Chapter Two: The London Boy (1962-1966)

Off The Record: David Bowie

At the peak of the Swinging Sixties, young David Jones remained on the fringe of the London music scene, watching bands like the Beatles, the Stones, the Who and the Kinks have all the fun. In just a few short years, the teenager fronted a lengthy list of short-lived groups, all destined to vanish without a trace. His first recordings flopped, and he faced ridicule and humiliation at nearly every turn. It was the most frustrating time in his life as he navigated the sharks and hucksters keen to rip off young hopefuls. To blow off steam, he partied all night with the sharp-dressed, pilled-up, sexually adventurous Mod kids. But trailing the pack of pop stars ultimately had an advantage. It allowed David to study them intently, reverse engineering the image and affectations that came to them naturally. By trying out different voices, he’d ultimately find his own. He’d also adopt a new name — Bowie.

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