David Bowie
A Life
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3.3 • 11 Ratings
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- $16.99
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- $16.99
Publisher Description
** Shortlisted for the NME Best Music Book Award 2018 **
THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
A TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR
A GUARDIAN BOOK OF THE YEAR
A HERALD BOOK OF THE YEAR
AN IRISH INDEPENDENT BOOK OF THE YEAR
'The definitive book on Bowie' The Times
Drawn from a series of conversations between David Bowie and Dylan Jones across three decades, together with over 180 interviews with friends, rivals, lovers, and collaborators - some of whom have never before spoken about their relationship with Bowie - this oral history is an intimate portrait of a remarkable rise to stardom and one of the most fascinating lives of our time.
Profoundly shaped by his relationship with his schizophrenic half-brother Terry, Bowie was a man of intense relationships that often came to abrupt ends. He was a social creature, equally comfortable partying with John Lennon and dining with Frank Sinatra, and in Dylan Jones's telling - by turns insightful and salacious - we see as intimate a portrait as could possibly be drawn.
Including illuminating, never-before-seen material from Bowie himself, drawn from a series of Jones’s interviews with him across three decades, DAVID BOWIE is an epic, unforgettable cocktail-party conversation about a man whose enigmatic shapeshifting and irrepressible creativity produced one of the most sprawling, fascinating lives of our time.
***NOW REVISED AND EXPANDED***
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In this comprehensive oral history, GQ editor Jones delves deeply into the details of rock icon David Bowie's fame, financial problems, drug use, sexuality, Buddhist practices, and romantic entanglements. But it's Jones's focus on Bowie's friendships that truly shines. He has compiled extensive selections from over 180 articles, books, and original interviews (including several interviews Jones conducted with Bowie before his death in 2016). Jones doesn't dwell on his personal feelings toward Bowie, except in his introduction, where he writes: "Like everyone who grew up with the man, Bowie would confound, annoy, and occasionally disappoint me, but I never found him less than fascinating." All these facets of Bowie's personality and more are on display in anecdotes from music journalists, Bowie's bandmates and childhood neighbors, and fellow musicians such as John Lennon and Iggy Pop. Jones incorporates honest, even biting, observations ("David grew up petted and privileged," biographer Wendy Leigh notes. "He wasn't a working-class hero by any stretch") and such inclusions contribute to the well-roundedness of this remarkable volume.
Customer Reviews
Quintessential
Fills in the gaps of what I thought was my already extensive knowledge of David Bowie the star, by revealing much about David Jones the man. A masterly work, exhaustively researched, and a delight to read. Thank you Dylan Jones.