Bowie; The Chameleon of Pop

There is no doubt that David Bowie, will forever be an icon. Not just in music, but in fashion too. He has often been dubbed ‘The Chameleon of Pop’ and it is easy to see why; he is hard to define or pin down to a particular persona, as he had so many. His story and timeline are covered in detail in ‘David Bowie’ by Robert Dimery, the first book of the series ‘Lives of the Musicians’.

‘David Bowie’ Lives of the Musicians by Robert Dimery

The book ‘David Bowie’ covers his journey from the struggles he faced when trying to find the correct artistic outlet to his breakthrough in 1972 with Ziggy Stardust- and following his excessive lifestyle afterwards. It explores how Bowie was able to keep current and fresh, instead of becoming an archetype.

Ziggy Stardust live 1972

Bowie was the king of reinvention, metamorphosizing into a different character with every new album, be it Ziggy Stardust, Aladdin Sane, The Thin White Duke, or The Blind Prophet; he never failed to surprise the audience and leave them in awe.

Aladdin Sane Live 1974

He even jokingly said, “I re-invented my image so many times that I’m in denial that I was originally an overweight Korean woman”. However, it wasn’t just his personas that left people guessing; his androgynous style and statements about his ambiguous sexuality were controversial at the time. Which was liberating to those who felt ambiguous about their own desires.

David Bowie photographed by Markus Klinko for album ‘Heathen’ available at Proud Galleries.

To say that David Bowie has been an inspiration to a generation, is an understatement. He has, is still, and always will be, a cultural icon, creative genius, and a continuous source of inspiration.

The Thin White Duke Station to Station 1976

He paved the way for today’s musical talent such as the likes of, Yungblud, Janelle Monáe, and Lady Gaga, to name a few. In fact, Lady Gaga states that whenever she faces artistic crossroads, she asks herself “What would David Bowie do?”.

David Bowie photographed by Markus Klinko for album ‘Heathen’ available at Proud Galleries.

If you want to bring more of Bowie into your life, Proud Galleries stock prints of Bowie which were taken by Markus Klinko for Bowie’s album ‘Heathen’ 2002. Klinko also worked with Bowie for the cover of GQ’s Men of the Year issue and co-directed his music video ‘Valentines Day’.

David Bowie photographed by Markus Klinko for album ‘Heathen’ available at Proud Galleries.

Bowie’s outlook on life was one that resembles the ideas of rebirth, which comes as no surprise, given his interest in Hinduism and Buddhism (introduced to him by his stepbrother).

The Blind Prophet Black Star Released 2016

He states “The truth is of course is that there is no journey. We are arriving and departing all at the same time”. Which can be interpreted in meaning that as you change, the new you arrives and the old you departs. Therefore if you’re stuck in a rut, fancy a change, or perhaps you’re in need of a ‘glow-up’ just think to yourself “What would David Bowie do?”.

David Bowie photographed by Markus Klinko for album ‘Heathen’ available at Proud Galleries.

If you have enjoyed reading ‘Bowie, The Chameleon of Pop’ then you might also enjoy ‘Mum you’re an icon, not a Cliche’ Here.
To find out more about the book ‘David Bowie’ by Robert Dimery click Here.
To explore a wonderful selection of photography and prints of iconic stars, including Markus Klinko’s shots of Bowie click Here.