David Bowie & the Story of Ziggy Stardust Page #2

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He had an enormous sexual appetite,

which came across on the stage.

I mean, it's a useful thing to have,

if one has an outlet.

But the dance troupe didn't

pay the bills.

And nor did his next

musical direction,

a folk trio called Feathers.

Bowie turned to acting

to help finance his music,

taking small film roles

and even starring

in an ice-cream ad.

And then, seemingly from nowhere,

he hit upon a formula to finally

launch his music career.

Put out to coincide with

the 1969 lunar landings,

the single rocketed

to number five in the UK charts.

# This is ground control

# To Major Tom

# You've really made the grade

# And the papers want to know whose

shirts you wear... #

Space Oddity, that was a game

changing record,

was the record that inspired me to

make the Elton John record.

I said I just want the sound

that's on that record,

cos it was so extraordinary.

# This is Major Tom

to ground control... #

Although essentially

another novelty record,

it was also a masterful

piece of songwriting.

But the songs on

the self-titled album,

released to cash in

on the single's success,

sounded nothing like Space Oddity.

# Spy, spy, pretty girl

# I see you see me

through your window. #

The record buying public

couldn't understand

what David Bowie was all about.

It was a strange record,

because at the time,

he was writing folk songs.

His latest thing was having long

hair, going on stage,

crossing his legs, and playing an

acoustic guitar.

And, so, consequently,

he didn't really click again,

with the public,

because his image

was quite confused.

Bowie had shown the world a glimpse

of his extraordinary talent,

but it would be three years

until he could recapture

Space Oddity's success

with Ziggy Stardust.

And as those years rolled by,

Bowie became increasingly worried

he was damned to be

a one-hit-wonder.

In 1970 he was

fundamentally depressed.

He had no idea where he was going, he

didn't know how he was going to fit.

A serious change of direction

was needed.

And that, in part, came from Bowie's

bride-to-be, Angie Barnett.

Angela was really a driving force

behind David.

She was very influential

with the costumes.

She made him brave.

She would have her hair cut first,

if she didn't think he'd like it.

She made him brave.

She was encouraging and always

on his side and always positive.

She would always encourage

dressing him and help the image,

and I always found her as

a very positive force.

Bowie formed a new band

called the Hype

and in February 1970,

he unleashed a radical new image.

Was going to do a gig,

and Angie said,

we're going to dress you all up.

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