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Wanna know what David Bowie was up to at your age? We can tell you...
Warning: you may feel slightly inadequate.
DAVID ROBERT JONES is an interesting person, don’t you think?
Never heard of him?
Are you sure?
He’s been going by the name David Bowie for some time now, so we’ll give you a pass.
David Bowie (aka Ziggy Stardust aka The Thin White Duke aka Aladdin Sane…) has been making music for over 50 years. To mark the release of his new album Blackstar, and to celebrate his 69th birthday on 8 January, we’ve selected a round-up of what he was doing at key points during his life.
No pressure – but what were you doing at the same age?
Age 6: Schoolyard brawler
Little David got quite the reputation as a youngster at school. Not only was he considered gifted – he got a rep as a bit of a fighter.
Age 15: Got punched in the eye and nearly went blind
When he was 15, David was punched in the eye by his friend and doctors feared he would lose the sight in that eye. They were able to save it but he still has problems with depth perception and a permanently dilated pupil. He could also play the ukulele, tea-chest bass and saxophone by this age, and formed his first band – The Konrads.
Age 18: Changed his name
Not wanting to be confused with Davy Jones of The Monkees, David changed his name to David Bowie after Jim Bowie, the American frontiersman.
Age 22: Top five UK song
After releasing his first album at age 20, he landed into the top five just two years later with a little song called Space Oddity. It was released five days before the Apollo 11 launch in 1969.
Age 23: Got married
David married his first wife Angie Barnett. At the tender age of 24, he had his first child with her, named Duncan Zowie Bowie. (You might know him as a director of films such as Moon.)
Age 25: Ziggy Stardust was born
Ziggy Stardust is one of Bowie’s most infamous characters. With the birth of this eye-catching glam persona, David released his fifth studio album - The Rise and fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars.
Age 29: Became the Thin White Duke
The next of Bowie’s alter egos appears – with his 1976 album Station to Station. The character was actually an extension of the alien he played in The Man Who Fell To Earth. (With the 1974 release of Diamond Dogs
Age 34: Released Under Pressure with Queen
After his Berlin period in 1976-79 (which gave the world the album Low and the single Heroes), Bowie moved into a more new wave and pop era, teaming up with Queen for this belter. This is also around the time you’d have seen him as the bleach blonde opening narrator for Christmas classic The Snowman.
Age 39: Acted in Labyrinth
And gave children all over the world nightmares. The next year, 1987, he brought his Glass Spider Tour to Slane in Meath. (Let us know in the comments if you were lucky enough to be there and have any memories of the gig.)
Age 45: Married Iman
In his mid forties, Bowie married Somalian model Iman. The couple are still together to this day.
Age 49: Released an internet-only single
Bowie broke the mould in 1997 by releasing an internet-only single called Telling Lies. It would have taken around 11 minutes to download using dial-up. Pretty niche at the time, but also amazingly prescient when you think about it. (The song also has drum and bass undertones, which is very of its time.)
Age 56: Offered a knighthood by the Queen
But he turned her down. No Sir Bowie for you, we’re afraid. He told The Sun newspaper: “I would never have any intention of accepting anything like that.”
Age 59: Awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award
He also portrayed Nikolai Tesla in the Christopher Nolan movie The Prestige. (That one with the magicians and the big twist.)
Age 69: Released his 28th studio album, Blackstar
Not only that, but he’s currently collaborating with Irish playwright Enda Walsh on a musical play entitled Lazarus. So, like we said – he’s been busy alright.
Music legend David Bowie’s 28th album Blackstar is in Irish stores right now. So if you fancy previewing the new album, head over to iTunes now and check it out.
And now to find how you compare to David Bowie’s epic timeline… Click the button below and enter your age to find out.
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