History of David Bowie in Timeline
David Bowie, born David Robert Jones, was a highly influential English singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Celebrated for his groundbreaking work, especially in the 1970s, he was known for constant reinvention and striking visual presentations. His music and stagecraft profoundly impacted popular music, solidifying his legacy as one of the 20th century's most important artists.
January 1947: Birth in Brixton, London
In January 1947, David Robert Jones was born in Brixton, London, marking the start of his life. He was born to Margaret Mary "Peggy" Burns and Haywood Stenton "John" Jones.
January 1947: David Bowie's Birth
In January 1947, David Robert Jones, later known as David Bowie, was born. This marks the beginning of the life of the influential singer, songwriter, musician, and actor.
1953: Moved to Bickley
In 1953, David Bowie and his family moved to Bickley.
1955: Settled in Sundridge Park and Attended Burnt Ash Junior School
In 1955, David Bowie settled with his family in Sundridge Park and began attending Burnt Ash Junior School.
1956: First Impression of Elvis Presley
In 1956, David Bowie was first impressed by Elvis Presley when he saw his cousin Kristina dance to "Hound Dog".
1958: Attending Bromley Technical High School
In 1958, David Bowie began attending Bromley Technical High School, known for its unique atmosphere and emphasis on arts and design.
1961: Receiving a Saxophone and Lessons
In 1961, David Bowie received a Grafton saxophone and began taking lessons from Ronnie Ross, a baritone saxophonist.
1962: Eye Injury
In 1962, David Bowie sustained a serious eye injury during a fight, resulting in permanent damage that became one of his recognisable features.
1962: Formation of The Konrads
In 1962, at the age of 15, David Bowie formed his first band, The Konrads.
1963: Early Music Career
In 1963, David Bowie started his professional music career after studying art, music, and design.
November 1964: Spokesperson for Long-Haired Men
In November 1964, Davie Jones (David Bowie) spoke out against prejudice against long-haired men on BBC's Tonight show. He championed the cause of long-haired men as a spokesperson for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Long-Haired Men.
1964: Relationship with Dana Gillespie begins
In 1964, David Bowie, at age 17, began a personal and professional relationship with the singer Dana Gillespie.
January 1966: Release of "Can't Help Thinking About Me"
In January 1966, David Bowie released the single "Can't Help Thinking About Me" under the name David Bowie with the Lower Third, which did not achieve commercial success.
1966: Original Publication of "The Virgin Soldiers"
In 1966, Leslie Thomas's comic novel "The Virgin Soldiers" was published.
1966: Original Release of "God Only Knows"
In 1966, The Beach Boys released "God Only Knows", a song that David Bowie covered on his 1984 album "Tonight".
April 1967: Release of "The Laughing Gnome"
In April 1967, David Bowie's solo single, "The Laughing Gnome", was released, but it failed to chart.
September 1967: Shooting of "The Image"
In September 1967, David Bowie shot his first film, a short black-and-white film called "The Image".
December 1967: Acting in "Pierrot in Turquoise"
From December 1967 to March 1968, David Bowie acted in mime Lindsay Kemp's theatrical production "Pierrot in Turquoise".
1967: Interest in Buddhism Begins
Beginning in 1967, David Bowie became interested in Buddhism and considered becoming a Buddhist monk.
1967: Enrollment in Lindsay Kemp's Dance Class
In 1967, David Bowie met Lindsay Kemp and enrolled in his dance class at the London Dance Centre.
1967: Debut Release of David Bowie Album
In 1967, David Bowie released his debut album, David Bowie, which prominently featured the vocal style of Anthony Newley.
1967: First Solo Album
In 1967, David Bowie released his first self-titled solo album.
1967: Composition "Over the Wall We Go"
In 1967, David Bowie's composition "Over the Wall We Go" became a single for Oscar. Also Bowie song, "Silly Boy Blue", was released by Billy Fury the following year.
1967: Release of 'The Laughing Gnome'
In September 1973, David Bowie's 1967 novelty record, "The Laughing Gnome," reached number six on the UK chart.
January 1968: Meeting Hermione Farthingale
In January 1968, Lindsay Kemp choreographed a dance scene for a BBC play, 'The Pistol Shot', and used David Bowie with a dancer, Hermione Farthingale, whom Bowie began dating.
January 1968: Filming of BBC drama series "Theatre 625"
In late January 1968, David Bowie filmed a walk-on role for the BBC drama series "Theatre 625".
March 1968: Acting in "Pierrot in Turquoise"
From December 1967 to March 1968, David Bowie acted in mime Lindsay Kemp's theatrical production "Pierrot in Turquoise".
September 1968: Formation of Feathers
In September 1968, Hermione Farthingale formed a group with David Bowie and guitarist John Hutchinson named Feathers.
March 1969: Tour with Tyrannosaurus Rex
In March 1969, David Bowie undertook a short tour with Marc Bolan's duo Tyrannosaurus Rex, performing a mime act.
April 1969: Meeting and Marriage to Angela Barnett
In April 1969, David Bowie met Angela Barnett, whom he married within a year. Her influence on him was immediate and substantial, impacting his career significantly.
July 1969: Release of "Space Oddity"
In July 1969, David Bowie released "Space Oddity" five days before the Apollo 11 launch. The song reached the top five in the UK charts, marking his first hit in three years.
July 1969: 40th Anniversary of "Space Oddity"
In July 2009, on the 40th anniversary of the July 1969 Moon landing and Bowie's breakthrough with "Space Oddity", EMI released the original tracks and invited the public to create a remix.
1969: Re-issue of "Space Oddity"
A re-issue of David Bowie's 1969 single, "Space Oddity", became his first number-one hit in the UK a few months after "Fame" achieved the same in the US.
1969: Concerts with Feathers
Between September 1968 and early 1969 the trio Feathers gave a small number of concerts combining folk, Merseybeat, poetry and mime.
1969: "Space Oddity" Success
In 1969, David Bowie achieved his first UK top-five hit with "Space Oddity".
1969: Beginning of 'Bisexual Fantasy'
In 1969, David Bowie and Angie "created their bisexual fantasy".
1969: Appearance in "The Virgin Soldiers"
In 1969, David Bowie appeared as a walk-on extra in the film adaptation of Leslie Thomas's comic novel "The Virgin Soldiers".
1969: Five Years Beginning
In 1969, Parlophone began remastering David Bowie's catalogue through the "Era" box set series, starting with Five Years (1969–1973).
1969: Break-up with Hermione Farthingale
In early 1969, David Bowie and Hermione Farthingale broke up when she went to Norway to take part in a film, Song of Norway.
March 1970: Marriage to Mary Angela Barnett
On March 19, 1970, David Bowie married Mary Angela Barnett at Bromley Register Office in Bromley, London.
1970: Release of "The Looking Glass Murders"
In 1970, "Pierrot in Turquoise" was adapted into the television film "The Looking Glass Murders".
1970: Last meeting with Hermione Farthingale
In 1970, David Bowie and Hermione Farthingale last saw each other.
1970: Writing "The Prettiest Star"
In 1970, David Bowie wrote the single "The Prettiest Star" for Angela Barnett, demonstrating her immediate impact on his life and work.
1970: Release of 'The Man Who Sold the World'
In 1970, David Bowie's third album, 'The Man Who Sold the World', was released, featuring references to schizophrenia, paranoia, and delusion, and marking a shift towards a hard rock sound.
1970: Unreleased Tracks
In 1970, The tracks "Let Me Sleep Beside You" and "Karma Man" recorded in September 1967, were released. They marked the start of Bowie's working relationship with Tony Visconti.
February 1971: US Publicity Tour
Between January and February 1971, David Bowie undertook a coast-to-coast publicity tour across the US to promote 'The Man Who Sold the World', exploiting his androgynous appearance.
May 1971: Birth of son Duncan
On May 30, 1971, David Bowie and Angie Barnett's son, Duncan (initially known as Zowie), was born.
1971: Release of Hunky Dory
In 1971, David Bowie released 'Hunky Dory', featuring a stylistic shift towards art pop. The album included "Kooks", a song for his son, and homages to influences like Bob Dylan and Andy Warhol.
1971: First trip to the United States
In 1971, David Bowie took his first trip to the United States, an event which the movie Stardust was based on.
February 1972: Launch of Ziggy Stardust stage show
On February 10, 1972, David Bowie, with the Spiders from Mars, launched his Ziggy Stardust stage show at the Toby Jug pub, marking the beginning of his rise to stardom and the creation of a unique "cult of Bowie".
1972: Comment on Meeting Lindsay Kemp
In 1972, David Bowie commented that meeting Lindsay Kemp was when his interest in image "really blossomed".
1972: Collaboration on Lou Reed's Transformer
In 1972, David Bowie contributed backing vocals, keyboards, and guitar to Lou Reed's solo album 'Transformer', co-producing the album with Mick Ronson.
1972: Declaration of being Gay
In 1972, David Bowie famously declared himself gay in an interview, becoming a gay icon.
1972: Ziggy Stardust Emerges
In 1972, David Bowie re-emerged as Ziggy Stardust, marking the beginning of the glam rock era and winning widespread popularity.
1972: Reissue of Album
In 1972, David Bowie's second album, originally released in the UK as 'David Bowie', was reissued internationally by RCA Records under the name 'Space Oddity'.
1972: Re-release of The Man Who Sold the World
In 1972, after David Bowie broke up the Spiders, there was a high demand for his back catalog, and The Man Who Sold the World was re-released.
June 1973: Release of "Life on Mars?"
In June 1973, David Bowie's "Life on Mars?" was released and peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart.
July 1973: Ziggy Stardust's 'Retirement'
On July 3, 1973, David Bowie dramatically and abruptly "retired" his Ziggy Stardust persona on-stage at London's Hammersmith Odeon.
1973: Five Years Ending
1973 was the ending year for David Bowie's catalogue remastering through the "Era" box set series, starting with Five Years (1969–1973).
1973: Coco Schwab becomes personal assistant
In 1973, Corinne "Coco" Schwab became David Bowie's personal assistant.
1973: Production of Gillespie's album
In 1973, David Bowie and Mick Ronson produced Dana Gillespie's album Weren't Born a Man.
1973: Release of Aladdin Sane
In 1973, David Bowie released 'Aladdin Sane', his first UK number-one album, which he described as "Ziggy goes to America". The album spawned the UK top five singles "The Jean Genie" and "Drive-In Saturday". He also co-produced Raw Power with Iggy Pop.
December 1974: End of Diamond Dogs Tour
In December 1974, the Diamond Dogs Tour, which had visited cities in North America since June, came to an end. The high-budget stage production was filmed by Alan Yentob, resulting in the documentary, Cracked Actor.
1974: Creation of "The Gouster"
In 1974, David Bowie created "The Gouster", a previously unreleased album that evolved into Young Americans.
1975: Abandonment of God
By 1975, David Bowie admitted, "I felt totally, absolutely alone. And I probably was alone because I pretty much had abandoned God."
1975: Release of Young Americans and Firing of Defries
In 1975, David Bowie released the album Young Americans and fired his manager, Tony Defries. The album was a commercial success and contained the hit song "Fame".
1975: Shift to "Plastic Soul"
In 1975, David Bowie shifted to a sound he called "plastic soul", achieving US crossover success with "Fame" and the album Young Americans.
1975: Severance Settlement with Defries
In September 1975, David Bowie's severance settlement with Tony Defries ended.
August 1976: Move to West Berlin
In August 1976, David Bowie relocated to West Berlin with Iggy Pop, aiming to overcome drug addictions and escape the limelight, which led to the Berlin Trilogy.
1976: Affirmation of Bisexuality
In 1976, David Bowie affirmed his stance in an interview with Playboy, stating: "It's true—I am a bisexual."
1976: Move to Switzerland
In 1976, David Bowie moved to Switzerland and purchased a chalet, decreasing his cocaine use and devoting more time to painting.
1976: Release of Station to Station
In 1976, David Bowie released the album 'Station to Station', introducing the Thin White Duke persona. The album's synthesiser-heavy arrangements were influenced by electronic and German krautrock, amidst Bowie's severe cocaine addiction.
1976: Starring in "The Man Who Fell to Earth"
In 1976, David Bowie starred in the film "The Man Who Fell to Earth" and released the album Station to Station.
1976: Political Controversy and the "Victoria Station incident"
In 1976, David Bowie's tour was embroiled in controversy due to pro-fascism comments made in Stockholm, possession of Nazi paraphernalia, and the "Victoria Station incident" in London where he allegedly made a Nazi salute, later attributing his behavior to cocaine addiction and his Thin White Duke persona. This led to the creation of Rock Against Racism.
1976: Support for Fascism
In 1976, David Bowie, as the Thin White Duke, expressed support for fascism and admiration for Adolf Hitler in interviews with various publications. These controversial statements later inspired the Rock Against Racism movement.
1976: Release of the compilation boxset "Who Can I Be Now? (1974–1976)"
The compilation boxset "Who Can I Be Now? (1974–1976)" was released in 1976.
January 1977: Release of Low
In January 1977, David Bowie released the album Low. Despite RCA's initial reservations, the album spawned the hit single "Sound and Vision" and outperformed Station to Station on the UK charts.
October 1977: Retraction of Fascism Support
In October 1977, David Bowie retracted his 1976 statements expressing support for fascism, blaming them on mental instability caused by drug problems. He described himself as "apolitical" in an interview with Melody Maker.
1977: Berlin Trilogy Begins
In 1977, David Bowie changed direction with the electronic album Low, the first of the Berlin Trilogy collaborations with Brian Eno. He also released the album "Heroes".
1977: Release of "Heroes"
In 1977, David Bowie released his album "Heroes", recorded entirely in Berlin, which incorporated pop and rock elements along with ambient sounds. The title track became one of his best-known songs.
1977: Start of Bowie's "Berlin" era
In 1977, David Bowie started his "Berlin" era.
1977: Iggy Pop's Lust for Life
In 1977, Tony and Hunt Sales played with David Bowie on Iggy Pop's Lust for Life. Bowie would later recruit them for Tin Machine.
May 1978: Release of Peter and the Wolf
In May 1978, David Bowie's narration for Sergei Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf was released as an album.
1978: Starring role in "Just a Gigolo"
In 1978, David Bowie had a starring role in "Just a Gigolo", which was a critical and commercial failure that Bowie expressed disappointment in.
1979: Release of Lodger
In 1979, David Bowie released Lodger, completing his "triptych" of albums. The album, a mix of new wave and world music, reached number four in the UK and number 20 in the US and spawned the hit singles "Boys Keep Swinging" and "DJ".
1979: Premiere of Ziggy Stardust Film
In 1979, the film 'Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars', incorporating footage from Bowie's final Ziggy Stardust show, premiered.
February 1980: Divorce from Angie Barnett
On February 8, 1980, David Bowie and Angie Barnett divorced, with David receiving custody of their son Duncan.
July 1980: Bowie stars in "The Elephant Man"
From July 1980 to January 1981, David Bowie played Joseph Merrick in the Broadway theatre production "The Elephant Man", receiving critical praise.
1980: Most Important Artist Since the Beatles
By 1980, David Bowie was regarded as "the most important and influential artist since the Beatles", according to Alexis Petridis of The Guardian.
1980: "Ashes to Ashes" Hit
In 1980, David Bowie had a number-one hit with the single "Ashes to Ashes" and released the album Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps).
1980: Release of Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)
In 1980, David Bowie released Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps), which featured the number one single "Ashes to Ashes" and helped expose the New Romantic movement. The album topped the UK charts.
1980: Divorce from Angie Bowie
In early 1980, David Bowie and Angie Bowie finalized their divorce after months of court battles.
January 1981: Bowie stars in "The Elephant Man"
From July 1980 to January 1981, David Bowie played Joseph Merrick in the Broadway theatre production "The Elephant Man", receiving critical praise.
1981: "Under Pressure" Collaboration
In 1981, David Bowie collaborated with Queen on the number-one hit "Under Pressure".
1981: Collaboration with Queen
In 1981, David Bowie collaborated with Queen on the single "Under Pressure", which became his third UK number-one single.
March 1982: Release of "Cat People" title song
In March 1982, David Bowie's title song for the film Cat People, a collaboration with Giorgio Moroder, was released as a single.
1982: End of Bowie's "Berlin" era
In 1982, David Bowie concluded his "Berlin" era.
1982: Re-release of "Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy"
In 1982, RCA belatedly released David Bowie's recording of "Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy" as a single, which charted in the UK at number three.
1983: Start of retrospective box set "Loving the Alien (1983–1988)"
In 1983 David Bowie had a retrospective box set released.
1983: Commercial Success with "Let's Dance"
In 1983, David Bowie achieved his greatest commercial success with the album Let's Dance and starred in Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence.
1983: Relationships with Geeling Ng and Susan Sarandon
In 1983, David Bowie briefly dated Geeling Ng and had a sexual relationship with Susan Sarandon.
1983: Criticism of MTV
In 1983, David Bowie criticized MTV for its lack of coverage of Black musicians during an interview with Mark Goodman.
1983: Multiple on-screen appearances
In 1983, David Bowie made three on-screen appearances, including roles in "The Hunger", "Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence", and a cameo in "Yellowbeard".
1983: Release of Let's Dance
In 1983, David Bowie released Let's Dance, co-produced by Nile Rodgers, achieving significant commercial success with its title track reaching number one in both the UK and the US.
1983: Claim of being 'Closet Heterosexual'
In 1983, David Bowie told Rolling Stone writer Kurt Loder that his public declaration of bisexuality was "the biggest mistake I ever made" and "I was always a closet heterosexual".
1983: Original release of "The Hunger"
In 1983, The TV show "The Hunger" came out.
1983: Commercial release of Ziggy Stardust film
In 1983, the Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars film was commercially released.
1984: MTV Video Music Awards
At the 1984 MTV Video Music Awards, David Bowie received two awards including the inaugural Video Vanguard Award.
1984: Release of 'Love You Till Tuesday'
In 1984, 'Love You Till Tuesday', a film starring David Bowie and intended to introduce him to a larger audience, was released after having been previously unreleased.
1984: Release of Tonight
In 1984, David Bowie released Tonight, collaborating with Iggy Pop and Tina Turner. The album included the hit "Blue Jean".
1985: Role in "Into the Night" and rejection of James Bond villain role
In 1985, David Bowie had a supporting role in "Into the Night" and declined to play the villain Max Zorin in the James Bond film "A View to a Kill".
1985: Performance at Live Aid
In July 1985, David Bowie performed at Live Aid at Wembley Stadium and duetted with Mick Jagger on "Dancing in the Street" for Ethiopian famine relief.
1986: Starring in Labyrinth
In 1986, David Bowie starred as Jareth the Goblin King in Labyrinth.
1986: Acting Role in Absolute Beginners and Labyrinth
In 1986, David Bowie took an acting role in the film Absolute Beginners, for which he wrote the title song. He also wrote and starred in the film Labyrinth.
1987: Relationship with Melissa Hurley Begins
In 1987, David Bowie began dating Glass Spider Tour dancer Melissa Hurley.
1987: Song Dedicated to Coco Schwab
In 1987, David Bowie dedicated the song "Never Let Me Down" to Coco Schwab.
1987: Release of Never Let Me Down
In 1987, David Bowie released the album Never Let Me Down, combining pop rock with a harder rock sound. Despite yielding hits, Bowie later criticized the album.
1988: End of retrospective box set "Loving the Alien (1983–1988)"
In 1988 David Bowie had a retrospective box set released.
1988: Fronting Tin Machine
In 1988, David Bowie fronted the hard rock band Tin Machine.
1988: Role as Pontius Pilate in "The Last Temptation of Christ"
In 1988, David Bowie played Pontius Pilate in Martin Scorsese's "The Last Temptation of Christ".
May 1989: Engagement to Melissa Hurley
In May 1989, David Bowie and Melissa Hurley announced their engagement.
1989: Debut Album of Tin Machine
In 1989, David Bowie formed the hard rock band Tin Machine and released their self-titled debut album, which received mixed reviews.
October 1990: Meeting Iman
In October 1990, David Bowie met Iman, whom he later described as a love-at-first-sight experience.
1990: Break-up with Melissa Hurley
In 1990, David Bowie broke off his relationship with Melissa Hurley during the Sound+Vision Tour, primarily due to their age difference.
1990: Brilliant Adventure (1992–2001) boxset release
In 1990, the retrospective box set, Brilliant Adventure (1992–2001), was released.
1990: Painting sold at auction
In late 1990, one of David Bowie's paintings sold at auction for $500.
1991: Release of Tin Machine II
In 1991, David Bowie released Tin Machine II, his first album to miss the UK top 20 in nearly twenty years. The cover art was controversial due to nude Kouroi statues.
April 1992: The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert and Marriage to Iman
In April 1992, David Bowie performed at The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert. Four days later, he married Iman in Switzerland and found themselves in Los Angeles during the 1992 riots.
April 1992: Marriage to Iman
On April 24, 1992, David Bowie and Iman married in a private ceremony in Lausanne. Their wedding was solemnised on June 6 in Florence.
1992: Belief in God
After David Bowie married Iman in 1992, he said they knew that their "real marriage, sanctified by God, had to happen in a church in Florence".
1992: Philip Glass's First Symphony
In 1992, American composer Philip Glass adapted David Bowie's album Low into his first symphony.
1992: Twin Peaks Appearance
In 1992, David Bowie appeared in Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me.
1992: Marriage to Iman and dissolution of Tin Machine
In 1992, David Bowie married Iman. Following the commercial failure of a live album, Bowie dissolved Tin Machine and resumed his solo career.
1992: Portrayal of Phillip Jeffries in "Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me"
In 1992, David Bowie portrayed the mysterious FBI agent Phillip Jeffries in David Lynch's "Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me".
1992: Brilliant Adventure (1992–2001) boxset release
In 1992, the retrospective box set, Brilliant Adventure (1992–2001), was released.
1992: Los Angeles Riots
The 1992 Los Angeles riots occurred, later addressed by David Bowie in his 1993 single "Black Tie White Noise".
1993: Bowie's reflection on "The Man Who Fell to Earth"
In 1993, David Bowie reflected on his role in "The Man Who Fell to Earth", stating that he barely understood the film due to his cocaine addiction.
1993: Black Tie White Noise release and The Buddha of Suburbia
In 1993, David Bowie released "Black Tie White Noise", influenced by soul, jazz, and hip-hop, which topped the UK chart and produced several hits. In 1993 he also explored new directions with "The Buddha of Suburbia", initially a soundtrack for a BBC adaptation that evolved into a full album, but it was commercially unsuccessful initially.
1993: Release of "Black Tie White Noise"
In 1993, David Bowie released the single "Black Tie White Noise," addressing the 1992 Los Angeles riots.
1993: Resuming Solo Career
In 1993, David Bowie resumed his solo career after fronting Tin Machine.
1993: Belief in God
In 1993, David Bowie said he had an "undying" belief in the "unquestionable" existence of God.
September 1995: Outside Tour begins with Nine Inch Nails
In September 1995, David Bowie began the Outside Tour, partnering with Nine Inch Nails, which received mixed reactions from fans and critics. The tour visited cities in Europe and North America.
1995: First solo art show and cover art for "Outside"
In 1995, David Bowie's first solo show, titled "New Afro/Pagan and Work: 1975–1995", was held in London, and he painted the self-portrait used for the cover of his album "Outside".
1995: Dallas live show release
In 1995, a series of live shows were released, including sets from Dallas.
February 1996: Outside Tour concludes
In February 1996, David Bowie concluded the Outside Tour in North America, which he started in September 1995. Gabrels returned as Bowie's guitarist for the tour.
1996: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction
David Bowie was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996.
1996: Playing Andy Warhol in Basquiat
In 1996, David Bowie portrayed Andy Warhol in the biopic Basquiat.
1996: Outstanding Contribution to Music Award
In 1996, David Bowie received the Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music.
1996: Induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
In 1996, David Bowie was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
January 1997: 50th birthday concert at Madison Square Garden
On January 7, 1997, David Bowie celebrated his 50th birthday with a concert at Madison Square Garden, joined by Lou Reed, Dave Grohl and the Foo Fighters, Robert Smith of The Cure, Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins, Black Francis of The Pixies, and Sonic Youth.
February 1997: Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
On February 12, 1997, David Bowie received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, recognizing his contributions to the music industry.
1997: Issuance of "Bowie Bonds"
In 1997, "Bowie Bonds", asset-backed securities of Bowie's pre-1990 albums, were issued and bought for US$55 million by Prudential Insurance, generating cash flow from royalties.
1997: Philip Glass's Fourth Symphony
In 1997, American composer Philip Glass adapted David Bowie's album "Heroes" into his fourth symphony.
1997: Foundation of 21 Publishing
In 1997, David Bowie founded the publishing company 21 Publishing.
1997: Donation to Save the Children
In 1997, a portion of the proceeds from the Pay-per-view showing of David Bowie's 50th birthday concert was donated to Save the Children.
September 1998: Launch of BowieNet
In September 1998, David Bowie launched BowieNet, an Internet service provider offering exclusive content and a BowieNet email address.
1998: Co-starring role in "Il Mio West"
In 1998, David Bowie co-starred in Giovanni Veronesi's Spaghetti Western "Il Mio West", also known as Gunslinger's Revenge.
1998: Collaboration with Visconti and Placebo
In 1998, David Bowie reunited with Tony Visconti to record "(Safe in This) Sky Life" for The Rugrats Movie and collaborated with Placebo, adding vocals to their track "Without You I'm Nothing".
1999: Omikron: The Nomad Soul and Hours album released
In 1999, David Bowie created the soundtrack for the computer game "Omikron: The Nomad Soul", also voicing a character with Iman. He released the album Hours, featuring lyrics from an Internet competition winner and marking his exit from heavy electronica, in 1999 as well.
1999: Various roles in film and video games
In 1999, David Bowie played the ageing gangster Bernie in Andrew Goth's "Everybody Loves Sunshine" and voiced two characters in the Dreamcast game "Omikron: The Nomad Soul".
1999: Commander of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres
In 1999, David Bowie was made a Commander of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French government, and received an honorary doctorate from Berklee College of Music.
1999: Paris live show release
In 1999, a series of live shows were released, including sets from Paris.
1999: Obsessive art buying
In a 1999 BBC interview, David Bowie stated that he obsessively and addictively buys art.
June 2000: Glastonbury Festival appearance
In June 2000, David Bowie made his second appearance at the Glastonbury Festival in England, almost 30 years after his first. The live performance was released as a live album in November 2018.
August 2000: Birth of Daughter Alexandria
On August 15, 2000, David Bowie and Iman had one daughter, Alexandria "Lexi" Zahra Jones.
2000: Sessions commence for unreleased album Toy
In 2000, David Bowie began sessions for "Toy", a collection of remakes from his 1960s period, but it was shelved due to lack of commercial appeal.
2000: Comment on film career
In 2000, David Bowie commented that one cameo for Scorsese brought him much more satisfaction than a James Bond film.
2000: Launch of bowieart.com
In 2000, David Bowie launched www.bowieart.com, a service for fans to view and purchase art from his private collection and a showcase for young artists.
2000: Role in "Mr. Rice's Secret"
In 2000, David Bowie played the title role in "Mr. Rice's Secret".
2000: Recording of Toy album
In 2000, David Bowie recorded his album Toy.
February 2001: Concert to support Tibet House US
In February 2001, David Bowie supported the Tibetan cause by performing at a concert to support Tibet House US at Carnegie Hall in New York.
October 2001: Concert for New York City
In October 2001, David Bowie opened the Concert for New York City, a charity event for the victims of the September 11 attacks, with a performance of "America" and "'Heroes'".
2001: Appearance in "Zoolander"
In 2001, David Bowie appeared as himself in the Ben Stiller comedy "Zoolander", judging a "walk-off".
2001: Writings on Artists and forewords
In 2001, David Bowie was commissioned to write an essay on Jean-Michel Basquiat for the book Writers on Artists and forewords for GQ Cool, Blood and Glitter, and I Am Iman.
2001: Brilliant Adventure (1992–2001) boxset release
In 2001, the retrospective box set, Brilliant Adventure (1992–2001), was released.
2002: Appearance in "The Rutles 2: Can't Buy Me Lunch"
In 2002, David Bowie appeared in Eric Idle's mockumentary "The Rutles 2: Can't Buy Me Lunch".
2002: Bowie blames himself for break-up
In 2002, David Bowie blamed himself for breaking up with Hermione Farthingale.
2002: Contributions to Q Magazine and Moonage Daydream
In 2002, David Bowie contributed to Q magazine's special The 100 Greatest Rock 'n' Roll Photographs and to the Ziggy Stardust memoir, Moonage Daydream.
2002: Retrospective on Bisexuality Claim
In 2002, David Bowie reflected on his earlier claim of bisexuality, stating it was not a mistake in Europe but more challenging in America.
2002: Release of 'Heathen'
In 2002, David Bowie released the album 'Heathen,' which included a cover of "I Took a Trip on a Gemini Space Ship", originally by the "Legendary Stardust Cowboy".
2002: Release of Heathen and Heathen Tour
In 2002, David Bowie released the album Heathen, followed by the Heathen Tour in Europe and North America, opening at London's Meltdown festival where he was the artistic director.
2002: Heathen album release
In 2002, David Bowie released the album Heathen, produced in collaboration with Tony Visconti, which consisted of completely original songs.
2002: Liner Notes for Stevie Ray Vaughan Album
In 2002, David Bowie wrote liner notes for Stevie Ray Vaughan's posthumous album Live at Montreux 1982 & 1985.
2002: Wide-Reaching Influence
In 2002, biographer Thomas Forget noted that David Bowie's success in various music styles made it nearly impossible to find a popular artist not influenced by him.
2002: 100 Greatest Britons
In the BBC's 2002 poll of the 100 Greatest Britons, David Bowie was ranked 29th.
February 2003: Second concert to support Tibet House US
In February 2003, David Bowie performed at another concert to support Tibet House US at Carnegie Hall in New York, continuing his support for the Tibetan cause.
2003: Release of Reality
In 2003, David Bowie released the album Reality.
2003: Liner Notes for the Spinners
In 2003, David Bowie wrote liner notes for The Spinners' compilation The Chrome Collection.
2004: Changes duet with Butterfly Boucher for Shrek 2
In 2004, David Bowie sang a duet of his 1971 song "Changes" with Butterfly Boucher for the animated film Shrek 2.
2004: A Reality Tour and health scare
In 2004, David Bowie's A Reality Tour grossed more than any other that year. On June 25, he experienced chest pain at the Hurricane Festival in Germany, later diagnosed as an acutely blocked coronary artery, requiring emergency angioplasty.
2004: 100 Greatest Artists
In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked David Bowie 39th on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.
September 2005: Appearance with Arcade Fire at Fashion Rocks
On September 8, 2005, David Bowie returned to the stage, appearing with Arcade Fire for the US televised event Fashion Rocks, followed by another performance with the band a week later during the CMJ Music Marathon.
2005: Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction
David Bowie was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2005.
2005: Filming of XM Satellite Radio commercial
In 2005, David Bowie filmed a commercial with Snoop Dogg for XM Satellite Radio.
2005: Appreciation Piece for Nine Inch Nails and Essay for Iggy Pop
In 2005, David Bowie wrote an appreciation piece in Rolling Stone for Nine Inch Nails and an essay for Iggy Pop's A Million in Prizes: The Anthology.
2005: US release of "Gunslinger's Revenge"
In 2005, the film "Il Mio West" was released in the US as "Gunslinger's Revenge".
2005: Thoughts on Existence of God
Interviewed in 2005, David Bowie said whether God exists "is not a question that can be answered."
February 2006: Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award
On February 8, 2006, David Bowie was awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
2006: Closure of BowieNet
By 2006, the internet service provider BowieNet, which was launched in September 1998, was closed.
2006: Final Live Performance and The Prestige
In 2006, David Bowie gave his last live performance at a charity event and played Nikola Tesla in The Prestige.
2006: Portrayal of Nikola Tesla in "The Prestige"
In 2006, David Bowie portrayed Nikola Tesla in Christopher Nolan's film "The Prestige".
2006: Greatest Living British Icon
In 2006, David Bowie was voted the fourth greatest living British icon in a poll by the BBC's Culture Show.
2006: Liner Notes for Placebo's Reissue
In 2006, David Bowie wrote liner notes for the tenth anniversary reissue of Placebo's debut album.
2007: Curator of High Line Festival
In 2007, David Bowie curated the High Line Festival in Manhattan, selecting artists like AIR, Claude Cahun, and Ricky Gervais.
2007: Donation to Jena Six Defence Fund
In 2007, David Bowie donated $10,000 to the defense fund for the Jena Six, protesting racial inequality in the judicial process.
2007: Voice acting in SpongeBob's Atlantis SquarePantis
In 2007, David Bowie voiced the character Lord Royal Highness in the SpongeBob's Atlantis SquarePantis television film.
2007: Liquidation of Bowie Bonds
In 2007, the "Bowie Bonds" liquidated and the rights to the income from the songs reverted to David Bowie.
June 2008: Live album release from Ziggy Stardust era concert
In June 2008, a live album was released of a Ziggy Stardust-era concert from 1972.
2008: Closure of bowieart.com
By 2008, the service www.bowieart.com, which was launched in 2000, was closed.
2008: Supporting role in "August"
In 2008, David Bowie played a supporting role in the film "August".
2009: Cameo in "Bandslam"
In 2009, David Bowie's final film appearance was a cameo as himself in the teen comedy "Bandslam".
January 2010: Live album from A Reality Tour released
In January 2010, a live album from the A Reality Tour was released.
2010: Liner Notes for Neu!'s Vinyl Box
In 2010, David Bowie wrote liner notes for Neu!'s Vinyl Box.
March 2011: Leak of unreleased album Toy
In late March 2011, David Bowie's previously unreleased 2001 album, Toy, was leaked onto the internet, containing material used for Heathen and unheard versions of his early work.
January 2013: Announcement of new album The Next Day
On January 8, 2013, David Bowie announced his first album in a decade, titled The Next Day, and released the single "Where Are We Now?", which topped the UK iTunes chart.
October 2013: Named best-dressed Briton in history
In October 2013, David Bowie was named the best-dressed Briton in history by a BBC History Magazine poll.
2013: Return with "The Next Day"
In 2013, David Bowie returned from a decade-long recording hiatus with the album The Next Day.
2013: Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame Induction
In 2013, David Bowie was inducted into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame.
2013: David Bowie Is Exhibition
In 2013, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London hosted the David Bowie Is exhibition, attracting over 300,000 visitors.
2014: Support for Scottish Union
At the 2014 Brit Awards, David Bowie, upon winning the British Male Solo Artist award, voiced his support for Scotland remaining in the UK during the forthcoming Scottish independence referendum.
2014: Brit Award for British Male Solo Artist
In 2014, David Bowie won the Brit Award for British Male Solo Artist, collected on his behalf by Kate Moss.
2014: Sarandon comments on Bowie
In 2014, Susan Sarandon said of David Bowie, "He's worth idolising. He's extraordinary."
2014: Diagnosis of liver cancer and release of Nothing Has Changed
In mid-2014, David Bowie was diagnosed with liver cancer. Also in 2014, a new compilation album, Nothing Has Changed, was released, featuring rare tracks and a new song, "Sue (Or in a Season of Crime)".
2015: Remastered Catalogue
Since 2015, Parlophone has remastered David Bowie's catalogue through the "Era" box set series, starting with Five Years (1969–1973).
2015: Recording final album Blackstar and writing songs for SpongeBob musical
Throughout 2015, David Bowie secretly recorded his final album, Blackstar, and wrote songs for a Broadway musical based on SpongeBob SquarePants. It was also the year that it was announced that he was writing songs for the SpongeBob SquarePants cartoon series.
January 2016: Death of David Bowie
David Bowie died of liver cancer in his New York City apartment on 10 January 2016, after being diagnosed 18 months prior. He had kept his condition private and continued to work during his illness.
January 2016: David Bowie's Death
In January 2016, David Bowie passed away, marking the end of his career. The innovative musician died two days after both his 69th birthday and the release of his final album, Blackstar.
January 2016: Release of Blackstar and Bowie's death
In January 2016, David Bowie released Blackstar on his 69th birthday, receiving critical acclaim. He died two days later, with the album later revealed to be his planned "parting gift" to fans.
September 2016: Release of "Who Can I Be Now? (1974–1976)"
In September 2016, the retrospective box set "Who Can I Be Now? (1974–1976)" was released, covering David Bowie's mid-1970s soul period. It included "The Gouster", a previously unreleased 1974 album.
October 2016: Soundtrack appearance for "Lazarus" musical
In October 2016, three songs from the Blackstar sessions, which were not included on the album, appeared on the soundtrack album for the "Lazarus" musical.
2016: Death of David Bowie
In 2016, Corinne "Coco" Schwab was David Bowie's personal assistant until his death.
2016: Brits Icon Award
In 2016, David Bowie was posthumously given the Brits Icon award for his "lasting impact on British culture".
2016: Influence on Tolerance
In 2016, the BBC's Mark Easton stated that Britain was "far more tolerant of difference" because of Bowie's androgynous challenge.
2016: Distribution deal covering Bowie's recordings from 2000 through 2016.
In 2016, there was a distribution deal covering Bowie's recordings from 2000 through 2016.
2016: Valuation of art collection
In mid-2016, David Bowie's art collection was valued at over £10 million.
January 2017: Posthumous Celebrations
In January 2017, the BBC broadcast the documentary David Bowie: The Last Five Years. Also, a charity concert was hosted by Gary Oldman in Brixton on what would have been David Bowie's 70th birthday.
January 2017: Release of "No Plan" EP
On 8 January 2017, which would have been David Bowie's 70th birthday, the EP "No Plan" was released. The EP included three songs recorded during the Blackstar sessions that were not included on the album and appeared on the soundtrack for the Lazarus musical.
2017: Bowie wins five Grammy Awards
At the 59th Annual Grammy Awards in 2017, David Bowie posthumously won all five of his nominated awards, including Best Rock Performance and Best Alternative Music Album.
2017: Intention to cast Bowie in Blade Runner 2049
In a 2017 interview with Consequence of Sound, Denis Villeneuve revealed his intention to cast Bowie in Blade Runner 2049 as the main villain but following his death, Villeneuve was forced to look for talent with similar "rock star" qualities
September 2018: Release of "Loving the Alien (1983–1988)"
In September 2018, the retrospective box set "Loving the Alien (1983–1988)" was released, comprising his releases during the 1980s.
November 2018: Release of Glastonbury performance as a live album
In November 2018, David Bowie's June 2000 performance at Glastonbury Festival was released as a live album.
2018: End of David Bowie Is Exhibition
In 2018, the David Bowie Is exhibition concluded its world tour at the Brooklyn Museum, having hosted approximately 2,000,000 visitors.
January 2019: Announcement of Stardust Biopic
On 31 January 2019, the biopic Stardust was announced, featuring Johnny Flynn as David Bowie, Jena Malone as Angie Bowie, and Marc Maron as his publicist.
2019: Philip Glass's Twelfth Symphony
In 2019, American composer Philip Glass adapted David Bowie's album Lodger into his twelfth symphony.
January 2020: Release of unreleased version of "The Man Who Sold the World"
On 8 January 2020, on what would have been David Bowie's 73rd birthday, a previously unreleased version of "The Man Who Sold the World" was released.
November 2020: Release of "ChangesNowBowie"
In November 2020, the album "ChangesNowBowie" was released for Record Store Day.
2020: Postponement of Tribeca Film Festival
In 2020, the Tribeca Film Festival, where Stardust was set to premiere, was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2020: Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums
In the 2020 revision of Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list, several of David Bowie's albums were included, such as The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars.
September 2021: Distribution deal with Warner Music Group
In September 2021, David Bowie's estate signed a distribution deal with Warner Music Group, which was set to begin in 2023.
2021: Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs
In the 2021 revision of Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list, several of David Bowie's songs were included, such as "'Heroes'".
January 2022: Sale of Bowie's publishing catalogue
On 3 January 2022, Variety reported that David Bowie's estate had sold his publishing catalogue to Warner Chappell Music for over $250 million.
May 2022: Announcement of Moonage Daydream Film
In May 2022, the film Moonage Daydream, a documentary about David Bowie's musical journey, was announced. It is directed by Brett Morgen and features never-before-seen footage.
2022: Best-Selling Vinyl Artist
As of 2022, David Bowie was the best-selling vinyl artist of the 21st century.
2022: Most Influential Artist in Britain
In 2022, Sky Arts ranked David Bowie the most influential artist in Britain of the last 50 years.
2022: Rerelease of Moonage Daydream
In 2022, the Genesis Publications memoir of the Ziggy Stardust years, Moonage Daydream, which David Bowie heavily contributed to, was rereleased.
2023: Greatest Singers of All Time
In 2023, David Bowie ranked 32nd on the Rolling Stone list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time.
2023: Start of distribution deal with Warner Music Group
In 2023, David Bowie's estate was set to begin their distribution deal with Warner Music Group.
2049: Blade Runner 2049 production
In 2049, production for Blade Runner 2049 began.
