Concert For Nyc : More Tributes For David

We can be Heroes, just for one day

VH1 scored the network's highest ever rating with its broadcast of The Concert For New York City. The show attracted nearly 16 million viewers on VH1 alone. AOL also broke records with its webcast, which drew half a million hits for the live event. The concert has so far raised more than $30 million for World Trade Center relief efforts, and donations are still being accepted. The running total includes money raised from ticket sales, corporate sponsorships, television rights, merchandise sales, and donations made through a toll-free number and via the Internet.

Spaceface and SusanS have added more stories to their pages, including those below, extracted from the "Press" and "Journals" pages..

Watching days later with my wife, I still got a chill. I have never been more proud to be an American and have never been more proud to be a fan of David's. : nickyd28

But from that dust, those ashes, rises the phoenix of freedom, the voice of the good, and this evening the man who changed my life when I was just a boy, sits 'boy-like', cross legged beneath a single shaft of light, with a small toy-like keyboard, like a child on Christmas morning. : spud

The dual aspects of the show were evident from the beginning, when David Bowie, sitting at the edge of the stage, performed a stark, somber solo rendition of Paul Simon's "America" before launching into a rousing rendition of "Heroes" that suitably paid tribute to those in the crowd. : Hollywood Reporter

David Bowie got things off to an uplifting start by transforming "Heroes," an idealistic 1977 song about trying to reach for your dreams, into an emotional salute to the courage of the New York fire, police and rescue crews. : L A Times

Check out the pages, here, and enjoy these tributes to a man we know so well and love so much..

:))

Beware Of Fake Sailors

"Do your Cagney impression Mike"...The real Sailor having a real
chat backstage at Glastonbury last year. Picture by Total Blam Blam.

Sailor can't dance like you...

...but you can't chat like him! For any of you that have been hoodwinked into believing you've chatted with Sailor over the last couple of days...you haven't. Well at least not THE Sailor. Understandably, there are people out there that would love to be him...which is fair enough, as long as nobody is deceived in the process.

You may remember the guidelines we posted the other day that suggested you: "Do not impersonate other members, bnet employees, etc."

So be on your guard folx...remember Sail0r ain't Sailor...please feel free to snitch on offenders! My door is always open. };-)

Travis Do 'dudes' Later On...on 'later'

If you are in the UK tonight and aren't going to see Mercury Rev at Shepherds
Bush, you might want to catch the band on 'Later... With Jools Holland' on
BBC2 at 23:35 (GMT). Travis, who are also on the show, are said to be playing
a favourite of their live show, and B-side of their current single, 'All The Young
Dudes'. If however you are going to Mercury Rev...I'll see you there! };-)

Bowie Foreword For Stevie Ray Vaughan Cd

Like a sermon on a blues guitar...

'LIVE AT MONTREUX 1982 & 1985' is a double CD release due on Sony on 20th November by Stevie Ray Vaughan and his band Double Trouble. The 19-track CD features a 1,200 word foreword by David Bowie, who had the foresight to use Stevie on his world-wide smash from 1983, 'Let's Dance'.

Though the young guitarist's performance at the 1982 Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland was booed and hissed by the crowd, at least one member of the audience was left particularly impressed. Impressed enough to rehearse Stevie for the 'Serious Moonlight' tour that followed the recording of the album featuring the incredible talents of Mr Vaughan.

Blues, blues, electric blues - The late, great Stevie Ray Vaughan.

Unfortunately, seemingly due to events outside of both Stevie and David's control, the blues man never played a note live with David. For the full story you'll have to wait for the CD, but in the meantime here is an exclusive excerpt from David's foreword:

"Stevie and I had drinks after the show and we talked quite a bit about his influences and American music in general. We got on immediately as we shared a love for the playing of Albert King amongst others and in my enthusiasm I gave him a full run down of my 45 and 78 record collection which spanned from early Red Prysock, Louis Jordan and the Alan Freed Rock and Roll band through Broonzy, Hooker and Howlin' Wolf to British Old School like Bond, Mayall and Alexis Korner. I was deeply impressed with Stevie's knowledge of and interest in British artists like John Renborn and Davy Graham, musicians that I would never have guessed from his playing that he would have had any interest in."

Three years later, when Vaughan was invited back to headline 'Blues Night' at the festival, the crowd, now familiar with his group's songs and albums treated him like the conquering hero.

Gail Ann Dorsey Live In Hudson, Ny, Tomorrow

Gail Ann Dorsey backstage at the BBC,
by Total Blam Blam, June 2000.

Lady Grinning Soul...

The beautiful and outrageously gifted talent that is Gail Ann Dorsey, informs us that she will be performing in Hudson, New York, this Friday and Saturday night (2nd and 3rd Nov) at a place called The Hudson River Theater at 521 Warren Street. (See map below)

You can reach the venue on (518) 822-8189 for ticket and schedule details. If you do go, please be sure to pass on our love and tell Gail to put on her horse's tail and horns and get over here to Europe for some shows!

Latest Installment In Our Regular New Feature

It may be Halloween...Trick or Treat, whatever you people call it? But don't
expect any little monsters in David's latest journal entry. Go here for a short
but sweet installment...in every sense of the phrase.

Bowie - Worthy Of His Status?

David Bowie...We think he's really rather good.

You show respect even if you disagree...

The BBC's Radio 2 have the next instalment of their appropriately named 'Heroes Or Zeroes' series scheduled for this Thursday November 1st. This irreverent, tongue-in-cheek show, presented by one half of Radio 1's Mark and Lard team, Mark Radcliffe, asks whether contemporary rock icons are worthy of their status. And this week David Bowie is the subject of the show.

Radcliffe himself has made no secret of his appreciation of all things Bowie, but he has managed to get together a couple of gents who don't see eye-to-eye on the subject of David's achievements. Batting for the good guys is one Andrew Collins, who obviously has a greater grasp of rock history than Tom Ewing. Tom makes an unconvincing argument of not finding any value in over thirty years of achievement...and this from a man who hasn't even learned the correct pronunciation of Bowie!

The show is worth a listen even though I can think of a few you that should steer clear, lest you become murderous! You can listen to 'Heroes Or Zeroes' here on Thursday evening at 22:00 GMT. I look forward to the debate that is sure to follow on the MBs.

Read Another New Bowie Journal Today

Yep, they're coming thick and fast now. Go here to read which old associate David met up with for the mixing of the CFNYC CD tracks.

Total Blam Blam - (European Correspondent)

Iman In You Magazine

Iman on the cover of yesterday's Mail On Sunday
magazine, 'you'. Photography by Daniel Garriga.

Sees the pictures of herself, Every magazine on every shelf...

Here in the UK yesterday, The Mail On Sunday magazine, 'you', devoted their front cover and a fascinating five pages within the magazine to Iman's new book: 'I AM IMAN'. Here are a few excerpts (typed up by Susans...thank you dear) including an exclusive BowieNet footnote from David!:

There is a small but startling revelation in Iman's new book: her husband, David Bowie, king of cool, reveals that he has never been to a fashion show. It seems an absurd omission. But the Bowies, both of them, shun crowds and fuss.

David is a homebody, too, a silent presence at his computer, writing, surfing the net. "His priority is home, he wants to spend time with the baby."

Although she owns a spectacular Somali temper - she's an occasional plate-thrower - she may switch to a sudden deference. "I finished the book, and then everybody said, 'Now it's all on your husband. He hasn't done his foreword.' I said, 'I can't ask him. At home, I am the wife, I cook. I can't tell him to step on it and write my piece.' So I said, 'You guys have to e-mail him.' And of course, he did it in like ten minutes, and he brought it to me. I was expecting some of the modern, hip writing that he does, and I got this very sweet, sensitive foreword about his love for me. I cried when I read it."

Her book is called - defiantly - I Am Iman. It is part biography, part magazine, so that Iman's own story resides amid a concoction of interviews and short stories contributed by her famous friends. This apparently baffling format appears to have been inspired by Flair, a fleeting 50s magazine which continues to influence contemporary designers. Apparently, David Bowie is a huge fan who collects original issues.

And here's David's response for BowieNet:

'Other than the third coming of Vanity Fair (1952-1953), Jonathan Barnbrook, who designed 'I Am Iman', and myself were also very influenced by Andy Warhol's 'Index Book'. 'Vanity Fair' was resurrected three times after its original inception in the 19th cent. From 1913 -1935 (with contributions from the likes of Tristan Tzara and Duchamp) then again in 1952 and yet again in its present form. I personally don't collect Vanity Fair but bought a complete bound set of the 1950's issues for Iman as a birthday present.

Iman does not throw plates, only dinner parties.'

db

Kwest To Find Pulp Boy A Success

Mark Webber recreates the Ziggy Sleeve. Picture by Tony Webber.

Zig played guitar, jamming good with Steve and Banksey...

Those of you familiar with the fine new Pulp album, 'We Love Life', may have been intrigued by a photograph in the CD booklet, reproduced above. Although there was no clue as to who the young Ziggy pretender contained within the booklet might be, I had my own suspicions. After a recent chat with Jarvis Cocker, my hunch was confirmed as correct when he revealed to me that the band's guitarist, Mark Webber, is the biggest Bowie fan in the band, and that he used to answer to the name of Zig!

I caught up with Mark yesterday and he admitted that he is in fact the mystery boy in the photograph:

"Yes the picture is indeed of me, taken at the age of twelve and a half in 1983. And it is also true that I answered to the nickname of "Zig". That came about largely because it was a better name to enter in the high score panel of video games than "Mar", which didn't quite work. I should explain that video games would only allow a three letter entry back in the those days."

Glad to clear that one up for you folx...stay tuned for more on Mark's Bowie fandom in the next week or so.

Bowie @ Msg Due On Cd Next Month

David Bowie backstage at MSG last week.

...we'll marry our fortunes together...

As we mentioned last week, a double CD of last Saturday's 'Concert for New York City' is scheduled for release on Columbia Records. Due at the end of next month, both 'America' and 'Heroes' are expected to appear on the release that will benefit the Robin Hood Relief Fund.

The fund will use the proceeds to help lower-income New Yorkers affected by the terrorist attacks as well as the families of fire-fighters, police officers and rescue workers who were injured or killed.

No Bowie/lulu Duet

"We spoke of was and when..." Lulu and David Bowie backstage at the BBC, June, 2000.
Note Meg Ryan and Russell Crowe hiding in the background! Picture by Total Blam Blam.

I laughed and shook his hand...

Despite reports in that august publication The Daily Star (splutter), there will be no appearance by David Bowie on Lulu's forthcoming 'Duets' album. But it's still a tenuous enough reason to post this photograph I took of them at last year's BBC Radio Theatre. Of course the ever-ch, ch, ch, ch, changing chameleon and the diminutive Scot (sorry, couldn't resist) have worked together in the past.

Lulu had a huge European hit with her excellent Bowie/Ronson produced version of 'The Man Who Sold The World', which was backed by 'Watch That Man'. If you've not heard these tracks, check 'em out, the Bowie/Ronson contribution is more than evident, and both songs are still available on at least three Lulu CDs at a popular online store. I know I'm going to get shouted down here, but I prefer this version to the more famous Nirvana MTV unplugged version...but what do I know.

David also recorded a version of 'Can You Hear Me' with Lulu, which has yet to have an official release, even though a couple of different mixes have managed to find their way onto various bootlegs. Not that I know about this sort of thing. There is no mention of a Bowie appearance on the forthcoming duets album at Lulu's official site, but it's still worth a look if only to check out the myriad TMWSTW 7" picture covers.

David Shows His "nipples" Again!

How a detail from David's original 'Nipples' piece may have looked

Feel that pretty thing...

Those of you with a good memory may recall a piece David donated to the New York Academy of Art's Ninth Annual 'Take Home A Nude' auction in New York, back in June 1999. (5/20/99 SNEAKER: ITS BLACK)The piece was simply a Braille message on a black canvas that spelt out the word 'nipples'.

You can now view a new version of the artwork as part of a group show at the Rupert Goldsworthy Gallery in New York from November 7th. This version has been produced in a different colour, which I won't disclose here lest I spoil the surprise for those that decide to visit the exhibition.

Apart from David's 'nipples', the show will feature new work by Steven Evans, Rupert Goldsworthy, Jane Kaplowitz, Mr. Lam, Mr. Leonard and Stephen Tashjian.

The exhibition runs until December 15th, at the Rupert Goldsworthy Gallery, 453 West 17th St 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10011. (Corner of Tenth Avenue)

New Bowienet Features...how To Use Them

MESSAGEBOARDS

Ignore Feature
This new feature is similar to the "Block Sender" option in some email clients. It allows you to filter out a member whose posts you do not care to view.You can access this feature from two places at all times.

The first place is at the bottom of the subject listings next to the preferences button.

Clicking this button will take you to the Ignore User page where you can manually enter the username(s) you wish to ignore.

To ignore a user, simply type his/her username in the textfield and click the "ignore this user" button.

You can do this for as many users as you like. Once a user is ignored they will appear at the top of the "Ingore User" page.

You can then use the "EDIT" button to change the spelling of ignored username(s) or you can un-ingore usernames by clicking the "DELETE" button.

The second way you can ignore users is while viewing a message.

Simply click the "IGNORE THIS USER" button and whoever posted the message you are viewing will be added to your Ignored Users list.

Community Feedback and Support
In hopes of providing a less confusing line of communication between BNETand the community, the ?Rants and Feedback? category will be eliminated. All posts offering suggestions on improving the site and/or complaints will finda home in the ?Naggers Top 10.?

Technical support will remain
ONLY technical issues will be addressed here. This is not the place forsuggestions. All posts not involving a direct technical issue will be moved or deleted.

Karma
With everything going on in our world, we felt like there might be enough negative karma out there.We have decided to remove the ability for a post to go into "Negative Karma" for the next few months.Actually, you can still NEG a posting down, but only down to zero. This gives the uppers and the downers an outlet without giving them a weapon. Let's give it a try and see how it does!

MEMBER OF THE WEEK RADIO

BowieNet has recently given our members of the week the opportunity to choose a playlist for the BowieRadio Channel 4 - Member Radio.The prospective member of the week is emailed the Wednesday before with the list of songs to choose from. Once you receive the list, simply follow the instructions included in the email and return the email to webmaster@davidbowie.com.

MOW also has the option to design a customised skin for the Radio Player. All you have to do is select the file format from the list that best suits your skills.

Once you have downloaded and unpacked the .ZIP/SIT file you'll be on your way to creating your custom Member Radio Skin. When you are done simply re-pack the files with WinZip or Stuff It, and attach them to your email containing the playlist and send it to webmaster@davidbowie.com.

PLEASE NOTE - If you are emailed as a prospective member of the week and you do not reply to the email you will forefit your opportunity to create a custom playlist and skin. You will still be featured as MOW, but the last member to have submitted a playlist will continue to be featured on the MOW Radio.

We hope you enjoy the modifications. We will be announcing an UltraStar chat in the coming weeks where we can all chat about what's next for BowieNet.

Members Feature : The Concert For New York City

They've all come to look for America

In the same way that she did for his performance at The Concert For Tibet, Spaceface, with the help of Susans, has put together some pages about David's appearance at The Concert For New York City, last Saturday. Apart from a roundup of the press that followed the event, there is also a summary of message board postings, mainly gathered from Sunday and Monday, under "Journals". Also, look out for an excellent page of screen grabs by Susans.

Here follows a quick sample of some of the stuff you can expect to read:

David Bowie got the night started - and drew a wild response from a crowd packed with thousands of police and firefighters - with an epic rendition of his classic 1970's hit 'Heroes' : New York Post

David Bowie kicked off the gala with a poignant cover of the Simon and Garfunkel hit, America. But he made no speeches, his choice of songs said all he wanted to convey. : Daily Mirror (UK)

"I'm also proud of all these English people. I call them teabags ? your Jaggers, your McCartneys, Clapton, Elton, Bowie. They are standing shoulder-to-shoulder with us, and I thank them for that." : Billy Joel

It was the perfect opening to the show. Poignant, simple, and fresh. It almost seemed religious - the gentle singer, the immigrant's song. : cavebat

I think that what I just saw was one of the most profound performances of Bowie's career. Totally moving and apt. Wow indeed! : iforgot

These pages are still growing, so if your thoughts are not featured, or you have some images, or news cuttings to add, please do use the "Submit" button to send them in. We will show the pages again when they are complete.

Thanks to everyone who has contributed so far, and especially thanks to David for giving us another great reason to do some work!

Click here to go to the pages.

:))

Message Boards Update

After reading your emails and posts, we have recently implemented many of your suggestions on the Message Boards.We have changed some of the Topics, made some modifications, and
added some new features. Have a look! Here are some other changes that are a direct result of your online enthusiasmCleaning out the BoardsAs we have mentioned over the last few weeks, we have cleared out the Message Boards. This is simply part of site maintenance that needs to be performed every 6 months or so. Also, due to members requests, we have left the postings from September 11th and 12th for the community to reflect upon.Ignore Feature:Due to the unfortunate verbal warfare between a minority of B-Netters, we will implement an ignore feature. We always tried to maintain an open discussion here but over zealous posters have made this feature necessary. So we will offer an ignore option as you requested. If you don't want to be exposed to what a member is saying, IGNORE them!Community Feedback and Support:In hopes of providing a less confusing line of communication between BNET and the community, the ?Rants and Feedback? category will be eliminated. All posts offering suggestions on improving the site and/or complaints will find a home in the ?Naggers Top 10.? Technical support will remain. ONLY technical issues will be addressed here. This is not the place for suggestions. All posts not involving a direct technical issue will be moved or deleted.KarmaWith everything going on in our world, we felt like there might be enough negative karma out there. We have decided to remove the ability for a post to go into "Negative Karma" for the next few months. Actually, you can still NEG a posting down, but only down to zero. This gives the uppers and the downers an outlet without giving them a weapon. Let's give it a try and see how it does!Understanding our policiesIn light of some negative activity on the boards we would like you to revisit our AUP ?Acceptable Use Policy?. This can be found at www.davidbowie.com/aup Bottom line: Let's act as a community and try to be civil to each other.Here are some guidelines to keep in mind:*UltraStar have the right to remove any content.*Do not post and/or alter other members images and personal information without their permission.*Do not post members real names*Do not impersonate other members, bnet employees, etc*Do not post racist material*Do not post anything illegalIf you have an issue with something that has been posted, please send the message ID and reason for your complaint to violations@davidbowie.com - UltraStar will review these posts. We hope you enjoy the modifications. We will be announcing an UltraStar chat in the coming weeks where we can all chat about what's next for BowieNet.

Rock Revamped

© Mick Rock All Rights Reserved

If I had not ripped the fabric...

www.mickrock.com has had a facelift, and very nice it is too. The gallery area now features six sections: classic images, live shots, new work, black & whites, ripart collection and chimeras. The image above is taken from the 'ripart' section, where you can find several of Mick's artworks including a few of David.

All of the sections include classic Bowie images, from early Ziggy to the present day, excluding the chimeras section which is certainly worth a look too. The site will be updated with new pictures and news on a regular basis, including details of upcoming publications and exhibitions. Speaking of which...

Mick has an exhibition of his photo-art upstairs at the Cooper Classics Collection gallery in Greenwich Village, New York, from November 1st through January 1st. The show concentrates mainly on Mr Rock's artworks, collages and etchings, but also includes several of the works shown at the recent Blood and Glitter exhibition in London, including a beautiful new picture, that remains unpublished, from the same session as the picture below.

© Mick Rock All Rights Reserved

The tragic events of September 11th inspired Mick to produce three new works which can be viewed at the same location. Look out too for a big print of the image Mick produced for the Hedwig and the Angry Inch movie poster. We will shortly be running a competition to win this stunning large format poster, signed by both Mick Rock and John Cameron Mitchell.

New David Asks

Though there are no plans for one at the moment...You can bet your
bottom dollar that a PinUps2 wouldn't look anything like the above!
PinUps2 sleeve by Blammo, with apologies to Justin De Villeneuve

...favourite melodies...

Remember PinUps? Well so does David. Check out the new David Asks to see how you could hypothetically contribute to a PinUps2.

America? We Have A Winner!

"What are the chances of guessing that, Rumplestiltskin?"
Bowie wearing the T-shirt that no longer belongs to him.

For I've never been a winner in my life...

Until now that is. We set you the seemingly impossible task of guessing the song, apart from 'Heroes', that David would perform at MSG on Saturday. Incredibly, BowieNetter Leeza, appropriately a citizen of NYC herself, correctly predicted Paul Simon's 'America'. Here she explains how she arrived at her choice:

"..So I pulled out an old Simon and Garfunkle CD, and while I was listening to it, I logged on to BowieNet. As I was reading about the "guess the song" contest...'America' started playing, and I flashed to how moved I was when I heard them play it at their "reunion" concert in Central Park. I also listened to the lyrics with new ears. Of course, I never thought db would play it, but since I was listening to that song at the moment I read about the contest, I figured I may as well write that down, rather than think of one of a billion other songs it might be! Imagine my shock when I heard him sing it!"

"I've never won anything in my life...", Leeza sort of sobbed (well it was via e-mail) when I first informed her of her win, (she didn't know she was the only correct answer at that point) "...tell David there's no need to launder it before he sends it" she pleaded. Well done girl, not a bad first win then.

Not enough room to post your incredible list of suggestions here folx, but, by far and away the most popular choices were John Lennon's 'Imagine' (which David did sing in Honk Kong during the Serious Moonlight tour of 1983) and Frank Sinatra's, (and no doubt a cast of thousands) 'New York, New York'.

Sorry for the tease btw Leeza...Oh what fun. };-)

Messageboard Upgrades

There will be new features added to the BowieNet message boards tomorrow. As a result, you may experience brief interruptions during the time of the upgrade. Please bear with us as we implement these new and improved features. Look for a fully detailed article on the upgrade in tomorrow's news.