David Bowie

Working out of Toronto, Canada, Martin Popoff (martinpopoff.com) has penned more than 100 books on hard rock, heavy metal, classic rock, and record collecting, including Rush: The Illustrated History; The Clash: All the Albums, All the Songs; Led Zeppelin: All the Albums, All the Songs; Pink Floyd: Album by Album; Bowie at 75; AC/DC at 50; and Kiss at 50. In addition, he has appeared in Revolver, Guitar World, Goldmine, RecordCollector, bravewords.com, lollipop.com, and hardradio.com. Martin also worked on the award-winning documentaries Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage and ZZ Top: That Little Ol’ Band from Texas for Banger Films.

• “Scream Like a Baby:” David Robert Jones is born in London, England.January 8, 1947 “Teenage Wildlife:” Bromley Technical High School1958 “Boys Keep Swinging:” David receives the punch seen ‘round the world from school chum George Underwood.January 1962 “There Is a Happy Land:” Bowie sees the release of his first record, a single called “Liza Jane,” credited to Davie Jones & The King Bees.June 5, 1964 “Silly Boy Blue:” David Bowie issues his debut album.June 1, 1967 “Moonage Daydream:” Neil Armstrong becomes the first man to walk on the moon.July 11, 1969 (release date of “Space Oddity” single), July 20, 1969 (the moonwalk), “Wild Eyed Boy from Freecloud:” David Bowie issues his second album, also a self-titled.November 14, 1969 (release date second David Bowie album, a.k.a. Space Oddity) “All the Young Dudes:” Bowie and Mick Ronson perform live together for the first time.February 5, 1970 (BBC session) “Rebel Rebel:” David marries Angela Barnett.March 12, 1970 “Sons of the Silent Age:” The Man Who Sold the WorldNovember 4, 1970 “All the Madmen:” David meets Iggy Pop and Lou Reed on the US tour for The Man Who Sold the World.Early 1971 (tour of the US) “Lady Stardust:” Hunky DoryDecember 17, 1971 “It’s No Game:” David Bowie tells Melody Maker magazine that he is gay.January 22, 1972 “Across the Universe:” The rise of Ziggy StardustJune 2, 1972 (release date of Ziggy Stardust), July 6, 1972 (“Starman” on Top of the Pops) “The Pretty Things Are Going to Hell:” David produces Iggy and the Stooges’ Raw Power.February 7, 1973 “Slip Away:” Aladdin SaneApril 13, 1973 “Here Comes the Night:” David Bowie “retires.”July 3, 1973 “I’m Dreaming My Life:” Pin UpsOctober 19, 1973 “A New Career in a New Town:” Ex-PatMarch 29, 1974 (moves away from Britain, never to reside there again) “We Are the Dead:” Plastic Soul Pt. IMay 24, 1974 (release date of Diamond Dogs) “Where Have All the Good Times Gone:” David LiveOctober 29, 1974 “I Can’t Explain:” David appears on The Dick Cavett Show.December 5, 1974 “She’ll Drive the Big Car:” BBC airs Alan Yentob’s Bowie documentary Cracked Actor.January 26, 1975 “Sweet Thing:” Plastic Soul Pt. IIMarch 7, 1975 (release date of Young Americans) “Bring Me the Disco King:” David has his first US #1 when “Fame” it’s the top of the Billboard charts.September 20, 1975 “Five Years:” After finding out he was broke, David breaks ties with manager Tony Defries.October 1975 “Blackout:” The Thin White DukeJanuary 23, 1976 (release date of Station to Station) “Across the Universe:” The Man Who Fell to EarthMarch 18, 1976 “Can You Hear Me:” RCA issue the platinum-selling Bowie greatest hits record Changesonebowie.May 21, 1976 ““This Is Not America:” The Berlin YearsLate 1976 (move to Berlin plus beginning collaboration with Brian Eno) “Modern Love:” David tells Playboy he’s bisexual.September 1976 “The Loneliest Guy:” LowJanuary 14, 1977 “Dum Dum Boys:” The Idiot, Lust for Life and later, the recycling thereofMarch 18, 1977 (The Idiot), August 19, 1977 (Lust for Life) “Beauty and the Beast:” “Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy” with Bing CrosbySeptember 11, 1977 “Speed of Life:” David apologizes in Melody Maker for previous statements supporting fascism, blaming it on the drugs.October 1977 “Future Legend:” A slow-burning hit with “Heroes” if not so much “Heroes”October 14, 1977 “A Small Plot of Land:” LodgerMay 25, 1979 “Fashion:” David performs on Saturday Night Live, accompanied by Klaus Nomi.December 15, 1979 “Cracked Actor:” David Bowie premieres in the theatrical production of Elephant Man.July 29, 1980 “New Killer Star:” David appears on The Tonight Show.September 5, 1980 “Art Decade:” Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)September 12, 1980 “Too Dizzy:” “Under Pressure”October 26, 1981 (release date of single), May 21, 1982 (release date of Hot Space) “Look Back in Anger:” David criticizes MTV for not playing more videos by black artists.January 1983 “Starman:” David signs a $17 million deal with EMI, kicking off the collaboration with Let’s Dance.January 27, 1983 (signs the deal), April 14, 1983 (release date of Let’s Dance) “The Stars (Are Out Tonight):” The Serious Moonlight tour hits the US Festival.May 30, 1983 “Day-In Day-Out:” David tells Rolling Stone he’s a closet heterosexual.1983 “Sense of Doubt:” Merry Christmas, Mr. LawrenceSeptember 2, 1983 “Shake It:” TonightSeptember 24, 1984 “Hang Onto Yourself:” David Bowie’s influential older brother Terry Burns commits suicide.January 16, 1985 “Beat of Your Drum:” Bowie and Jagger duet on “Dancing in the Street” in support of Live Aid.July 13, 1985 “Fascination:” LabyrinthJune 27, 1986 “Rock ‘n’ Roll with Me:” David co-produces and writes six songs on Iggy Pop’s Blah-Blah-Blah album.October 23, 1986 “Come and Buy Me Toys:” Never Let Me Down and The Glass Spider TourApril 20, 1987 (release date of Never Let Me Down), March 17 – November 28, 1987 (Glass Spider tour) “You Belong in Rock ‘n’ Roll:” “Tin machine, tin machine…”May 22, 1989 “Reality:” The Freddie Mercury Tribute ConcertApril 20, 1992 “Girl Loves Me:” David marries Iman Abdulmajid.April 24, 1992 “You’ve Been Around:” Black Tie White NoiseApril 5, 1993 “Breaking Glass:” The infamous co-headline US tour with Nine Inch NailsSeptember 14, 1995 – October 31, 1995 “Dead Man Walking:” 1. OutsideSeptember 26, 1995 “Win:” Rock and Roll Hall of Fame InductionJanuary 17, 1996 “Everyone Says ‘Hi:’” David’s 50th birthday concert at Madison Square GardenJanuary 9, 1997 “Joe the Lion:” David Bowie and the Urban JungleFebruary 3, 1997 (Earthling release date) “I Can’t Give Everything Away:” Bowie BondsFebruary 6, 1997 “Looking for Satellites:” David launches Bowienet, essentially the first good website by a musician.September 1, 1998 “Looking for Water:” ‘hours…’October 4, 1999 “I’m Afraid of Americans” The Concert for New York CityOctober 20, 2001 “I Took a Trip on a Gemini Spaceship:” HeathenJune 11, 2002 “Boss of Me:” David Bowie turns down a knighthood2003 “Fantastic Voyage:” David Bowie performs his last full concert.June 25, 2004 “Fame:” The Grammys bestow upon Bowie a Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award.February 8, 2006 “Dancing Out in Space:” David’s last public performance is a three-song set at a charity event at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York.November 9, 2006 “Where Are We Now?:” RealitySeptember 16, 2003 “Lazarus:” The Next DayMarch 8, 2013 “Golden Years:” David Bowie is opens at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.March 22, 2013 (opening day) “Ashes to Ashes:” David Bowie delivers Blackstar, then dies in New York.January 10, 2016