Official Bowie 2020 limited wall calendar pre-order
Denis O’Regan opens gallery in Hammersmith
“I'd like to launch a gallery, Put you all inside my show”
On the evening that the UK recorded its hottest day ever (Thursday 25th July), the new Denis O'Regan Gallery W6 was successfully launched in London. Here’s a bit of info:
As one of Britain’s top rock photographers, Denis O’Regan has collaborated with legendary artists including David Bowie, Queen and the Rolling Stones, creating iconic images and capturing both the grit and the glamour of rock star life.
His illustrious 45 year career has seen him serve as official photographer at international festivals such as Glastonbury, Download & Coachella, and on tour for legendary performers including Duran Duran, Thin Lizzy, Spandau Ballet and Pink Floyd.
His astounding archive serves as a social history of contemporary music, documenting the emergence and growth of movements such as Punk & New Wave, New Romantic, Heavy Metal and Grunge.
Famous for his deceptively relaxed approach, Denis’s easy-going personality ensured Access All Areas on lengthy world tours with a host of seminal musicians and bands, and the natural intimacy of his photographs is due to the friendships he forged in the process. His comprehensive back catalogue features hundreds of thousands of photographs, taken during travels through more than half the world’s nations.
Many of Denis’s iconic images will be shown at the gallery - David Bowie in Thailand & Singapore, Freddie Mercury and Queen at Wembley Stadium and their final ever show, at Knebworth, and Spandau Ballet and Pink Floyd images from their international tours.
Long before drones were used for crowd shots, Denis took his life in his hands and climbed the scaffolding at Milton Keynes Bowl for his famous shot of David Bowie’s Serious Moonlight show, capturing the 63,000 audience of smiling faces as far as the eye could see.
And now, for the first time ever, he’s bringing this entire rock & roll archive under one roof with the opening of the Denis O’Regan Gallery in Hammersmith.
The gallery will serve as a retail space with a large selection of Denis’s limited edition prints for sale as well as unique pieces available only at the gallery. His signed limited edition boxed set ‘Ricochet : David Bowie 1983’ which is the only David Bowie book in the permanent collection in London’s V&A Museum, and Duran Duran’s ‘Careless Memories’ will also be available to purchase.
Denis O’Regan
271 King Street
London
W6 9QF
#GalleryW6 #DavidBowieRicochet
Space Oddity (2019 Mix) video online at midday UK
“Commencing countdown, engines on”
As promised yesterday, the new David Bowie video for Space Oddity (2019 mix) that premiered at The Kennedy Center in Washington a few hours ago, and shortly afterwards in Times Square in New York, will be available to view online from midday UK time (BST), today.
The video will be viewable on the David Bowie YouTube channel and you can watch it for the first time with other fans by tuning in live at 12:00pm.
The chat is open now so follow this link to interact with other fans while you wait:
#SpaceOddity50 #Apollo50th
Space Oddity video in Washington and Times Square tonight
“Under the moonlight, this serious moonlight”
As you know, the new David Bowie video for Space Oddity (2019 mix) will be premiered at a NASA event at The Kennedy Center in Washington this evening. The premiere will commemorate 50 years since Apollo 11 landed on the Moon, as well as the 50th anniversary of Space Oddity’s original release.
Shortly afterwards (somewhere between 22:30 and 23:00 ish local time (EST)), the video (without sound) will be aired in Times Square. It was originally to be shown with sound, but due to the extreme heat advisory for today (20th July), the City of NY has cancelled all outdoor events for the health and safety of the public.
Space Oddity 2019 will be available to view online tomorrow from midday UK time (BST), stay tuned for more details tomorrow morning.
The video features footage of David Bowie performing Space Oddity at his 50th birthday concert at Madison Square Garden in 1997 (directed by Tim Pope), married to footage shot and directed by Édouard Lock (the founder and choreographer of the Montreal dance troupe La La La Human Steps), for the onscreen back drop of Bowie’s 1990 Sound & Vision tour.
Go here for the full press release regarding the video for Space Oddity (2019 mix).
#SpaceOddity50 #Apollo50th
Space Oddity and Apollo 11 head for success
“Here am I sitting in a tin can, Far above the world”
Though the early signs weren't looking so good for Space Oddity on 17th July, 1969, Apollo 11 was well on its way to a successful mission following a perfect lift off the previous day.
Even with the BBC’s use of Space Oddity as unofficial theme song for the Apollo 11 mission, it would be a few more months before the single would peak on the UK singles chart.
However, the crew of Apollo 11 would land successfully on the moon on 20th July 1969, an event being celebrated with a new David Bowie video which will be premiered at the NASA event at The Kennedy Center in Washington on 20th July.
Check out a series of teaser videos on the Official David Bowie Facebook page.
#SpaceOddity50
One Giant Step – David Bowie’s Space Oddity on R2 tonight
“Do you remember a guy that's been, In such an early song”
Though not officially sanctioned, Tris Penna and Sue Clark’s latest Bowie-related production for BBC Radio 2 airs at 21:00 this evening, and is well worth a mention here.
We’re sure you remember their award-winning Exploring Life On Mars? documentary, presented by Martin Kemp and originally broadcast on BBC Radio 2 on January 9th, 2017. The programme won the BBC’s Radio & Music Awards BEST MUSIC PRODUCTION gong last year.
Tonight’s look at the evolution of Space Oddity and the continuing saga of Major Tom is surely destined for similar accolades.
Listen here: https://smarturl.it/OneGiantStepBBCR2
Keep reading for the full blurb.
#BowieOneGiantStep #SpaceOddity50 #BowieAtTheBBC #ExploringLifeOnMars
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One Giant Step – David Bowie’s Space Oddity
BBC Radio 2
Tx: Saturday 13th July 2019 at 9 pm
Presenter: Tris Penna
July is the fiftieth anniversary of the release of David Bowie’s first hit single 'Space Oddity' in 1969 and One Giant Step examines in detail arguably Bowie’s most famous song - one which was to have a vital, brooding presence throughout his career.
We look at why on the back of 9 flop singles and many attempts at fame - Space Oddity was written, and examine the influences that led to this career igniting song, with new interviews with his then duet partner John Hutchinson and good friend Dana Gillespie.
We hear the earliest known full demo of Space Oddity - performed as a duo with Hutch, but with differing lyrics and arrangements. We have unheard archive interview of Bowie’s manager at the time, Ken Pitt, discussing the unaired TV special 'Love You Till Tuesday' for which the song was written, and we hear a previously unheard studio outtake of the TV recording of the song from February 1969.
We learn about his multi-media trio Feathers - which became Bowie and Hutch, one of the origins for the song (having been conceived as a duet) - plus other significant influences such as Stanley Kubrick’s movie ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’.
We learn how Bowie admits that 'Gee I am Major Tom' and how the invention of the Major Tom character would be the very first of many character creations in his career. We reveal what Tony Visconti thought of the song and why he gave it to Gus Dudgeon to produce. Bassist Herbie Flowers who played on the track tells us about the original recording session. We also hear from Philips Records executive Olav Wyper on how he helped make the record - against all odds - a hit.
We discover how David Bowie’s first UK number one single was a re-issue of Space Oddity in 1975 and hear the 1979 bleak Lennonesque remake. We hear from video director David Mallet - who made the startling video for Space Oddity 1979 which presaged the award winning video for Ashes To Ashes - the song of course prominently features 'Major Tom' who is by now a junky.
We have exclusive archive of Bowie talking about Ashes to Ashes and the continuing story of Major Tom. In a brand new interview Pet Shop Boy Neil Tennant tells us how they came to remix ‘Hallo Spaceboy’ - and how it was his idea to 'cut up' the original Space Oddity lyrics and sing them with Bowie on the hit.
We also hear audio of the very last time Bowie performed the song in 2002 in Denmark. Space Oddity has by now become such a part of popular culture that it was no surprise when astronaut Chris Hadfield performed Space Oddity live from the Space Station. And in an exclusive interview superstar film director Johan Renck tells us about the creative process of working with Bowie on the Blackstar video - the video that sees Major Tom finally laid to rest, made only months before Bowie’s untimely death.
The programme is presented by Tris Penna, who as a record executive and producer knew and worked with David Bowie. Produced by Tris Penna and Sue Clark Productions for BBC Radio 2.
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Space Oddity goes gold on day of box release
“You’ve really made the grade”
On the very day that the BPI in the UK have announced that Space Oddity has gone gold (again), you’re most likely aware that Parlophone also released a 50th anniversary double 7” box set of Space Oddity today (12th July).
Single 1 features both the original mono version of the song plus the original mono B-side, Wild Eyed Boy From Freecloud and it’s contained in a replica of the ultra-rare original promotional UK single sleeve.
Single 2, which boasts superb new 2019 mixes of both songs by Tony Visconti, comes in a new sleeve with a Ray Stevenson shot of David taken on stage during a performance of Space Oddity at the ‘Save Rave ‘69’ concert at the London Palladium on 30th November, 1969, in front of a backdrop featuring a NASA astronaut.
The single edit of the new 2019 Tony Visconti mix of Space Oddity is also available for streaming and digital download now.
The box also contains a double-sided poster featuring an alternative version of aforementioned Ray Stevenson shot at the London Palladium and an original Space Oddity print advertisement, alongside an information card and a print featuring an alternative shot by Jojanneke Claassen from the Space Oddity promo single cover session. All this is housed within a sturdy and quite delicious purple, mirror-board box.
Reading some of the comments on Bowie socials, it seems that most are in agreement that this box is a thing of beauty.
Get yours here.
#SpaceOddity50
Barbie as Bowie available now
“Ain’t that close to love? Well, ain’t that poster love? Well, it IS that Barbie doll...”
In the year that Barbie celebrates her 60th and on the very day that Space Oddity hit half a century, toymakers Mattel have announced a new collectable doll inspired by Bowie’s post-Ziggy Stardust creation, Aladdin Sane.
Dubbed Barbie as Bowie, the doll is dressed in one of the popular costumes sported by Bowie on his 1973 tour, including the iconic red platform boots, a Schwarzkopf ‘Red Hot Red’ mane of hair and gold disc on the forehead.
It’s not yet known if Ken will follow suit, but we reckon he would look great as Halloween Jack or The Thin White Duke.
More here.
#Barbie #BarbieAsBowie
Space Oddity x Unlock The Moon Experience
“I shoot at a full moon”
DAVID BOWIE - “SPACE ODDITY x UNLOCK THE MOON EXPERIENCE”
WEBSITE LAUNCHES IN CONJUNCTION WITH 50th ANNIVERSARY OF MOON LANDING
As you’re possibly already aware, this month marks the 50th anniversary of two historic cosmic events that shaped the course of history: David Bowie’s classic single “Space Oddity”, originally released 50 years ago today on 11th July, 1969, and the inaugural moon landing.
To celebrate these events, Parlophone has launched the new David Bowie “Space Oddity x Unlock The Moon Experience” today. The website, www.spaceoddity50.com, allows users to direct their phone’s camera towards the moon and, once perfectly aligned, unlock the brand new 2019 Tony Visconti mix of “Space Oddity” a day before the track is released as a digital single for streaming and digital download.
The new “Space Oddity” video will be premiered in its entirety on 20th July during Apollo 11: A 50th Anniversary Celebration—One Small Step, One Giant Leap, a one-night-only tribute to the 1969 moon landing from the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO), in collaboration with NASA on Saturday, 20th July at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall.
Parlophone will release a double 7-inch single of “Space Oddity” tomorrow, 12th July, featuring both the original “Space Oddity” mono version plus the original B-side “Wild Eyed Boy From Freecloud” and brand new 2019 mixes of each by Tony Visconti. The single edit of the new 2019 Tony Visconti mix of “Space Oddity” will also be available for streaming and digital download tomorrow.
Photo © Ray Stevenson
#UnlockTheMoon #SpaceOddity50
Space Oddity single is fifty today
“Blastoff…”
David Bowie’s 1969 breakthrough single, Space Oddity, is fifty today (Thursday 11th July).
The review in our montage from the July 12 1969 UK magazine Disc and Music Echo, was by Penny Valentine (a long-time champion of the unknown David Bowie), who starts her appreciation thusly:
“I have a bet on in the office that this is going to be a huge hit and knock everyone senseless. There are disbelievers among us!”
Well, Penny may have worried she was going to lose her wager for the first few months, but hopefully she collected big time when the record eventually peaked at #5 on the official UK singles chart in November 1969. As you know, her predictions would be further cemented when the 1975 reissue of the song gave Bowie his first #1 in the UK.
Stay tuned here and to the official David Bowie social pages for some fun Space Oddity related goings on.
Official David Bowie Socials:
#SpaceOddity50
Paul Smith anniversary edition Space Oddity LP
“And the papers want to know whose shirts you wear...”
Paul Smith is delighted to announce another collaboration with David Bowie in the shape of a multi-colour vinyl version of Bowie’s 1969 album, Space Oddity, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the landmark release.
This limited edition of 3000 copies worldwide will be released tomorrow (11th July, 2019), 50 years to the day from the UK release of the original ‘Space Oddity’ single. The album will be priced at £25 and available from selected Paul Smith shops and online.
To accompany the release, a small-scale exhibition of limited edition photographic prints by Vernon Dewhurst and Ray Stevenson offers the opportunity to see some intimate portraits of Bowie at a crucial point in his career. These prints will be on show at Paul Smith’s shop in London’s Mayfair at No. 9 Albemarle Street from July 11th to August 6th.
Keep reading for the full press release.
#PaulSmithBowie #SpaceOddity50
PAUL SMITH CREATES 50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION OF DAVID BOWIE’S ‘SPACE ODDITY’ ALBUM LIMITED TO 3000 COPIES WORLDWIDE
The British designer has created a multi-colour vinyl version of David Bowie’s 1969 album Space Oddity to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the landmark release.
This extremely limited edition pressing of 3000 copies will be released on July 11th, 2019, 50 years to the day from the July 11th, 1969 UK release of the original ‘Space Oddity’ single.
The front cover of this special edition features the original 1969 UK Philips release of the album. It features the British photographer Vernon Dewhurst’s famous portrait of David Bowie, merging into a colourful optical art background of blue dots inspired by the work of Victor Vasarely. The rear cover is decorated with a surrealist image from another of Bowie’s regular collaborators, the illustrator George Underwood, titled ‘The Depth of a Circle’.
In reference to the album’s famous opening track, ‘Space Oddity’, the new 12” record comes with a vibrant blue and yellow starburst pattern. This unique design is created by hand, making each vinyl a one-off piece of art.
To accompany the release, a small-scale exhibition of limited edition photographic prints by Vernon Dewhurst and Ray Stevenson offers the opportunity to see some intimate portraits of Bowie at a crucial point in his career. These prints will be on show at Paul Smith’s shop in London’s Mayfair at No. 9 Albemarle Street from July 11th to August 6th.
The new release is the latest chapter in an on-going partnership between Paul Smith and David Bowie, which has continued after the artist’s sad passing in 2016. Friends for many years, David and Paul collaborated on projects including creating a special red vinyl version of David Bowie’s album The Next Day in 2013 and a series of special edition T-shirts for David Bowie’s final album, ★ (Blackstar) in 2016.
3000 copies of this limited edition release will be produced worldwide, priced at £25 and available from selected Paul Smith shops and online from July 11th, 2019.
D.J. follows suit and enters today’s U.K. chart at #1
“I've got believers“
Following the trend started when the Official UK Vinyl Singles Chart started in April 2015, D.J. (the latest David Bowie 40th Anniversary 7” vinyl picture disc issued by Parlophone), has entered today’s new chart at #1, after its release last week.
Of the 40th Anniversary discs, the only one not to hit the top spot so far is Be My Wife, though it still managed a very respectable second place. It’s also fair to assume that had the chart been around at the time, all of the other 40th Anniversary discs from Starman onward would have performed similarly well.
Currently the Official Vinyl Singles Chart covers the period from 12th April 2015 to 11th July 2019. All releases listed below are 40th Anniversary 7” vinyl picture discs, unless otherwise stated.
#1 - D.J. (2017 Tony Visconti mix - single edit) - July 2019
#1 - Boys Keep Swinging (2017 Tony Visconti Mix) - May 2019
#1 - The Rebels - David Bowie’s Revolutionary Song - April 2019 - RSD (Music On Vinyl - Numbered sleeve, transparent blue vinyl 7”)
#1 - Breaking Glass EP - November 2018
#2 - Let's Dance (Full Length Demo) - April 2018 – RSD (Black vinyl 12")
#1 - Beauty And The Beast - January 2018
#1 - "Heroes" (Single Version) - September 2017
#2 - Be My Wife - June 2017
#1 - No Plan EP - April 2017 – RSD - (Sony Music - Numbered sleeve, transparent blue marbled vinyl 12”)
#8 - Placebo Featuring David Bowie - Without You I'm Nothing - April 2017 - RSD - (Universal Music - picture disc 12”)
#1 - Sound And Vision (2017 Remastered Version) - February 2017
#1 - TVC15 (Original Single Edit) - April 2016
#1 - Golden Years (Single Version) - November 2015
#1 - Space Oddity (UK Single Edit) - October 2015
#1 - Fame (Original Single Edit) - July 2015
#1 - Changes - April 2015 - RSD
#2 - Tom Verlaine Kingdom Come - David Bowie Kingdom Come - April 2015 - RSD (Elektra/Parlophone Side By Side series - translucent white 7")
D.J. joins Boys Keep Swinging in today’s top ten (currently #9 on its way down from the top spot) along with the Breaking Glass EP which has re-entered the chart at #34.
The week after Bowie’s passing (in January 2016), the Official Vinyl Singles Chart top 20 was dominated by 13 different Bowie singles.
Of course, not only is this an indication of how Bowie’s music endures, it’s also a reflection of how faithful Bowie fans are, for it is you that have made the David Bowie 40th Anniversary 7” vinyl picture disc series the success it is. Thank you.
#BowieVinyl #BowieOCC #DBDJ40
Mercury Demos now available to stream
“And as the sparrow sings, Dawn chorus for, Someone else to hear”
Following on from recent announcements that both the Spying Through A Keyhole (STAK) set and the Clareville Grove Demos (CGD) are available to stream, we can now tell you that The ‘Mercury’ Demos set is also available from today, 5th July, via the usual streaming outlets.
The ‘Mercury’ Demos are 10 early Bowie recordings captured live in one take to a Revox reel to reel tape machine in David’s flat in spring 1969, with Bowie on vocals, guitar and Stylophone and with accompaniment from John ‘Hutch’ Hutchinson on guitar and vocals.
Space Oddity
Janine
An Occasional Dream
Conversation Piece
Ching-a-Ling
I’m Not Quite (aka Letter To Hermione)
Lover To The Dawn
Love Song
When I’m Five
Life Is A Circus
The vinyl version of the ‘Mercury’ Demos comes in a beautiful replica of the original tape box featuring a mono 33 1/3 rpm vinyl LP, a print, two photo contact sheets and sleeve notes by Mark Adams. The labels of the LP feature the same EMIDISC acetate styling as Spying Through A Keyhole and Clareville Grove Demos with the song titles in David’s own handwriting. Read more about the release here.
#BowieTheMercuryDemos
New Space Oddity video at NASA event
“Planet Earth is blue”
A new David Bowie video for the 1969 breakthrough single Space Oddity will be premiered at a NASA event at The Kennedy Center in Washington on 20th July.
The premiere will commemorate 50 years since Apollo 11 landed on the Moon, as well as the 50th anniversary of Space Oddity’s original release.
The video features footage of David Bowie performing Space Oddity at his 50th birthday concert at Madison Square Garden in 1997 (directed by Tim Pope), married to footage shot and directed by Eduaord Lock (the founder and choreographer of the Montreal dance troupe La La La Human Steps), for the onscreen back drop of Bowie’s 1990 Sound & Vision tour.
Keep reading for the full press release.
#SpaceOddity50
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DAVID BOWIE - SPACE ODDITY (2019 MIX)
NEW VIDEO TO PREMIERE AT NASA EVENT COMMEMORATING THE 50th ANNIVERSARY OF THE MOON LANDING.
A new David Bowie video for the 1969 breakthrough single Space Oddity will be premiered at a NASA event at The Kennedy Center in Washington on 20th July. The premiere will commemorate 50 years since Apollo 11 landed on the Moon, as well as the 50th anniversary of Space Oddity’s original release.
The video features footage of David Bowie performing Space Oddity at his 50th birthday concert at Madison Square Garden in 1997 (directed by Tim Pope), married to footage shot and directed by Eduaord Lock (the founder and choreographer of the Montreal dance troupe La La La Human Steps), for the onscreen back drop of Bowie’s 1990 Sound & Vision tour.
The 1990 footage was projected on to the large screens throughout the Sound & Vision tour, featuring David effectively performing Space Oddity with himself, a performance replicated at his 50th Birthday Concert. The audio that accompanies the video is the new 2019 mix of Space Oddity by long-time Bowie producer Tony Visconti.
The video will debut at National Symphony Orchestra Pops Apollo 11: A Fiftieth Anniversary—One Small Step, One Giant Leap on 20th July and will be streamed on YouTube shortly after the show has finished.
The event will be Hosted by Mythbusters's Adam Savage and will feature appearances by Pharrell Williams, Mark Armstrong, son of the late Neil Armstrong and astronauts on the International Space Station will see the premiere of a new work by Oscar-winning composer Michael Giacchino (Up, The Incredibles, Mission Impossible, Star Wars; Rogue One).
The new audio mix of Space Oddity is released on 12th July as part of a 50th anniversary double 7” box set.
The set includes a replica of the ultra-rare original promotional UK sleeve housing single 1 and a new sleeve containing single 2 featuring a Ray Stevenson shot of David taken on stage during a performance of Space Oddity at the ‘Save Rave ‘69’ concert at the London Palladium on 30th November, 1969, in front of a backdrop featuring a NASA astronaut.
The anniversary edition also includes a double-sided poster featuring an alternative version of aforementioned Ray Stevenson shot at the London Palladium and an original Space Oddity print advertisement. There’s also an information card and a print featuring an alternative shot by Jojanneke Claassen from the Space Oddity promo single cover session.
SPACE ODDITY (1 TRACK DIGITAL SINGLE)
(2019 Mix - Single Edit)
2019 mix by Tony Visconti in March 2019.
SPACE ODDITY (2 x 7” SINGLE BOX SET
Single 1
Side A
SPACE ODDITY
(Original Mono Single Edit)
Side B
WILD EYED BOY FROM FREECLOUD
(Original Mono Single Version)
Single 2
Side A
SPACE ODDITY
(2019 Mix - Single Edit)
2019 mix by Tony Visconti, March 2019.
Side B
WILD EYED BOY FROM FREECLOUD
(2019 Mix - Single Version)
2019 mix by Tony Visconti, March 2019.
DAVID BOWIE - SPACE ODDITY 2 x 7" BOX SET AND 1 TRACK DIGITAL SINGLE is released on Parlophone 12th July 2019.
#SpaceOddity50