David Bowie: 17 Interesting Facts You Might Not Know

David Bowie was a British musician, actor, and record producer who was one of the most influential figures in the music industry. His music was known for its innovation and eclecticism, and he was credited with helping to bring glam rock and other styles of music into the mainstream.

There’s probably a lot that you don’t know about this legend, but today my aim is to change that.

Here are 17 Interesting Facts You Might Not Know About David Bowie

1. David Bowie was born David Robert Jones on January 8 (today) in 1947 in Brixton, London, England.

2. The singer’s last name is quirky and iconic, but he didn’t pluck the unique moniker from thin air. Teenaged Bowie was drawn to the name for a variety of reasons, including that it was the trademark name of the all-American Bowie knife.

 

3. Bowie released 26 albums during his musical career (between 1962 and 2016).

4. In addition to his music, Bowie was also an actor and appeared in several films, including Labyrinth, The Man Who Fell to Earth, and Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence.

5. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, in 1996 and 2006.

6. In 1976, Bowie made comments in an interview with Rolling Stone magazine that were perceived as being supportive of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party.

Bowie later apologized for the comments, explaining that he was trying to be provocative and had not meant to offend anyone.

7. In 1983, Bowie was accused of stealing ideas for his song “Let’s Dance” from another artist, Chic’s Nile Rodgers. Rodgers eventually dropped the lawsuit, but the controversy continued to be a topic of discussion in the music industry.

8. In 1987, Bowie was involved in a legal dispute with his former management company over allegations of financial mismanagement. The case was eventually settled out of court.

9. In 1997, David Bowie was accused of cultural appropriation when he released an album called “Earthling” that featured elements of drum and bass music.

Some critics accused Bowie of exploiting a genre of music that was popular in the African-American and Asian communities without giving proper credit or respect to the cultures from which it originated.

10. “Space Oddity” was released as a single in 1969 and became one of David Bowie’s first major hits. It was inspired by the Stanley Kubrick film 2001: A Space Odyssey and tells the story of Major Tom, an astronaut who becomes stranded in space.

11. “Changes” was released on Bowie’s 1971 album Hunky Dory and became one of his most popular songs. It was written as a tribute to singer Bobby Darin and features lyrics about the constant change and evolution in life.

12. “Ziggy Stardust” was released on the 1972 album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars and became one of Bowie’s most iconic and enduring songs.

It tells the story of a fictional rock star named Ziggy Stardust, who is sent to Earth as a messenger to save humanity from itself.

13. The lyrics of “Starman” (which was also released on Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars) are inspired by the idea of extraterrestrial life and the possibility of making contact with beings from other planets. They also contain themes of hope and optimism in the face of adversity.

14. “Heroes” was released on the 1977 album of the same name and became one of Bowie’s most popular and critically acclaimed songs. It tells the story of two lovers who meet at the Berlin Wall and is known for its uplifting lyrics and powerful guitar riffs.

15. “Blackstar” was released in 2016 and was the title track of David Bowie’s final album. It is a complex, experimental song that explores themes of death and rebirth and was hailed by critics as a powerful and fitting conclusion to Bowie’s career.

16. David Bowie got married to Angie Barnett in 1970. The couple got divorced in 1980. He married in the Supermodel Iman in 1992. She was his spouse until he died.

He fathered two kids: Duncan Jones (who was born in 1971) and Alexandria Zahra Jones (born in 2000). Duncan Jones directed  Moon (2009), Source Code (2011), and Warcraft (2016).

17. David Bowie died on January 10, 2016 at the age of 69 after an 18-month battle with liver cancer.

Well, there you have it, 17 interesting facts that you might not have known about David Bowie. If I left out something important, freel free to comment below.

Watch this space for updates in the Facts category on Running Wolf’s Rant.