I heard the news today…* Bowie’s 100th album to chart in UK; photo exhibits in Miami and Boston; Bang & Olufsen’s Bowie speaker; plus reflections, profiles, lists, the week in this blog AND MORE!
Welcome to my weekly roundup of Bowie news! Click on the bolded article titles to read the originals. After two weeks of the Bowie-space dominated by news about Lexi Jones and her new album, this week saw a greater proliferation of stories about Bowie himself. Click on the bolded title names to link to the original stories…
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NEWS
Ready Set Go hits top 10 on UK Charts. Bowie’s Ready Set Go – Live at Riverside Studios, recorded in 2003 and released for Record Store Day 2025, has debuted on four U.K. charts, reaching the top 10 on three of them. The long-awaited live album demonstrates continued demand for Bowie’s work, with strong sales on vinyl and physical formats more than eight years after his death.
Bowie has charted 100 albums. Related to the above, Bowie scored his 100th entry on the UK’s Official Physical Albums chart with the Record Store Day release Ready Set Go – Live Riverside Studios, further solidifying his ongoing success years after his passing.
Blackstar 16/25/60, Exhibit in Miami. Artist Tomas Vu’s trilogy of multimedia installations concludes in Miami with Blackstar 16/25/60, a Bowie-inspired exhibition that uses Bowie’s shape-shifting persona and cultural legacy to explore themes of technology, identity, and collective imagination in the face of climate and societal uncertainty. The exhibit opens on Wednesday, April 30, at Locust Projects, in Miami.
Suits LA features character named “David Bowie.” In Suits LA Episode 9, while Ted and Harvey team up in New York to finally take down mobster Pellegrini, the Los Angeles storyline heats up as Stuart grapples with defending his client—named David Bowie—who’s now facing a murder charge.
Harry Styles following Bowie’s footsteps in Berlin. Harry Styles is reportedly recording a new album in Berlin, drawing inspiration from Bowie’s legendary creative period in the city.
RIP Roy Thomas Baker. Roy Thomas Baker, who worked with Queen, the Cars, and Bowie, has died at 78 after a career that helped shape some of rock’s most iconic sounds.
Bowie speaker. Bang & Olufsen has released a limited-edition Beosound A9 speaker featuring a stage photograph of Bowie taken by Denis O’Regan, combining high-end audio with iconic music imagery. Priced at £3,995, each unit includes a signed print of the photo, a certificate of authenticity, and is available starting April 25, 2025. Many stories appeared about this toward the end of the week.
Bowie, Hendrix, the Stones and others Vinyl Collection Of 30,000 Sells For £132,000. A copy of Bowie’s The Man Who Sold The World sold for £1,105 as part of a 30,000-record collection that brought in nearly £132,000 at auction, almost doubling expectations.
Rock Photo Exhibit coming to Boston. A new exhibition in Boston will showcase photographer Eric Antoniou’s work from his book Rock to Baroque, featuring historic images of music legends including Bowie captured over four decades. The exhibit will be at The Hotel Commonwealth’s Panopticon Gallery from May 1 to June 30.
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REFLECTIONS
Bowie and Iman’s Wedding Anniversary. On what would have been their 33rd wedding anniversary, Iman shared a heartfelt tribute to Bowie, expressing that her love for him endures and emphasizing how deeply he remains present in her life and memory.
The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert. Bowie was among the many performers at the 1992 Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert, where he not only performed “Under Pressure” with Annie Lennox but also offered a moving recitation of the Lord’s Prayer in memory of those lost to AIDS.
Writing “Starman.“ In 1972, David Bowie responded to his label’s demand for a radio-friendly single by writing “Starman,” a track that not only helped launch the success of Ziggy Stardust but also deepened his connection with fans by blending concept album storytelling with mainstream appeal.
Was “‘Heroes'” based on a true story? This Radio X article explores the enduring myth and mixed accounts surrounding Bowie’s “Heroes,” examining whether its iconic lovers-at-the-Berlin-Wall imagery was based on real events or poetic invention, while highlighting Bowie’s genius for transforming fragments of life, art, and fiction into emotionally resonant music.
“Dead Man Walking.” In a 1997 appearance on Late Night with Conan O’Brien, Bowie radically reimagined his song “Dead Man Walking” from the Earthling album, performing an acoustic duet with Reeves Gabrels that highlighted his vocal intensity and compositional strength. Stripping away the techno-rock production of the original, Bowie transformed the track into a haunting, intimate anthem. The song’s riff, gifted to Bowie by a young Jimmy Page in the 1960s, adds a layer of historical resonance to this striking reinterpretation.
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PROFLIES
Iva Davies. ICEHOUSE frontman Iva Davies, who accepted the Icon award at the 2025 Rolling Stone Australia Awards, reflected on his decades-long music career and recalled the “madness” of touring with David Bowie during the Serious Moonlight tour, a decision he made over touring with Peter Gabriel.
Prince. This Hot Press tribute marking the ninth anniversary of Prince’s death draws connections between his legacy and Bowie’s, highlighting how 2016 claimed two of the most influential artists of the 20th century—both of whom pushed boundaries in music, image, and cultural impact.
Lexi Jones. Lexi has been getting a lot of media coverage. Many of the stories have been more or less the same, but this profile is a little different, which is why I’m linking to it here.
Rocco Ritchie. In an interview where Rocco Ritchie criticized the idea of “nepo babies” (a term I dislike) as often uninteresting. The article inevitably mentions Lexi Jones, Bowie’s daughter, who recently offered her own perspective through a poem accompanying her debut album, asserting her individuality and expressing frustration at being seen only through the lens of her father’s legacy.
Dana Gillespie. In a new interview with journalist Rick Sky, British blues legend Dana Gillespie reflects on her decades-long career, her past romantic and artistic relationship with Bowie, and her enduring friendship with Morrissey. Gillespie, who has released over 70 albums, spoke candidly about her musical journey and life alongside some of rock’s most iconic figures.
T-Pain. Bowie is cited alongside Prince, Madonna, and Miles Davis as an artist whose genius was fueled by constant reinvention, contrasting with musicians like T-Pain who have built lasting careers by remaining steadfast in their signature sound.
Slash. Slash recalled that after his parents separated, his mother Ola Hudson had a brief romantic relationship with Bowie, which made Slash initially apprehensive but later became part of the wild upbringing that shaped his life and career.
A true pinball wizard… A Houston pinball company found success with its first machine based on the 1986 film Labyrinth starring Bowie, and is now launching a new Dune-themed game that continues its reputation for blending intricate storytelling with cutting-edge pinball design.
Jas Mann. Jas Mann, whose 1990s hit “Spaceman” and androgynous image drew comparisons to Bowie, has since left music behind to build a major career in the film and media industries.
TOKiMONSTA. TOKiMONSTA, whose latest album Eternal Reverie is both a personal tribute and a creative milestone, embraces a bold visual style that evokes comparisons to Bowie’s Aladdin Sane era while continuing to push artistic boundaries in her music and performances.
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LISTS
Greatest British Song of All Time. In a Radio X listener poll crowning the “Greatest British Song of All Time,” Oasis’ “Live Forever” took the top spot, with Bowie’s “Heroes,” “Life on Mars?,” “Let’s Dance,” and “Starman” also securing high placements, reaffirming Bowie’s enduring influence on British music.
20 Rare Vinyl Records That Could Be Worth Thousands of Dollars. A rare early pressing of Diamond Dogs featuring uncensored cover art is among the most valuable vinyl records in the world, selling for up to $7,500 due to its limited release before the artwork was altered.
20 epic songs with nature in their titles. Radio X celebrated Earth Day 2025 with a playlist of nature-themed songs, including Bowie’s atmospheric rendition of “Wild Is The Wind.”
10 notable albums produced by Tony Visconti. In celebration of producer Tony Visconti’s 81st birthday, Radio X highlights his pivotal role in shaping Bowie’s sound from The Man Who Sold the World in 1970 to Blackstar in 2016, underscoring a decades-long creative partnership that defined key moments of Bowie’s career.
Top 15 David Bowie ’80s Songs. Ultimate Classic Rock highlights the top 15 Bowie songs from the 1980s, showcasing his shift from artistic experimentation to mainstream success with hits like “Ashes to Ashes,” “Let’s Dance,” and “Modern Love.”
5 Albums Monique Powell Can’t Live Without. Monique Powell of Save Ferris named Bowie’s Changesonebowie as one of the five albums she can’t live without, recalling how hearing “Changes” for the first time profoundly altered how she listened to music.
The Biggest Artists Who Give Off David Bowie Vibes. Christine and the Queens and Tyler, The Creator are highlighted as rare artists who share Bowie’s fearless approach to creativity, shifting identities, and prioritizing artistry over commercial success.
The worst decisions and predictions in the history of rock. Bowie recorded music intended for the film The Man Who Fell to Earth, but due to contractual issues and creative differences, his work was not used, leading him to later describe his album Low as what he had originally envisioned for the soundtrack. This entry on the list is titled, “his music not good enough for the movies,” thus the bad decision.
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FAR OUT MAGAZINE
The online magazine consistently publishes Bowie-related stories, often built around a small, familiar detail. The headlines typically hint at a surprising connection or overlooked fact, drawing readers in and gradually revealing the broader context as the article unfolds. This week featured:
(1) The one artist David Bowie was always jealous of
(2) Why David Bowie aligned himself with Bob Dylan
(3) The song Thom Yorke called “perfect pop”
(4) 10 David Bowie songs that should be deleted from history
(5) The performance David Bowie never forgot
(6) “Six levels above me”: Noel Gallagher on the artist touched by genius
(7) ‘Ziggy Stardust’: The song that marked David Bowie’s attempts to throw of “the threat of insanity”
(8) Phil Manzanera’s favourite David Bowie album
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THIS WEEK IN THIS BLOG
April 20: Last week’s news
April 21: David Bowie Cover of the Week: Marc Lowe’s “There is No Hell”
April 22: Why I’m not planning to review Lexi’s album
April 23: DoM’s Grace Jones/”Lazarus” Mashup — Sacrilege or Genius?
April 24: Seven Bowie songs that speak to this week…
April 25: Bowie and Immersive False Reality
April 26: Exclusive Interview: Glenn Hendler– the Man Who Wrote the Book on Diamond Dogs!
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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”