Strange Fascination: David Bowie: The Definitive Story

by David Buckley

Book Overview

The Sunday Times bestseller. David Bowie was arguably the most influential artist of his time, reinventing himself again and again, transforming music, style and art for over five decades. David... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 075350457X
• ISBN13: 9780753504574
• Release Date: January 2001
• Publisher: Virgin Books
• Length: 656 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.8" x 5.2" x 7.6"

Customer Reviews

A moving, though sometimes painful, love letter to Bowie.

This biography, by a self-admitted Bowie fan, is definitely one of the best biographies I've ever read, period. His writing style is often quite enthralling, and his descriptions of early Bowie performances jumped off the page. They went even farther in making me yearn for a time machine or rip in the time-space continuum, just so I could jump back a few decades to see the man live. In addition to his electric descriptions of past showmanship, Buckley also spends much time delving into speculation about his actions over past decades, including what is interpreted as sincere artistic creativity in the '70s, discomfort and commercial kowtowing in the '80s, and a sure climb to becoming an absolutely painful corporate entity in the present. I must admit that Buckley's portrayal of each decade is convincing. Surely the experimentation of the Eno records could mean nothing but a sincere need for innovation, but the Bowie of the '90's (and I fear the first half of the '00s) has become that corporate giant he has always seemed to run exactly counter to, and it saddens me. However, I still think that Bowie's legacy means so much more than he has become in recent years, and I am glad that Buckley ends the book with a section on how he has shaped the fans' lives with his music and image. Indeed, this message of his early music: that everyone can be, and is, a star, even as they stand disenfranchised, lonely and unsure of what they are, is what remains important to me and so many of his fans. This is what he should be remembered for, and what will always set him apart from other musicians for me; he will always be the one that tells his fans that it is okay to be different, and indeed beautiful to be so. This is what I thank David Buckley for communicating so well in his book; that despite the changes the man has undergone, he will, through his past achievements, always hold a spark for those of us who never felt we could be normal, and never wanted to be.

Excellence

As a huge Bowie fan, and someone who sought factual information on the enigmatic rock legend i really enjoyed this book. There is more to recommend it than the cover (best picture of Bowie ive ever seen), Buckley meets just about anyone who was ever connected with Bowie, drawing upon bandmates like Carlos Alomar and Earl Slick, as well as contributions from producers such as Tony Visconti and Nile Rodgers as well as sound masters such as Eno, to give us a fuller picture of Bowie throughout the last four decades. What i like in particular about this book is the descriptions of Bowie's 'bad times', the 74-76 period in particular is very full and well outlined. If you love Bowie, you'll love reading this. The book also tries to uncover the meaning and history behind individual classic songs such as Heroes, Station To Station and Life On Mars?, which many of the other Bowie books dont do. As a biography of course we must not automatically accept everything in the book as fact, i mean for example, Bowie didnt contribute or endorse the book - but he never supports or endorses biographies of himself anyway, so just a teeny weeny pinch of salt sometimes thoughout might be wise.

Balanced book about a complicated artist

By his nature, David Bowie isn't an easy person to write a book about. He is very complicated, closed, and truly a "chameleon", which is the label many put on him. Buckley does an admirable job. He is obviously a devout fan, but he writes this book with a very balanced view. It is neither complete idolatry, nor is it a "kiss and tell" book. Instead, it is mostly about Bowie's art (music is obviously most of that, but his other forays as well) and how he works. There are tidbits of gossip here and there, as well as an aspect of setting the record straight. His early life isn't covered very much at all, and I would have liked to have heard more about his relationship with his brother Terry. The book goes as recent as 2000. Overall a great read, but I am left with one question....am I really the only one out there who loved the "Glass Spider" album??? I thought it was great!!!

Solid, well-balanced book

Buckley has slillfully juggled a proper critical distance with the evident enthusiasm of the long-time David Bowie fan. Quick to praise the highlights of his subject's career, he is equally adept at pricking the bubble of pomposity that has often surrounded Bowie, exposing his coke-addled rantings and deriding the leaden Tin Machine.

Simply the best Bowie biography ever written!

Believe me, I have read most of them. You can trust me: this is the best Bowie biography ever published. The only drawback is that his pre-1969 years are described rather superficiously. But once you get to "Space Oddity", you realize you're reading a worthy tome by a knowledgeable writer. Buckley is a long-time Bowie fan and he got to interview key people in David's career, most of whom were still associated with the singer at the time of writing (unlike other biographies, where only former associates are heard). But unlike some fans you may have met, Buckley has a critical, non-biased view of Bowie's life. While most biographers concentrate on secondary aspects and anecdotes, Buckley hits the nail in the head and takes you right through the spinal cord of David's career. Whether you're a diehard Bowie fan or a newcomer looking for information, this book is for you!