DAVID BOWIE's aunt ROMA TEAL celebrates her 104th today!

Roma from Fulford in York says the secret to a long and healthy life is playing plenty of games to keep your brain active.

You can read the complete article over the yorkpress.co.uk website.

The V&A DAVID BOWIE Is exhibition currently on a world tour opens today in São Paulo, Brazil at the Museum of Image and Sound.

The exhibitions runs from 31st January until 20th April 2014.

Venue: Avenida Europa, 158 - Pinheiros, São Paulo - SP, 01449-000, Brazil.

Opening times: Closed Mondays. 12 to 21 hr Tuesday to Friday. 11 to 21 hr Saturdays. 11 to 20 hr Sundays and Public Holidays.

For full details pop on over to the MIS website.

Tickets are available online via the ingressorapido.com.br website.

"Gonna make like a shark..."

SHARKS ROCK EXPEDITION!!! CARLOS ALOMAR MASTER CLASS: 31 MAY - 6 JUNE 2014.

The Special Great White Shark Expedition / Carlos Alomar Master Class, is operated by Apex Shark Expeditions, owned by Chris and Monique Fallows. The expedition will be hosted by Dott. Alessandro De Maddalena, one of the world's foremost shark experts, with Carlos Alomar, composer, guitarist and long-time DAVID BOWIE collaborator.

The cost is approx. EUR 3000 (USD 4000). The cost includes: 8 day accommodation, 7 great white shark trips and cage diving in False Bay, 7 lectures by Carlos Alomar, course in shark biology, dive gear, land transfers, observation of other animals (seals, whales, dolphins, sea birds).

Everyone can cage dive, no scuba qualification is needed. 10 places available. Participants must arrive in Cape Town on the day before the expedition starts and leave the night the expedition ends or on the following day.

An entire week with guitar legend Carlos Alomar, learning rock guitar from him and listening to his many memories about working and touring with David Bowie!!!

Bookings close on 8th February 2014. Bookings and more information:

From Alessandro de Maddalena FB page.

Israeli female jazz singer-songwriter DAPHNA LEVY interviewed by The Jerusalem Post... namedrops DAVID BOWIE as one of her inspirations...

"I like David Bowie a lot. He was a great influence," she says. Bowie had more of an impact on Levy that just his singular sonic output. "I studied philosophy as well, at Tel Aviv University, and, to me, Bowie is rock and roll's poet and philosopher. To this day he is a major influence on me, in terms of freedom to be and create.

"Bowie is always concerned with existential issues, and he was like that when he was 20 years old. His earliest albums are amazing and so deep that is really hard to comprehend how he could be like that at such a young age."

You can read the whole interview over at jpost.com website.

Reminder: WARNER MUSIC in Japan are reissuing SEVENTEEN DAVID BOWIE CDs on Thursday for a time-limited promotion entitled 'Forever Young'.

Originally remastered in 1999, these are scheduled for release in Japan on 29th January on his new record label.

The full list runs as follows:

Space Oddity
       Warner Music Japan. Cat: No. WPCR-80085

The Man Who Sold The World
       Warner Music Japan. Cat: No. WPCR-80086

Hunky Dory
       Warner Music Japan. Cat: No. WPCR-80087

The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars
       Warner Music Japan. Cat: No. WPCR-80088

Aladdin Sane
       Warner Music Japan. Cat: No. WPCR-80089

Pin Ups
       Warner Music Japan. Cat: No. WPCR-80090

Diamond Dogs
       Warner Music Japan. Cat: No. WPCR-80091

Young Americans
       Warner Music Japan. Cat: No. WPCR-80092

Station To Station
       Warner Music Japan. Cat: No. WPCR-80093

Low
       Warner Music Japan. Cat: No. WPCR-80094

"Heroes"
       Warner Music Japan. Cat: No. WPCR-80095

Lodger
       Warner Music Japan. Cat: No. WPCR-80096

Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)
       Warner Music Japan. Cat: No. WPCR-80097

Let's Dance
       Warner Music Japan. Cat: No. WPCR-80098

Tonight
       Warner Music Japan. Cat: No. WPCR-80099

Never Let Me Down
       Warner Music Japan. Cat: No. WPCR-80100

Tin Machine
       Warner Music Japan. Cat: No. WPCR-80101

You can pre-order NOW via cdjapan - all priced at a mere 1400 yen (approx US $13.56 / GBP 8.32).

If you prefer not to pay importy duty, they are also listed for pre-order on the David Bowie Amazon Store with a release date next month on 4th February.

If you're a DAVID BOWIE trivia nut like myself, you should check out the FREE app QUIZ UP.

I downloaded the app purely because I was intriged by their logo. Reminded me of the Aladdin Sane lightening bolt! Unfortunately there wasn't a specific David Bowie section two weeks ago, but a few days ago a Bowie section was added!

The game is a cross between 'Trivial Pursuit' and 'Who Wants To Be A Millionaire'. It contains hundreds of topics and well over 100,000 questions. There is also chat, rankings and discussions with each topic where you can openly talk about ideas. You can submit suggestions, amendments and your own questions.

To play the game you basically pick a topic and are presented with 6 questions. There are 4 answer options with 10 seconds to answer. Besides knowing the answer you get extra XP points for your speed in answering.

You can also connect your QuizUp account with Facebook and/or Twiter and easily find and challenge your friends. Be warned though... it's addictive!

At present the app is only available for iPhone, but it will be available for android users in the not too distant future.

For more information and details, pop on over to quizup.com

GERRY LEONARD currently on tour with Suzanne Vega is holding a Q&A with TOM WILCOX next month in London...

Join curator and musician Tom Wilcox for a moment of harmonic rock n' roll anecdotes as he interviews DAVID BOWIE's renowned guitarist, Gerry Leonard.

Gerry Leonard is a Dublin born guitar player, songwriter and producer now based in New York City. As part of the New York scene, Gerry's distinctive and innovative ambient style has led to his working with many great artists over the years, including David Bowie, Roger Waters, Roger Glover and Suzanne Vega - with whom he is playing at the Barbican on the evening of Friday 7th February.

A highlight was becoming music director/guitar player for David Bowie on his last year long 'A Reality' world tour and DVD (2003/2004). Apart from Bowie's previous two records, 'Heathen' and 'Reality' and the subsequent tours, Gerry also features on David's surprise comeback album 'The Next Day' of last year, and has two co-writes with David on the record: 'Boss Of Me' and 'I'll Take You There'.

Gerry will be discussing his career with Tom, including the artistic processes behind the secret making of 'The Next Day' and life on the road and in the studio with David Bowie and other great artists.

Venue: The Hospital Club, 24 Endell Street, London WC2H 9HQ on Friday 7th February at 1pm to 2:15pm.

Tickets are available at wegotickets.com website.

DAVID BOWIE UK tribute band REBEL REBEL have several gigs lined up for 2014.

First up is this month on 31st January at the Featherstone Working Mens' Club in West Yorkshire.

Venue: Featherstone WMC, Green Lane, Pontefract WF7 6JG.

Rebel Rebel perform the classic songs from David Bowie's golden years. This six piece band captures all of the energy and brilliance of the Bowie legend and his many alter egos. From Ashes To Ashes to Ziggy Stardust, calling at many station to stations in-between, the band lovingly recreate Bowie's unique catalogue of masterworks. A fusion of Sound and Vision incorporating dance, mime, costumes and props ensures that Rebel Rebel provides a thrilling Bowie experience.

The band are: Lead Vocals: David Doran / Drums: Nicholas Brown / Lead Guitar: Russ Morgan / Bass: Richard Max Goddard / Keyboards: Andrew Stolland / Sax: Melanie Taylor.

For more details and information check out the rebelrebelband.co.uk website.

Chicago, IL - STARDUST The DAVID BOWIE Tribute Band will perform on Friday, 14th February at 8pm, Underground Lounge, 954 W. Newport, Boys Town - Chicago, Illinois to benefit The Crib, a homeless youth shelter. The event is sponsored by Queer Fest America with the cover charge at only $5.00 and is open to fans 21 and over with proper ID.

Now in its 16th year of production, Stardust features vocalist, Lair Scott, as Ziggy 2000 and includes Tooth_Eye, Alex James and Ross Markers. Stardust's refers to their music as an 'Astrosymphonix' of David Bowie's catalog using eclectic classical instruments and computer generated sounds. Tooth_Eye states, "We do perform a few songs acoustically with Ross on Cello and Alex on 12 string and invite some of our friends from symphony orchestras to perform with us." He continues with, "An example of one of our medleys such as in our Asian segment, we combine the aria from Madame Butterfly, Yoko Ono's 'Walking On Thin Ice' and Bowie's 'China Girl' using live instruments such as the Shamisen then adding our 'Astrosymphonix' which make our shows an extremely surreal Bowie experience." Stardust is working to release an album accolade to David Bowie in 2014.

Appearing along with Stardust will be Queer Fest America Comix Darren Marshall and Kate Cullen as well as Matt Duhaime from the band Moxie Motive, Psycho Sister, Spizzarri, Tutu and the Pirates and a solo performance by Tooth_Eye.

The Crib, a Night Ministry program, is the only overnight shelter for homeless youth ages 18 to 24 and the only program of its kind in the Midwest which provides over 150 youth with safe shelter, warm meals, and supportive programming.

For more details and information visit Facebook page.

• On Monday, DUNCAN JONES began shooting his latest movie WARCRAFT in Vancouver, Canada. The cast includes: Ben Foster, Paula Patton, Travis Fimmel, Dominic Cooper, Clancy Brown, Daniel Wu, Toby Kebbell and Robert Kazinsky - [Read here]...

• English artist JEREMY DELLER has brought his British Pavilion display to London that featured in last year's Venice Biennale. There are plenty of DAVID BOWIE references in this work. An absolute must see! Currently showing at the William Morris Gallery in Walthamstow until 30th March. The tour then continues on to The Bristol Museum and Art Gallery, and the Turner Contemporary in Margate - [Read here]...

• There is to be a Broadway revival of Bernard Pomerance's play THE ELEPHANT MAN starring BRADLEY COOPER in the lead role - [Read here]...

• In April, comic-book publisher ARCHAIA are releasing a hardcover reprinting of the original 1986 LABYRINTH novelissation by A.C.H. Smith with never-before-seen goblin sketches by illustrator Brian Froud and several pages from Henson's own journal.

It has sixteen-pages pages of Froud artwork that was newly discovered in the Henson Company archives from when he was working in the Henson Creature Shop.

In addition, head archivist Karen Falk had Henson's journal from when he was hatching the story of the movie, which took a young girl (Jennifer Connelly) to a magical land to save her younger brother from the Goblin King (DAVID BOWIE)...

Updated: #3 All acts are now confirmed... The DAVID BOWIE UK Convention 2014 is to be held this year on 10th May in Derby, England.

The venue is: The Victoria Inn, 12 Midland Place, Derby DE1 2RR.

The convention will be taking over the whole pub, which has a capacity of 180 to 200. The venue is located right next to the train station and hotels are nearby (4 mins from Derby city centre).

A day to celebrate the music and genius of David Bowie starts at 2.00pm through till midnight.

The full line-up of performers are:

- AladdinSane - the top Bowie tribute band around.
- BowieD - A newly formed 4-piece Bowie tribute band who are opening the convention and will blow you away!
- Funmi Abiola and Chris Chesney - A talented duo with a very exciting setlist.
- Luxury Stranger - a great local band, unique... Bowie/Eno influences.
- Ritchie Blount - local talent, acoustic, plays with passion and fire.
- The Bowie Room (unplugged) - Acoustic duo Nick Fielding and Chris Smith - they will rock your world!
- The Featherz - Charisma, style, attitude and full on rock and roll.
- Baz Dedhevan and 'The Heroes' DJs - Compare extraordinaire and tune spinners.

For more information check out the Facebook events page and Twitter #bowieukconv14

Tickets are priced at £20 GBP and go on sale Saturday 22nd February... be quick - There are only 180 tickets available Bowie fans. I guarantee this will sell out for sure.

Check out a cover version of DAVID BOWIE's mega smash hit 'Let's Dance' by Polish actress Matylda Damiecka.

In the rather excellent promotional video, she dons the Aladdin Sane lightening bolt across her boat-race.

You can view the promo video here and then pop on over to eska.pl where you can also listen and hear her studio rehearsal version of 'China Girl'.

The NME have reported that PEACE are working on a new DAVID BOWIE-inspired new album.

Frontman HARRY KOISSER says that touring the world and Bowie have inspired his new songs.

Their comeback single, that he wrote and recorded two months ago, came from listening to the Ziggy Stardust album on repeat.

From nme.com

In this year's NME Awards DAVID BOWIE has been nominated in two categories, namely 'Best Solo Artist' and 'Hero of the Year'.

The other nominees are:

Best solo artist:
       David Bowie.
       Jake Bugg.
       Kanye West.
       Lily Allen.
       Lorde.
       Paul McCartney.

Hero of the year:
       Alex Turner.
       David Bowie.
       Este Haim.
       Lou Reed.
       Pussy Riot.
       Russell Brand.

The event - sponsored by the city of Austin in Texas - is being held at the O2 Academy in Brixton, South London (around the corner from David's birthplace) on Wednesday 26th February.

For more details pop on over to NME website.

Soon to be published over in Italy is a brand new comic book entitled DAVID BOWIE - L'uomo Delle Stelle (The Man Of Stars).

Created by Lorenzo Bianchi and Veronica Veci and published by NPE (Nicola Pesce Editore), the book explores the character of David Bowie in all his transformations.

To complete the compelling narrative, there is also an editorial that includes a biography, an analysis of his discography, a gallery with some of his most famous costumes and many other curiosities that will fascinate fans.

And for those who read Italian...

Un volume a fumetti sulle vicende umane e musicali di David Bowie, una delle icone più importanti della musica...

Lorenzo Bianchi e Veronica Veci firmano il volume a fumetti David Bowie - L'uomo Delle Stelle la cui pubblicazione è prevista per la primavera di quest'anno sotto l'etichetta Nicola Pesce Editore.

Il volume esplora il personaggio di David Bowie in tutte le sue camaleontiche trasformazioni, seguendo un intreccio narrativo non cronologico, ma attento alle evoluzioni della star, anche fuori dal palcoscenico. A completare l'avvincente narrazione, un apparato redazionale che comprende una biografia, un'analisi della discografia, una galleria con alcuni dei suoi costumi più famosi e molte altre curiosità che sapranno affascinare i fan, ma non solo.

davidbowie.com have announced details of the next 40th Anniversary 7 inch picture disc release.

'Rebel Rebel' is the seventh in this series and is to be released by Parlophone on 10th March.

       A-side: Rebel Rebel (Original single mix).
       AA-side: Rebel Rebel (US Version).
       Catalogue Number: DBREBEL40.

You can pre-order NOW or if you prefer, see if you can pick up a bargain via eBay search listings.

From davidbowie.com

Updated: #2 The DAVID BOWIE UK Convention 2014 is to be held this year on 10th May in Derby, England.

The venue is: The Victoria Inn, 12 Midland Place, Derby DE1 2RR.

The convention will be taking over the whole pub, which has a capacity of 180 to 200. The venue is located right next to the train station and hotels are nearby (4 mins from Derby city centre).

A day to celebrate the music and genius of David Bowie starts at 2.00pm through till midnight.

The confirmed acts performing so far are:

- AladdinSane - the top Bowie tribute band around.
- Luxury Stranger - a great local band, unique... Bowie/Eno influences
- Ritchie Blount - local talent, acoustic, plays with passion and fire.
- The Bowie Room (unplugged) - Acoustic duo Nick Fielding and Chris Smith - they will rock your world!
- BowieD - A newly formed 4-piece Bowie tribute band who are opening the convention and will blow you away!
- The Featherz - Charisma, style, attitude and full on rock and roll.
- Baz Dedhevan and 'The Heroes' DJs - Compare extraordinaire and tune spinners.
- Other acts still to be confirmed.

More information and details coming soon... in the meantime check out the Facebook events page and Twitter #bowieukconv14

Tickets are priced at £20 GBP and go on sale Saturday 22nd February... be quick - There are only 180 tickets available Bowie fans. I guarantee this will sell out for sure.

• Dutch DAVID BOWIE tribute band ECHO BOWIE present 'Golden Years Are Now' Theatre Tour. Their next upcoming gig is on 17th January at Amphio, Doetinchem. Check out their full gig schedule - [More details]...

• For the 10th year running, there's a German DAVID BOWIE fan get together on 11th January... 'The Next Birthday Party' at Cafe Neues Ufer, Hauptstrasse 157, 10827 Berlin, Germany at 19.00 until 3.00 CET - [More details]...

• On 11th January Italian DAVID BOWIE tribute band ALADDIN INSANE are performing at Caffe Letterario, via Ostiense, 95, 00154, Rome, Italy at 20.30 CET - [More details]...

• If you happen to be roaming around Rome on 17th and 18th of this month you can catch a special screening of LABYRINTH which starred DAVID BOWIE as Jareth at the Capitol Theatre, 220 W Dominick St, Rome, Italy at 7pm on Friday 17th and 2.30pm on Saturday 18th - [More details]...

• Spanish band IDOLO pay homage to DAVID BOWIE in their latest video for their single 'Hoy Es Carnaval' ('Today Is Carnival'). The singer is dressed and made up as the Pierrot from the Ashes To Ashes promo video - [View here]...

Revealed today in London at a lavish TV bash is the fabulous news that DAVID BOWIE has been nominated in TWO categories for the upcoming BRIT AWARDS 2014.

Highlights of today's Brit 2014 announcements will be broadcast tonight on ITV1 at 10.35pm.

David is in the running for 'British Male Solo' and 'British Album of the Year' categories.

'British Male Solo Artist'
       David Bowie
       Jake Bugg
       James Blake
       John Newman
       Tom Odell

MasterCard British Album of the Year
       Artic Monkeys - AM
       Bastille - Bad Blood
       David Bowie - The Next Day
       Disclosure - Settle
       Rudimental - Home

The winners will be announced at a ceremony at the O2 in London on Wednesday 19th February and will be broadcast on ITV at 8pm.

For a complete list of all nominations and categories - view here via brits.co.uk

Besides our DAVID, other famous and well known people also born on the 8th January include...

Elvis Presley (singer/actor), Ron Moody (actor), Larry Storch (actor/comedian), Soupy Sales (aka Milton Hinkes) (comedian and father of Tony and Hunt Sales of Tin Machine), Graham Chapman (comedian), Charles Osgood (CBS TV newsman/host/author), Shirley Bassey (singer), Cristy Lane (singer), William Henry Hartnell (actor, the first Doctor Who), Robby Krieger (musician), R. Kelly (singer), Mike Reno (singer), Paul Dresher (composer), Paul King (musician), Jeff Abercrombie (musician), Terry Sylvester (musician), Paul Hester (musician), Stephen Hawking (professor, astrophysicist, author), Amanda Burton (actress), Gil Grand (musician), Ami Dolenz (actress), Amber Benson (actress), Yvette Mimieux (actress), Thelma 'Butterfly' McQueen (actress), Simone De Beauvoir (writer), Evelyn Wood (reading teacher), Gypsy Rose Lee (burlesque entertainer), Bill Graham (concert promoter), Wilkie Collins (author), Frank Doubleday (publisher), Sir Frank Dyson (scientist), Lee Jackson (musician), Vladimir Feltsman (Russian pianist), Little Anthony aka Anthony Gourdine (singer), Ted McDougall (footballer), Michael Ridley (cricketer), Harriet Sansom Harris (actress), Sean Paul (musician), Karen Poole (musician), Jenny Lewis (actress), Richard Cromwell (actor), Jose Ferrer (actor/director), Sam Riley (actor), Ryan Frances (actor), Roy Kinnear (actor), John McTiernan (director), Scott Whyte (actor), Sander Vanocur (broadcaster), Joan Rivers (comedian), Maria Pitillo (actress), Sarah Polley (actress), Loretta Lee (actress), Gabby Hoffman (actress), Maria Pitillo (actress), Brad Snyder (shot putter), Kent Jones (golfer), Virgil Hill (boxer), Vyacheslav Dmitriyevich Zudov (USSR cosmonaut), Terry Brooks (author), Antai Ribari (composer), Serge Poliakoff (Russian/French painter/guitarist), Queen Marie of Yugoslavia, Bronislava Nijinska (ballet choreographer), Storm Jameson (novelist), Frank Nelson Doubleday (publisher), William Wallace Gilchrist (composer), Fannie M. Jackson (pioneer and educator), Lawrence Alma Tadema (Dutch/British painter), David Silva (footballer), Nicolas Coustou (French sculptor) and Henry V (Roman German king/emperor).

It's also BowieWonderworld's birthday - now seventeen years online! Thanks to everyone who supports the site - it's really appreciated :)

DAVID BOWIE and a great big dog feature on the front cover of KENSINGTON & CHELSEA magazine for their January issue.

Inside is a special feature interview by Annabel Harrison with photographer TERRY O'NEILL 'Life Through A Lens': From Bowie to Bardot: The British photographer on his exhibition at Chelsea's Little Black Gallery.

In case you were wondering, the Kensington & Chelsea Magazine showcases news concerning local residents and events happening in and around the Royal Borough, as well as intelligent and sophisticated features on property, places, products and services of relevance to its audience. Interviews with prominent people from different luxury industries in the local area also feature monthly.

I'm sure you're aware that Terry did his shot of David and a Great Dane back in 1974 for the Diamond Dogs album promotional material.

Thanks to avcsar for the heads-up.

Offered up for sale on eBay at an incredible starting bid of US $175,000.00 is rare film footage of DAVID BOWIE and his band in Florida back in 1972.

The sellers description is as follows:

This is an 8 m.m. film role 68 minutes in length that includes sound of David Bowie and his band that was filmed at The Hemispheres Lounge in Hallandale, Florida in 1972.

The footage is not a performance, but is footage of all the members of the band including Bowie who were invited to stay at the Hemispheres Hotel where the band members are shown hanging out at the pool, in the lobby and in their hotel rooms.

The story of how this footage was acquired...

David Bowie was in town performing at a concert at Pirates World in Dania, Florida 17/11/1972. The performers were booked to stay at another hotel nearby, however the hotel owner of the Hemispheres who was a friend of my fathers (both owned hotels) suggested he contact Bowie's manager, and let them stay at the Hemispheres providing the band and band manager with poolside services, cocktail drinks, gourmet food and also was right on the beach, due to the publicity it would provide hoping that this would bring more attention and business to the hotel.

The band and its manager accepted and my father contacted John and had him go over to the hotel to capture some footage. David Bowie and the band were very accommodating and did not seem to mind the attention or the cameras.

Special features....

Mick Ronson also known as Ziggy Stardust explains his name and also his sexual preferences. He is also seen trying to pick up several waitresses. Mick Ronson is filmed in women's high heeled shoes wearing a 2 piece bathing suit with green hair purchasing a hat in the Hotels gift shop.

David Bowie is seen getting ready for dinner putting on full make-up and being escorted by an unknown African American man who was Bowie's bodyguard. Bowie dines in a 2 piece women's dress suit as Mick and the band drink whiskey at the table where Bowie is dining, the whole time elderly Jewish visitors look completely baffled as to why these people are staying here.

On another day, a woman comments on Mick Ronson's green hair, thinking Mick is a woman because he is wearing a two-piece bathing suit, Mick takes off his top and explains to the woman he is in fact a man not a woman and then tries to pick up a young waiter serving him a cocktail.

Bowie is filmed practicing the guitar in his hotel room, the sound was not recorded unfortunately.

You can view the listing here.

• Rare footage of NIRVANA's final Los Angeles gig at the Great Western Forum in December 1993 has been uploaded onto YouTube by Dave Markey. Three songs including their version of DAVID BOWIE's 'The Man Who Sold The World'. Kurt intro... 'This is a David Bowie song.' - [View here]...

• 'Ziggy Viva Las Vegas'... The 3rd Annual Oh! You Pretty Things: Bowie and Elvis Birthday Bash is taking place on Sunday 19th January at Le Poisson Rouge, 158 Bleeker St, New York. 21.00 until 4.00 EST. 21 and over. $15 or 'two for one' admission is only $25. You can purchase tickets here - [More details]...

• French artist LAURENT BLACHIERDAVID BOWIE, a mix of Tilda Swinton and Man Ray's photo, kind of 'the Man Ray who sold the world' - [View here]...

• There is a DAVID BOWIE party event in Russia taking place on 11th January - St. Petersburg, 19:00, Ligovsky Prospekt 33-35, SPACES Club. Covers from Unbridled Cheekbones, from Fantastic Sax - Sergey Arestov, guitar man - Igor Pokatilov, host - Starman - [More details]. Check out how it went down was 2 years ago here...

• Update #2: The DAVID BOWIE 2014 UK Convention taking place in Derby, England... there is now an official Facebook Events page set up for those attending. Tickets go on sale Saturday 22nd February - [View here]...

• Update #1: The DAVID BOWIE 2014 UK Convention... THE BOWIE ROOM 'Unplugged' are now confirmed to be performing at the event - [FB page]...

If you're in France... the 'BOWIE & FRIENDS' Exhibition opening day is 7th January, premiere at 6:30pm at Paris 13eme City House.

This is a collection of photographs by Philippe Auliac featuring 75 rare giant sized pictures including: David Bowie, Lou Reed, Iggy Pop, Mick Jagger, Frank Zappa, Paul McCartney, Pink Floyd, George Harrison and Eric Clapton.

Performer Elliot Murphy is live in concert (14th) and there's Ziggy Stardust movie (17th) and Lou Reed's Berlin (24th) screening.

More precise details and programme information can be found here on the BW message board.

The exposition runs from 7th January through to 24th January (Monday to Friday).

From Philippe Auliac.

The DAVID BOWIE UK Convention 2014 is to be held this year on 10th May in Derby, England.

The venue is: The Victoria Inn, 12 Midland Place, Derby DE1 2RR.

The convention will be taking over the whole pub, which has a capacity of 180 to 200. The venue is located right next to the train station and hotels are nearby (4 mins from Derby city centre).

A day to celebrate the music and genius of David Bowie starts at 2pm through till midnight.

The confirmed acts performing so far are:

- AladdinSane - the top Bowie tribute band around.
- Luxury Stranger - a great local band, unique... Bowie/Eno influences
- Ritchie Blount - local talent, acoustic, plays with passion and fire.
- The Bowie Room (unplugged) - Acoustic duo Nick Fielding and Chris Smith will rock your world!
- BowieD - Newly formed 4-piece Bowie tribute band who are opening the convention.
- Baz Dedhevan - Compare Extraordinaire.
- Other acts - to be confirmed.

More information and details coming soon... in the meantime check out the Facebook events page and Twitter #bowieukconv14

Tickets are priced at £20 GBP and go on sale 22nd February... be quick - There are only 180 tickets available to Bowie fans. I guarantee this will sell out for sure.

Be sure to check out some wonderful never-before-seen DAVID BOWIE and The Spiders From Mars live photographs over at Mind Monkey Musings blog.

Ziggy and the band were photographed by MEL MORPETH at City Hall in Newcastle -upon-Tyne back in 1973.

Not sure which date, as there were three different performances at that venue that year (7th January, two performances on 8th June).

No hang on, he is wearing the gold circle on his forehead, so that rules out January.

(Ed. Thanks for posting them Mel).

Check out a cover version of DAVID BOWIE's classic 'Space Oddity' with a snazzy promo video to go along with it.

Space Oddity (In the Pictures of My Notes) is an audio visual experiment which was created as part of a qualification work for the Latvian College of Culture.

The story involves a man, who is lost in time and space, and witnesses absolute isolation. He feels distant from anything that we take for granted, and although he wishes to return, the wall between him and the world we know, blocks his entrance. In the end he is forced to drift endlessly in space.

The white space in which all the three people are found is a symbol of the physical space as we know it. It is presented through naive pictures taken from the student's notes.

From Ilze Bondare.

Many thanks to everyone who entered the latest BowieWonderworld Competition No. 25 Christmas giveaway to win DAVID BOWIE free goodies.

       - David Bowie Is Inside book by Victoria Broackes and Geoffrey Marsh.
       - Ziggyology book by Simon Goddard.
       - David Bowie is Walking in Soho leaflets (x20).

All you have to do is click LIKE on the BowieWonderworld Facebook page and inbox me with your name and address. Competition ended at midnight on 31st December UK time.

If you don't use Facebook, simply email me and you'll be included in the free prize draw.

The twenty-two winners drawn at random are:

David Bowie Is book: James C (Scotland).
Ziggyology book: Sture A (Sweden).

David Bowie Walking In Soho: The 20 winners are...
Emily S (USA) / Stefania A (Italy) / Reinhold K (Germany) / David F (Australia) / Paul S (England) / Ruth A (Australia) / Gary G (Northern Ireland) / Yoav B (Israel) / Ione C (England) / Zsuzsanna B (Hungary) / Robin J (England) / David N (Australia) / Gali T (Israel) / Jasmine S (England) / Ana F (Spain) / Ziggy B (Canada) / Michael R (England) / Cecilia H (Mexico) / Jim N (Scotland) / Jan B (Holland)

Congratulations again!

DAVID BOWIE's The Next Day was the most purchased album in the UK's independent record shops during 2013, according to the Official Charts Company's year-end sales data.

The top-selling ten albums chart ran as follows:

       01. David Bowie - 'The Next Day'.
       02. Arctic Monkeys - 'AM'.
       03. Daft Punk - 'Random Access Memories'.
       04. Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds - 'Push The Sky Away'.
       05. Queens Of The Stone Age - '...Like Clockwork'.
       06. The National - 'Trouble Will Find Me'.
       07. Boards Of Canada - 'Tomorrow's Harvest'.
       08. Mumford and Sons - 'Babel'.
       09. Jake Bugg - 'Shangri La'.
       10. Vampire Weekend - 'Modern Vampires of the City'.

If you haven't bought this album yet, do it now - you won't regret it. In fact, you might as well get hold of 'THE NEXT DAY EXTRA' Collectors Edition 3-disc Box Set which features 5 new unheard songs, 2 brand new remixes and DVD featuring 4 promo videos - you can purchase here

GLOSSOP RECORD CLUB's New Year kicks off on Thursday 9th January with a session dedicated to the music of DAVID BOWIE.

On the day after the Thin White Duke's 67th birthday, music fans are invited to Glossop Labour Club to listen to two of Bowie's classic albums on vinyl and in full: Hunky Dory (1971) and one of the highly influential 'Berlin trilogy' released in the late 1970s - Low, "Heroes" and Lodger - which will be decided on by a poll on the record club website.

There'll also be lots of other Bowie-related music on the night, from the likes of Iggy Pop, Lou Reed and Mott The Hoople, and the chance to hear rarities and lesser-heard songs rubbing shoulders with classics from his 50-year career.

People can bring their own favourite Bowie record along for a spin too.

For organiser Simon Galloway, this record club session will be one close to his heart. "David Bowie is my favourite artist and has been for most of my life, so I'm really looking forward to the evening. Not just the main albums, but also the other records people bring along. There are a few big Bowie fans amongst the regulars, and doing a Bowie night has been a popular suggestion since we started Glossop Record Club."

The session starts at 8pm and entry is free. See glossoprecordclub.wordpress.com for further details.

GLOSSOP RECORD CLUB presents BOWIE ON VINYL
       Thursday 9th January, 8-11pm.
       Glossop Labour Club, Chapel Street, Glossop, SK13 8AT, Derbyshire.
       Free entry.

WARNER MUSIC in Japan are reissuing SEVENTEEN DAVID BOWIE CDs this month.

Originally remastered in 1999, these are scheduled for release in Japan on 29th January on his new record label.

The full list runs as follows:

Space Oddity
       Warner Music Japan. Cat: No. WPCR-80085

The Man Who Sold The World
       Warner Music Japan. Cat: No. WPCR-80086

Hunky Dory
       Warner Music Japan. Cat: No. WPCR-80087

The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars
       Warner Music Japan. Cat: No. WPCR-80088

Aladdin Sane
       Warner Music Japan. Cat: No. WPCR-80089

Pin Ups
       Warner Music Japan. Cat: No. WPCR-80090

Diamond Dogs
       Warner Music Japan. Cat: No. WPCR-80091

Young Americans
       Warner Music Japan. Cat: No. WPCR-80092

Station To Station
       Warner Music Japan. Cat: No. WPCR-80093

Low
       Warner Music Japan. Cat: No. WPCR-80094

"Heroes"
       Warner Music Japan. Cat: No. WPCR-80095

Lodger
       Warner Music Japan. Cat: No. WPCR-80096

Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)
       Warner Music Japan. Cat: No. WPCR-80097

Let's Dance
       Warner Music Japan. Cat: No. WPCR-80098

Tonight
       Warner Music Japan. Cat: No. WPCR-80099

Never Let Me Down
       Warner Music Japan. Cat: No. WPCR-80100

Tin Machine
       Warner Music Japan. Cat: No. WPCR-80101

You can pre-order NOW via cdjapan - all priced at a mere 1400 yen (approx US $13.56 / GBP 8.32).

If you prefer not to pay importy duty, they are also listed for pre-order on the David Bowie Amazon Store with a release date next month on 4th February.

This month sees the GRAMMY'S taking place... DAVID BOWIE has three nominations for his recent album The Next Day...

Category 12: Best Rock Performance.
       The Stars (Are Out Tonight).
       David Bowie.
       Track from: The Next Day.

Category 15: Best Rock Album.
       The Next Day.
       David Bowie.

Category 53: Best Recording Package.
       The Next Day.
       Jonathan Barnbrook, art director (David Bowie).

You can download the full 56th GRAMMY Awards Final Nominations list here [pdf].

The event takes place on Sunday 26th January at the Staples Center, Los Angeles, USA. The show is broadcast on CBS at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

You can tune in online at 12pm ET / 9am PT USA.

A brand new limited edition publication All American Bowie has been published by Cygnet Committee.

The full story of Ziggy's best-selling show at Long Beach, CA on 10th March 1973 is illustrated with exclusive, previously-unseen colour photographs.

All of the Long Beach photographs were taken by a member of the audience. As well as the pouts, poses and costume changes, we think he did a great job of capturing the energy and excitement of this classic Aladdin Sane-era gig.

Hand numbered and certificated, this limited edition publication of 1,000 copies, contains forty-pages and is sized at 220mm x 220mm

More details, information and purchasing options can be found over at cygnetcommittee.co.uk

Cygnet Committee publications are compiled, written and designed solely by DAVID BOWIE fans.

Make sure that you bookmark the site. More publications and limited edition photographs are planned for the future.

Website: cygnetcommittee.co.uk