DJ Craig.Net
Ziggy Stardust At 59
DJ Craig.NetZiggy Stardust At 59 |
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 Aladin Sane |
Ziggy At 59!A look back as Rocker David Bowie celebrates his 59th birthday.The 1960's were over. The Beatles had broken up and legends like Jimi Hendryx, Jim Morrison and Janis Joplin were gone forever. The early 1970's seemed like a bad hangover resulting from an overindulgent and turbulent decade of drug experimentation, war, protest, assassination and political scandal. Aching psyches were now soothed by pop (The Partridge Family, Osmonds, Jackson 5) and mellow singer/songwriter stuff (Carpenters, James Taylor). And for those who still wanted it, hard rock (Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin). Then David Bowie broke the mold. After several early albums that didn't garner much commercial attention, "Ziggy Stardust" was born in 1973. Bowie reinvented himself as a flamboyant, guitar wielding, androgynous space alien bent on conquering the Earth through music. Omnipotent and self assured, he even predicts his own rise to fame in the song, "Star". The Ziggy album was an instant success, it's dramatic, electrified, space age rock energy ushered in a new era of Rock and Roll known as "Glitter/Glam". Bowie's continued boldness in creating characters and bringing theater and a visual aspect to rock music was unlike anything before. He wore inventive costumes, cross dressed, wore makeup and was both effeminate and masculine at the same time. Unlike Elton John who hid from his sexuality, Bowie embraced his own and explored it openly, sometimes onstage. Bowie's characters and corresponding albums and tours had elements of camp and high drama. His everchanging incarnations kept his audience guessing and enthralled: spaceman Major Tom, the anarchic Man Who Sold The World, the dress wearing Queen Bitch, rock demigod Ziggy, the apocalyptic Rebel Rebel, Aladin Sane, the Thin White Duke, and the list goes on. Never satisfied with mere commercial success, Bowie discarded personas like a snake sheds it's skin. Then created new ones. Likewise, Bowie's fearless willingness to experiment with his music kept it creative and unique. His music spans Dylan inspired Folk, high energy Electro-rock, Disco and Soul, synthesizer and electronic drum based Pop and World Music. Rock's Chameleon smartly surrounded himself with top notch talent. Members of his ever revolving band line up have included Stevie Ray Vaughan, Robert Fripp, Carlos Alomar, Luther Vandross, David Sanborn, Adrian Belew, Roy Bittan, Brian Eno, Peter Frampton and Mick Ronson. Bowie's motifs of alienation and ability to thrive outside the mainstream created a new category of rock expression. Long after the Glam era faded, it provided fodder for those wanting to explore fantasy and the dark side of life in their music. Without Bowie it's likely there would not have been a Depeche Mode, Cure, Morrissey or Duran Duran. He was THE major influence for much of the New Wave music of the 80s and beyond. Madonna, who inducted Bowie in to The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame In 1996, admitted to being "terribly inspired" by Bowie. As a live showman, Bowie has always been on the cutting edge of performance and technology. His sound, lighting and special effects push the envelope. And there's that voice. Vulnerable without being whimpy, dramatic without being over the top. One that blended as well with Bing Crosby as it did with John Lennon or Freddie Mercury. Bowie's later releases have not been as compelling as his earlier ones. Yet as always, he forges on trying on new sounds and ideas. David Bowie was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Grammy at this year's Grammy awards on Feb. 8, 2006. Other Articles From DJ Craig: The Disturbing Truth About Apple, iPods and iTunes Laguna Beach Weddings Are Hot 8 Things Your Disc Jockey Doesn't Want You To Know Simple Test For Hiring A DJ New Wave of Swing Reinvents Timeless Music Science Fiction Rock; The 70's Glam Era Coldplay "Chills" At The Anaheim Pond Ziggy Stardust Celebrates 59th Birthday When The Music Died- John Lennon 25 Years Later Rolling Stones Bang Into Orange County U2: How To Stay Vital Irony In Radioland: How The Legendary KROQ Went Wrong Did The Beatles Ruin Rock & Roll? Grammy's Best New Artist Award = Kiss Of Death "Big Mac" Radio Junk Food The Class Of '85- The Last Great Era Of Rock Why A Garter Toss? Live 8 Your 15 Minutes Are Up! NextWave- Back To The Future! Sex Pistols Snub Hall Of Fame To schedule an appointment with DJ Craig or inquire about date availability, please call 949.362.3535. DJ Craig.Net is an approved iTunes Affiliate with access to over two million songs.  Warning: The use of DJ Craig's sound and lighting may cause spontaneous partying! DJ Craig.Net is Music For Fun People! The contents of this page are proprietary and exclusive property of DJ Craig. Any unauthorized use or reproduction without express written consent is prohibited. Copyright © 2005, Creative / DJ Craig / djcraig.net All rights reserved. |