Unearthed Treasures: Top 11 Astonishing Fun Facts About David Bowie You Never Knew!

1. Bowie's Debut Single Flop

Before Ziggy Stardust could "turn and face the strange," a young Davie Jones faced the sting of failed record sales: David Bowie's debut single, "Liza Jane," recorded in 1964 with the King Bees at Decca Studios, received plenty of promotion but unfortunately bombed in sales, proving that "the man who sold the world" needed a few more orbits to truly take off.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

2. Bowie's Mime Mentor

You may have heard of a "Mime-churian Candidate," but did you know David Bowie had his very own mentor in all things performing arts, and perhaps some mime moves as well?: Lindsay Kemp, a British dancer, actor, teacher, mime artist, and choreographer, played a major role in Bowie's artistic development and even graced the stage in the iconic Ziggy Stardust concerts at London's Rainbow Theatre in 1972.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

Did you know Freddie Mercury was a passionate art collector? His eclectic collection ranged from Victorian paintings to Japanese art, transforming his home into a mini-museum. Discover more about Freddie's unique taste in art!

=> Fun Facts about Freddie-Mercury

3. Lightning Bolt Inspiration

When life gives him lemons, Bowie makes a lightning bolt: David Bowie crafted his unforgettable androgynous persona, complete with the signature lightning bolt makeup, as a deliberate nod to performers like Little Richard and The New York Dolls, transcending gender norms and pushing boundaries while showcasing his unique visage, including the permanently dilated pupil from a teenage brawl with friend George Underwood.
Source => bowiebible.com

4. Immersive Video Game Soundtrack

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade; but when life gives you David Bowie, make an immersive video game soundtrack: The Thin White Duke co-wrote and performed ten original songs with guitarist Reeves Gabrels for Omikron: The Nomad Soul, making the game's atmospheric soundtrack a critically acclaimed component of its success.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

5. Space Oddity's Moon Connection

In a cosmic case of art imitating life, David Bowie's iconic song "Space Oddity" boldly went where no tune had gone before, taking inspiration from a space film that predated the real-life moon landing – talk about aiming for the stars! The serious scoop: Originally recorded in 1969 and inspired partly by the film 2001: A Space Odyssey, "Space Oddity" tells the tale of fictional astronaut Major Tom and was rush-released to capitalize on the Apollo 11 event. Despite a slow sales start, it soon rocketed to number five in the UK, foreshadowing Bowie's own meteoric rise to intergalactic stardom.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

6. Bowie as the Joker?

What do David Bowie and the Joker have in common? They both know how to put on a serious face with a touch of Ziggy Stardust: Bowie was a top contender for the role of the Joker in Tim Burton's 1989 Batman movie, but ultimately lost to Jack Nicholson, with other candidates such as Brad Dourif, Ray Liotta, Tim Curry, John Lithgow, and James Woods also having auditioned for the part.
Source => screenrant.com

7. Ziggy Stardust the Painter

Who needs Picasso when you've got Ziggy Stardust wielding a paintbrush?: David Bowie's hidden talent lies in his passion for German Expressionist art, crafting lithographs and portrait paintings inspired by renowned artists like Frank Auerbach, David Bomberg, Francis Bacon, and Francis Picabia during his time living in Berlin.
Source => veryprivategallery.com

8. Thin White Duke Controversy

When David Bowie wasn't busy ch-ch-ch-ch-changing personas or dancing in the serious moonlight, he dabbled in some white lies as the Thin White Duke, a character red, white, and controversial all over: However, Bowie later admitted that the Duke's provocative remarks were in character, fueled by drugs, and not a reflection of his actual beliefs, leading to the retirement of the persona and a European relocation for some much-needed R&R (rehabilitation and reinvention).
Source => en.wikipedia.org

9. Bowie's Name Change

Talk about being "e-liminated": David Bowie went to great lengths to distinguish himself from a popular Monkees band member, even cutting off ties with the letter "e" from his stage surname – leaving us with the iconic "Bow" instead of "Bowe."
Source => nme.com

10. Elephant Man Performance

Who needs makeup when you're a master of disguise? Certainly not Ziggy Stardust playing the most heart-wrenching Elephant in the room: David Bowie's performance as Joseph Merrick in the Broadway adaptation of "The Elephant Man" received critical acclaim, revived ticket sales, and saved the struggling Booth Theatre, all without the use of any makeup or prosthetics.
Source => playbill.com

11. Bowie on Postage Stamps

Licking stamps will never be the same again, as Royal Mail turns to rock royalty to deliver your mail with a touch of glam: UK Postal Service is issuing a set of postage stamps featuring six iconic David Bowie album covers, including Blackstar, Hunky Dory, Aladdin Sane, Heroes, Let's Dance, and Earthling, as well as four stamps showcasing live performances from his Ziggy Stardust, Serious Moonlight, and Reality tours, all in honor of the 50th anniversary of his first album.
Source => dezeen.com