All Music Guide's Stephen Thomas Erlewine has written, "Even when
he was out of fashion in the '80s and '90s, it was clear that Bowie
was one of the most influential musicians in rock, for better or
worse." In this comprehensive analysis of David Bowie's career,
author James Perone examines the many identities and styles Bowie
has developed over the years, and in so doing provides a stunning
chronicle of creativity at work. Born David Jones in a London
suburb in 1947, David Bowie changed his name in the late '60s to
avoid confusion with the singer David Jones of The Monkees. This
name change would turn out to be a highly prescient act: for in
incorporating an exceptionally wide variety of styles, Bowie would
become the most notorious chameleon of the rock era. Due in large
part to his early success in the glam rock subgenre and his claims
of homosexuality (dismissed by many writers as a ploy to generate
public interest and record sales), Bowie raised serious issues
about sexual orientation in rock music, regardless of whether or
not his claimed homosexuality was genuine or part of his on-stage
character. His regular use of theatrical personae also raises
interesting issues concerning authenticity and the perception of
authenticity in rock music. Although Bowie has been primarily an
album artist, his recordings of "Fame," "Golden Years," "Let's
Dance," "China Girl," "Blue Jean," and "Dancing in the Streets,"
all made it into the Billboard top 10 singles charts. Of these, all
but one was written or co-written by Bowie. Even more notable are
the songs he wrote and recorded that have made an impact far in
excess of their chart standing. These include "Space Oddity,"
"Rebel, Rebel,""Changes," "Modern Love," and "Young Americans."
From his early 1970s albums like Hunky Dory and The Rise & Fall
of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars-in both of which he
assumed the character of the fictional, androgynous Stardust-to
Diamond Dogs, Heroes, Tin Machine, and Black Tie White Noise,
Bowie's albums generated both significant word-of-mouth interest
and some of the most contentious critical reactions of any artist
of the rock era. This long overdue investigation lets Bowie's
artistry speak for itself. After a biographical introduction,
chronologically arranged chapters discuss the singer's
fascinating--and iconoclastic--body of work. A discography and
annotated bibliography conclude the book.
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