Berlin exhibition honors David Bowie
A new exhibit in Berlin explores the life and work of British music legend David Bowie. More than 300 handwritten texts, original costumes, photographs and music videos are currently on display in the German capital.
Back in Berlin
A new exhibition in Berlin explores the life and work of British music legend David Bowie. The retrospective was first showcased at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. But now the multimedia show is also on display in Berlin's Martin Gropius Bau, bringing the pop icon back to the city in which he made music history.
German foreign minister a fan
The exhibition's opening was attended by numerous stars from the movie industry, as well as German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who outed himself as a Bowie fan. Born in 1956, Steinmeier said he "basically grew up with Bowie," adding that "Heroes" is his favorite Bowie song. "If Berlin had a soundtrack, then this record would without a doubt be the title song."
Bowie's first muscial steps
David Jones was born in 1947 in a working class London neighborhood, and quickly became known in the city's music scene. At the age of 16 he performed with the band "The Kon-rads" as a saxophone player and singer (shown above in a promotional photograph from 1963). In 1965, he took on the name "David Bowie," with which he eventually became world famous.
Not an easy start
Bowie was strongly influenced by the beat and rock music of the 1960s. But he was always ahead of his musical time and after several engagements with unsuccessful British cover bands, he finally got the chance to record his debut album with the record label "Deram" in 1967. However, his record didn't sell very well. His first career steps are also documented at the exhibition in Berlin.
Establishing an androgynous image
In 1969 Bowie finally had some success as the supporting act of the band "T Rex." In 1971 he celebrated his breakthrough as a musician. His album "The Man who sold the World" was well received by fans and music critics alike. Around the same time, Bowie started to experiment with stage costumes and establish his androgynous image.
Beating the Beatles
This photo taken by Brian Duffy is known as one of the most innovative record covers of all time. Even before the record was released there were more than 100,000 advance orders placed in England - a feat that had only been achieved by the Beatles. Bowie went on tour with the songs featured on this record, launching his international career. Today the singer lives reclusively in New York.
Life in the divided city
The world tour pushed David Bowie to the edge of his existence. Pumped up with drugs, burned out and dishevelled, he rented a room in the Berlin district of Schöneberg, close to the Berlin Wall. Bowie had his most creative time here, recording three new albums between 1976 and 1979 in the legendary Hansa Studios. Apart from his music, Bowie also enjoyed painting as a way to relax.
The eyes of an alien
When David Bowie was still in school, an eye injury caused by a schoolyard fight with a friend left him with pupils that looked two-colored. The frozen stare and the mismatched eyes later became his trademark, and perfectly fit his image as an extraterrestrial pop star. His shiny costumes and extravagant hairstyle also helped.
Bowie's musical galaxy
In 1968, David Bowie watched Stanley Kubrick's opus "2001: A Space Odyssey." The fantastic universe of extraterrestrial galaxies became part of Bowie's artistic world from that point on. "Space Oddity" is one of his most successful songs. Pictured above is an exhibition object from Bowie's private archive.
No return to Berlin
Bowie, now 67, opened up his private archive for the exhibition, but much to the disappointment of his fans he didn't come to Berlin for the opening - despite him saying he spent his happiest moments in Berlin. It was in Germany's capital that Bowie was able to fight his drug addiction and find unparalleled creativity. The exhibition runs through August 10 in Berlin's Martin Gropius Bau.