‘The Gay Science: Book Reviews on Bowie’

So, there have been many books published about Bowie over the years. This is not an exhaustive list.

However, I own all of these and have read them (except one, though I did persevere to the third chapter). Some I have repeatedly returned to for reference or pure pleasure. So well-written were they. Others are a waste of our natural resources.

In no particular order, here goes......

1. The Man Who Sold The World - David Bowie and the 1970s Peter Doggett [2011] pb

“I was looking forward to this one. Big connections to Record Collector magazine, which always has top-notch articles on artists. But it's a bit of a curate's egg, this. I'm not sure if it's the structure or if it's just not as well-researched as I expected. Only use it for some referencing. Disappointing."

2. The Complete David Bowie Nicholas Pegg [2006] updated 1st pb

“Essential purchase at that time. Highly-detailed. Good for cross-checking."

3. Moonage Daydream TheLife and Times of Ziggy Stardust Photos: Mick Rock Words: David Bowie [2005] hb

“Nice collector's item. Big. Bold. And it's by the two protagonists really. Written as if Ziggy was real. Bowie certainly couldn't tell the difference for a while. They even called the band 'The Spiders.' A historical artefact from a piece of non-history. Fiction as fact? Fake or real? Ah, those were the days. Lovely keepsake. Beautiful pictures."

4. Mick Ronson TheSpider with the Platinum Hair Weird and Gilly [2003] pb

“Affectionately produced in honour of a humble and brilliant musician. The late great Michael Ronson. What a talent!"

5. David Bowie Live in New York Photographs by: Myriam Santos-KaydaForeword: David Bowie [2003] hb

“Promoted as a coffee-table accessory it is, nevertheless, a beautiful little memento of the New York 2002 tour. Very rare now. It has the same texture as David Byrne's magnificent book, 'How Music Works.' If only all books were treated to such loving attention to detail. Excellent photos of the band performing and preparing."

6. Bowie in Berlin A New Career in a New TownThomas Jerome Seabrook [2008] pb & hb

“Looks nice."

7. David Bowie Fame, Sound & Vision Nick Stevenson [2006] pb - University of Nottingham

“Aha, the first of the academic books, which are superior to the rest by a country-life mile. Excuse the Roxy unfunny pun, but Bowie has been deemed worthy of study (rightly so) at the highest level and the reader is richly-rewarded."

8. Life on Tour with David Bowie We Can Be Heroes Sean Mayes [1999] [2001] pb - an actual band member from the 78 tour!

And, not claiming to be a 'friend.' Shamelessly re-released in the aftermath of DB's death in 2016 to cash in.(not having a dig at Sean here).

"Awesome. One of the best tour-books ever. Valuable insights into life on the road. This isn't just about Bowie, but about the sheer scale of a the demands of a global schedule. Great anecdotes, of course. But he's probably at his best when he focuses on himself and his curiosity as he explores new places and meets old friends. Sean is fluent in French, too.A nice tale about Bowie in Scandinavia. He's still a bit fragile but nowhere as bad as in 76. He's performing in Stockholm and, during Breaking Glass, is convinced that Bolan is standing on stage right behind him. After that unnerving experience, he constantly affects (after 'but you got problems') his best Bolanic warble for the rest of the tour.I have the bootlegs to confirm this. It's very noticeable."

9. Bowie Loving the Alien Christopher Sandford [1996] pb

10. Strange Fascination David Bowie: the Definitive Story David Buckley [2001] revised & updated from 1999 pb

“Regarded by many - consensus, folks - as the DEFINITIVE work and, as such, the title appears to be an oxymoron. Story? That's fiction. Definitive? The truth. Mr. Buckley became so big an authority on Bowie that he was invited to write sleevenotes for the Anniversary Releases of the classic 70s albums in the Noughties. Some accolade. Writes with affection and a degree of obsession, which is understandable. A huge work. Definitive? Hate that word. Story? That's what journalists write and I hate newspapers. The problem with huge works/biographies is that they taper off towards the end - the most important bit! He's too big a subject for most. Perhaps it's better or easier to tackle a period instead and focus. Like the academics?"

11. Classic Rock Albums: Ziggy Stardust - David Bowie Mark Paytress [1998] pb

“See? A specific time. An album. Succeeds too."

12. Hallo Spaceboy The Rebirth of David Bowie David Thompson [2006] pb

“Having previously written on Bowie, Thompson sought (rightly) to update the bewildering shifts in the career. This was the 'Outsider Art Phase.' But the title is rather unfortunate, since Bowie was by now in full flow of killing his famous persona (the complete opposite to rebirth), though the author's enthusiasm for a career rebirth is probably legitimate from a fan/marketing perspective. It's a good book, though, and one of the better authors from a fan's point of view."

13. Abbey Road to Ziggy Stardust - NW8 to W1 (with emphasis on the A - Z)

Off the Record with The Beatles, Bowie, Elton & So Much More Ken Scott and Bobby Owsinski [2012] hb

“One of those you wait years for, because it's from the horse's mouth. Ken Scott produced some of Bowie's landmark stuff, so it's a joy to get inside the sessions themselves and learn how it was all done. The chapters on George Harrison are incredible. What a career Scott had!"

14. David Bowie Jeff Hudson [2010] hb

”One of those picture-books you sometimes see in a cheap bookstore for a fiver. Purely for the photos or reference."

15. David Bowie a biography Marc Spitz [2009] hb

”This was the time when every man and his dog seemed to be writing a Bowie biography. This one distinguished itself by..."

16. Starman David Bowie - the Definitive Biography Paul Trynka [2011] hb

”Here we go again. Definitive. Can't get more pompous than that. Excludes all other biographies on the grounds that.....what? They're crap? Does this mean that Buckley's is indefinitive? Original title, too. Starman. Sounds like a Mirror headline. And if that doesn't then how about? 'Bowie's got a dig dick!' Yep. This is the author who makes the comparison between the two artists and his evidence that Bowie is the better artist relies solely on the notion that he has a 'bigger dick' than Marc. So profound is the impact of this on Marc that he cannot possibly deal with Bowie whatsoever. Buy it and read this drivel for yourself. It's well-known that Angie used to refer to it as Lance, but I don't think the two friends were too concerned with the respective sizes of their penises. Can't believe I've had to write this. Bizarrely Trynka is regarded by some as some kind of trusted authority on Bowie."

17. the autobiographyBowie, Bolan & the Brooklyn Boy Tony Visconti Foreword by Morrisey [2007] hb

”Another of those much-anticipated works. The chapters on his early life in New York are some of the most compelling things I've ever read. Like Dylan, in his Chronicles, Visconti displays a talent for description which is completely absorbing. Considered fiction? I wanted more. Left hungry."

18. Heroes David Bowie & Berlin Tobias Ruther [2014] pb

”A German. Someone who knows Berlin, the city, its history, its art movements and museums and its underground life. A familiar path but from a different perspective. Likeable. Makes Seabrook's book like the vanity project it is, written because of the association with his real name, Thomas Jerome. Oh dear! This work coincided with the renewed interest of the locations namechecked in Bowie's 'Where Are We Now.'........."

19. Bowie on Bowie Interviews and Encounters with David Bowie edited by: Sean Egan [2015] hb

”An obvious attempt to cash-in on the recent success of 'The Next Day' by putting out a variety of music-paper interviews from different points of his career. But.....it's a valuable reference book and saves having to trawl the web for certain snippets. I like this book and find I return to it for various reasons. Not ambitious or groundbreaking. Kind of a Ronseal."

20. Dare How Bowie & Kraftwerk Inspired the Death of Rock 'N Roll & Invented Modern Pop Music David Laurie [2015] pb

”Phew! What a mouthful. And Laurie has plenty more where that came from. A controversial title. You may completely disagree with him, if you wish and he invites you to. Laurie know his onions - he works in the music business and has an encyclopaedic knowledge of his subject. He's also from Cardiff, which is ok by me. The big difference between us is our entry-points to music and hence I would disagree with one or two issues. However, the art work is gorgeous and his writing is affectionate. He cares. He also likes almost all of the artists I like. There are some I don't get. But, hey, he probably would frown at some of the things in my record collection! A masterpiece of its kind. Write another book."

21. Bowie's Piano Man The Life of Mike Garson Clifford Slapper [2014] hb - signed by the author

”Mike has, since Bowie's death, been selling these directly from his website, along with his Bowie Variations CD, offering to autograph copies of both items. Unfortunately, I got my copy when it came out, thus avoiding the faux sycophantic behaviour of Joe Public 2016. It's a compulsory purchase. Garson has been one of the most important components of Bowie's exceptional output and a stalwart of some of the finest tours and tour bands ever collected by DB. It's a fascinating account. Garson is involved with music-as-therapy too which many will not be aware of. Passionate. Compassionate. Emotionally-driven, Garson is exactly the genius you thought he would be! A Bowie Champion."

22. A Star Fell To Earth David Bowie Wim Hendrikse [2016] released the same week as his demise.

”The most unfortunate release date ever. This is also badly-translated from its author's mother-tongue. It is full of typos and staggeringly bad errors (factual). Was it proof-read? Just a fan's view of the career with quotations from everywhere. Leave well alone. Noticed he's recently put out another TWO books on Bowie's tours. Better than sleeping pills, I bet."

23. David Bowie:Critical Perspectives Edited by Eoin Devereux, Aileen Dillane, and Martin J. Power (Routledge) [2015] hb A collection of 17 essays.

”An expensive book for its relative size. But it's an academic work which just predates the Blackstar & Lazarus output. It's very topical, up-to-date in terms of its subject-matter, even paying attention to the V & A's exhibition. The essays are not for the faint-hearted or common or garden punters. Many of the writers have experience in popular culture and media theory. You'll find references to post-structuarlism, feminism, postmodernism and philosphy. The discourse relies on the reader's knowledge of people like Barthes and Foucault, often using semiotic terminology as a matter of course. Great book. Interesting ideas and proof of Dave's worst nightmare......that he would be the subject of academic rigour! Haha!Can be read in any order."

24. David Bowie in Darkness A Study of 1. Outside and the Late Career Nicholas P. Greco (Associate Professor) [2015] pb

”Bet he wished he'd waited another year for Blackstar! Another academic masterpiece and a favourite of mine. Firmly deconstructs the later years, proposing that D.R. Jones is slowly but methodically killing off the persona of Bowie. Ironic really. This book is bound to become rare and more expensive as time goes on. Grab a copy while you can."

25. Bowie Simon Critchley (Professor, that is) [2014] pb

”Perhaps the smallest and one of the shortest books on Bowie. About the same size as the 331/3 series. Being a philosopher and a Bowie fan, Critchley tackles a number of themes head-on. He is fascinated with Bowie's apparent obsession with 'nothing.' The void crops up everywhere, the zero, the nought, the nothing. 'Nothing Has Changed,' etc. A brilliant book. Not an easy read for the average punter, then, but an essential for anyone who wants to get away from 'chameleons & heroes.' One more sleep till Poppy Day!"

26. I Played Ziggy's Guitar David Colworth [2013/4] pb Definitely the shortest book.

”And so we come to the Best Bowie Book Ever! Simply astonishing. An essential purchase. Remember the name, COLWORTH. This book is now recommended reading on Social, Cultural & Media Studies courses in Higher Education. It's a terrific read. And all true. Won't spoil it for you, but it does what it says on the cover. Lady Stardust! Take a bow!"

27. Bowie The Story of Rock's Enduring Enigma Mike Evans [2015] hb

”A cash-in. Story? Lame. Rock? Not pop. Seems certain, then. Enigma? Maybe not. Typical picture book which summarises everything with some nice photos interspersed with stereotypical comments about the Thin White Star Duke Dame, etc. Non-essential. Picked up cheap at a bargain store."

28. David Bowie A Life in PicturesChris Welch [2013] hb

”Chris is a respected music journalist. He can do better than this. Just a cash-in. Great photos, though.“

29. David Bowie Is Victoria Broackes & Geoffrey Marsh [2013] hb

“The companion to the V & A's exhibition. Essential as a keepsake, but does contain some interesting articles inside, too. However, many suffer from the consensus-view of chameleons & spaceboys, etc. Many are scribbled by these tiresome celebrities who love being 'friends of Dave.' Picked up for a bargain price on shh....amazon."

30. David Bowie and Philosophy Rebel Rebel Edited by: Theodore G. Ammon (another Professor) [2016] pb

”A very recent addition to the collection and one of the finest. It's heavy-duty philosophy applied to all things Bowie. Brilliant. Diverse. Teasing. You want to sit down with each of the essayists and chat. I hope one of the contributors gets down to a full-length tome. Only spotted one minor error. Someone thought Ronno plays on 'Rebel Rebel.' But it doesn't impact the content. Outstanding stuff. Wipes the floor with amateur interpretations of Bowie & his work."

31. The Age of Bowie How Bowie Made a World of Difference Paul Morley [2016] pb

”Picked this up at the airport in a 2 for 1 type sale. The other was a rather brilliant book by Giannis Varoufakis on the world's global economic chaos. The Professor writes lucidly and engagingly about subjects which are not easily approached and which would appear to be rather 'dry' and 'boring.' That he succeeds is a testament to his knowledge and facility with the English language. The same cannot be said of Morley's book. Whoever thought that 'a race against time to produce a good book' was a feasible concept should take a long hard look at themselves. This is not just the worst Bowie book I've read but the worst book I've ever encountered. I have to admit I could not finish it. Got to the third chapter, I think. The division of the book into weird segments offers no cohesion at all for the reader. The first chapter starts benignly with the usual boy-meets-Bowie in school storyline, but thereafter catapults mindlessly out of coherence. The sentences are convoluted and badly-structured. It's obsessive to the point of banality. It's taking a bashing in the amazon reviews and deservedly so. David Bowie is......deserving of better than this garbage."

32. David Bowie's Low (33 1/3 series) Hugo Wilcken [2005] pb

”A tiny book which packs a big punch. Knowledgable and fascinating. Everything you want to know about the making of Low, the masterpiece. Excellent. Essential purchase."

33. The Complete David Bowie Nicholas Pegg [2016] pb - latest expanded edition

”Everyone's endorsing this. From Visconti & Alomar to Pete Wyllie. It now has features on The Next Day & Blackstar and the musical, Lazarus. A huge reference work and will be Pegg's contribution to the Bowie legacy. This is an essential purchase. And he hates fascists! But it's subjective in many places and contradictory. In the opening chapter he says Bowie is 'slippery' and it would be dangerous to try to interpret what his songs and lyrics mean. But that is exactly what he does in the album section. He's constantly knocking stuff he doesn't like, too. I have two things to say: Stop attacking Tin Machine. Leave Bolan alone."       

34. Diamond Dogs (33 1/3 series) Glenn Hendler [2020] pb

“Hendler is a Professor in English & American Studies. He’s very good on Orwell. However, the back cover has a reference to the great glam anthem ‘Rebel Rebel.’ That was me done. I never finished it, which is very unusual for me. It’s covered in dust now and hasn’t even made it to my studio alongside the other Bowie books. He was sitting on a plane next to the editor of the 33 &1/3 series. That’s how it got commissioned! Idiotic. What a disservice to such an album!”