On January 10, the world said goodbye to one of the most influential men in pop culture. David Robert Jones, also known as David Bowie, lost his life after battling cancer for 18 months. Those who have followed him since the beginning, and new fans alike have more than enough to remember him and his astonishing musical, theatrical and artistic talents.
It all started when he was 17 years old. After years of singing in school choirs as a child and moving on to creating his own band when he was 15, Bowie finally released his first single called, “ Liza Jane/ Louie Louie Go Home” in 1964, under the name Davie Jones and the King-Bees. The following year, David Jones would officially change his name to David Bowie, because he simply didn’t want to be confused with the singer of The Monkees.
By the time he was 20 years old, David Bowie had experimented in different bands, playing different roles, until he finally released his self titled debut album. A couple years later, his first hit in the United Kingdom “Space Oddity” was used while documenting the space landing.
The years that followed “Space Oddity” brought his marriage to his first wife, a child, and another amazing album. When Bowie was 25, he released his fifth studio album, and created one of the most iconic faces in pop culture, Ziggy Stardust. Bowie’s genderbent, sci-fi, glamorous rock star alter-ego paved the way for so many artists, and pushed the 70’s into the 21st century way before anyone was ready for it.
Not only did Bowie give us so many amazing albums and tunes to jam out to, he also starred in a few films like, The Man Who Fell to Earth and his most popular movie, Labrynth. A favorite among us 90’s kids.
David Bowie inspired and gave new life to so many people in multiple generations. His artwork and presence in our society has not only shaped music, but has taught those who do create to create without fear and to push limits.