanning feature films, documentaries, and commercials, including the LEGO campaign “Play is Your Superpower” and the documentary Diane Von Furstenberg—Woman in Charge.
Jennifer Connelly. Before starring in Labyrinth alongside Bowie, Connelly had her first leading role in Dario Argento’s Phenomena, a surreal horror-fantasy film where she plays a girl with the ability to telepathically communicate with insects.
Guillermo del Toro. This article discusses the director’s inspirations for the Faun character in Pan’s Labyrinth, noting that he instructed actor Doug Jones to channel “more Mick Jagger, less David Bowie” to achieve the desired rock-star quality. I guess since there was already a Bowie “labyrinth” movie…
HiFi Brew Lounge in Valley Junction, Iowa. HiFi Brew Lounge in West Des Moines features a music-inspired atmosphere, with a portrait of David Bowie among its decor, complementing its selection of food, drinks, and vinyl-themed design.
Marilyn Manson. Former Mötley Crüe frontman and lead singer for supergroup The Dead Daisies, John Corabi recently pointed out Marilyn Manson’s visual and musical influences from David Bowie, noting similarities in stage design and style, while Manson himself has acknowledged Bowie’s impact, particularly on his 1998 album Mechanical Animals.
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LISTS
Musicians with Notable Hobbies. Bowie’s hobby of painting makes the list.
4 Classic Rock Songs That Were Written in 30 Minutes or Less. “Life On Mars” makes the list, which claims it was “famously written in just 30 minutes.
3 Rock Bands That Drastically Changed Their Sound. This is sort of a tease because, surprisingly enough, despite dramatically changing his sound frequently, Bowie is not one of the three on this list. But he’s mentioned, if only in passing.
The 10 greatest debut TV appearances. In November 1964, a young David Bowie, then a singer with The Manish Boys, appeared on the BBC’s current affairs program claiming to represent “The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Long-Haired Men” in a playful PR stunt, years before achieving fame with “Space Oddity” in 1969.
Top 10 Favorite SNL Music Performances. Bowie’s ’79 appearance is on the list.
The biggest albums out in 2025. This article lists upcoming albums for 2025 and includes a special reissue of Bowie’s album Young Americans to celebrate its 50th anniversary.
14 of the biggest queer style icons. This is really a slide show with captions, and Bowie is on the list.
20 iconic rock songs written on the spot. This is the second list that posted this past week to make the same point— “Life on Mars?” began as a parody of “My Way” but became a defining glam rock ballad, with Bowie conceiving the melody during a bus ride; it peaked at number three on the UK singles chart in 1973 and ranked 105 on Rolling Stone’s “500 Greatest Songs of All Time.”
The Hidden Meanings Behind Classic Rock Songs. “Ashes to Ashes” is featured on the list because it revisits the character of Major Tom from “Space Oddity” and reinterprets his fate as a metaphor for addiction and the end of Bowie’s 1970s era, serving as both a farewell to the decade and a creative transition into a new phase of his career.
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FAR OUT MAGAZINE
The online magazine consistently publishes Bowie stories, typically centered on a familiar detail presented with a headline that teases a connection or insight, enticing readers to click and discover the full context. This week’s feature:
(1) The David Bowie album Mick Jagger despised
(2) Christopher Nolan’s favourite David Bowie movie
(3) Folk music’s most “convincing” star, according to Frank Black
(4) 10 masterpieces that bands never played live
(5) The album David Bowie believed was overlooked
(6) The artist Lou Reed never got tired of: “He’s always changing”
(7) When Malcolm Young dismissed David Bowie’s rock and roll credentials
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THIS WEEK IN THIS BLOG
February 23: Last week’s news
February 24: David Bowie Cover of the Week: The Mysterious Mr. Jones performs “Quicksand”
February 27: Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence of Arabia…
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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”