David Robert Jones was born on 8 January 1947, in Brixton, south London. He was born at the family home at 40 Stansfield Road. His father, Haywood Stenton ‘John’ Jones, was a promotions officer for the children’s charity Barnardo’s, and his mother, Margaret Mary ‘Peggy’ Jones (née Burns), worked as a waitress.I was born in London 1947, after the war. A real wartime baby. I went to school in Brixton and then I moved up to Yorkshire, which is in the north of England. I lived on the farms up there. So I’ve seen pretty well the best of both from the terrible slum area of Brixton, with a pretty...…David Robert Jones was born on 8 January 1947, in Brixton, south London. He was born at the family home at 40 Stansfield Road. His father, Haywood Stenton ‘John’ Jones, was a promotions officer for the children’s charity Barnardo’s, and his mother, Margaret Mary ‘Peggy’ Jones (née Burns), worked as a waitress.I was born in London 1947, after the war. A real wartime baby. I went to school in Brixton and then I moved up to Yorkshire, which is in the north of England. I lived on the farms up there. So I’ve seen pretty well the best of both from the terrible slum area of Brixton, with a pretty...WW…

David Bowie’s self-titled debut album was released in the UK, in separate mono and stereo editions, on 1 June 1967. The album was not a commercial success, and peaked at number 125 in the UK charts.In the US it was issued on 11 August 1967, without the songs ‘We Are Hungry Men’ and ‘Maid Of Bond Street’. It was similarly a commercial failure.The albums liner notes were written by Bowie’s manager Kenneth Pitt:Although he has rarely strayed far beyond his own suburban London, David Bowie, at 19, has seen more of the world than many people do in a far longer life-time. For David’s keen sense...…David Bowie’s self-titled debut album was released in the UK, in separate mono and stereo editions, on 1 June 1967. The album was not a commercial success, and peaked at number 125 in the UK charts.In the US it was issued on 11 August 1967, without the songs ‘We Are Hungry Men’ and ‘Maid Of Bond Street’. It was similarly a commercial failure.The albums liner notes were written by Bowie’s manager Kenneth Pitt:Although he has rarely strayed far beyond his own suburban London, David Bowie, at 19, has seen more of the world than many people do in a far longer life-time. For David’s keen sense...WW…

The 22 January 1972 issue of the Melody Maker carried a groundbreaking interview with David Bowie, in which the singer admitted he was “gay, and always have been.” The interview was conducted by reporter Michael Watts, and also introduced the Ziggy Stardust persona to the UK public.David’s present image is to come on like a swishy queen, a gorgeously effeminate boy. He’s as camp as a row of tents, with his limp hand and trolling vocabulary. “I’m gay,” he says, “and always have been, even when I was David Jones.” But there’s a sly jollity about how he says it, a secret smile at the corners...…The 22 January 1972 issue of the Melody Maker carried a groundbreaking interview with David Bowie, in which the singer admitted he was “gay, and always have been.” The interview was conducted by reporter Michael Watts, and also introduced the Ziggy Stardust persona to the UK public.David’s present image is to come on like a swishy queen, a gorgeously effeminate boy. He’s as camp as a row of tents, with his limp hand and trolling vocabulary. “I’m gay,” he says, “and always have been, even when I was David Jones.” But there’s a sly jollity about how he says it, a secret smile at the corners...WW…

David Bowie’s breakthrough album, The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars, was released in the UK on 16 June 1972. The album sold 8,000 copies in its first week, and the following week entered the top ten.Its success was bolstered further by a performance of ‘Starman’ on the BBC’s Top Of The Pops, which was broadcast on 6 July.The Top Of The Pops performance catapulted Bowie into primetime, making him a household name and converting a legion of new fans. The single peaked at number 10 in the charts, and helped the Ziggy album reach number five.The ‘Starman’ performance...…David Bowie’s breakthrough album, The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars, was released in the UK on 16 June 1972. The album sold 8,000 copies in its first week, and the following week entered the top ten.Its success was bolstered further by a performance of ‘Starman’ on the BBC’s Top Of The Pops, which was broadcast on 6 July.The Top Of The Pops performance catapulted Bowie into primetime, making him a household name and converting a legion of new fans. The single peaked at number 10 in the charts, and helped the Ziggy album reach number five.The ‘Starman’ performance...WW…

David Bowie’s long-running Ziggy Stardust Tour drew to a close on 3 July 1973, with a final concert at London’s Hammersmith Odeon. Yet this wasn’t just the end of the tour – it was the retirement of Ziggy himself, sensationally announced from the stage by Bowie. The decision had been shared with just a handful of people prior to the show, among them Bowie’s manager Tony Defries, singer Geoff MacCormack, pianist Mike Garson, guitarist Mick Ronson, and Ronson’s partner Suzy Fussey. Although even the roadies were in on the secret, the rest of Bowie’s band were oblivious.Rhythm guitarist...…David Bowie’s long-running Ziggy Stardust Tour drew to a close on 3 July 1973, with a final concert at London’s Hammersmith Odeon. Yet this wasn’t just the end of the tour – it was the retirement of Ziggy himself, sensationally announced from the stage by Bowie. The decision had been shared with just a handful of people prior to the show, among them Bowie’s manager Tony Defries, singer Geoff MacCormack, pianist Mike Garson, guitarist Mick Ronson, and Ronson’s partner Suzy Fussey. Although even the roadies were in on the secret, the rest of Bowie’s band were oblivious.Rhythm guitarist...WW…