Released today (29th March) is an audio 2-CD WHAT MEMORIES WE MAKE - THE COMPLETE MAINMAN RECORDINGS 1971-1974 by DANA GILLESPIE which compiles all of Dana's recordings/output for MainMan Recordings.

Dana Gillespie first made her name as a teenage singer (and songwriter) in the 1960s, with a string of memorable singles and albums for Pye and Decca.

In 1971, she teamed up with DAVID BOWIE's management company MainMan, joining Bowie at RCA Records. It would be two years before her next record - but it was worth the wait. Weren't Born A Man was a wonderful amalgam of pop, soul and some wonderful songwriting from Dana. The title track, for example, wouldn't have sounded out-of-place on Dusty In Memphis, while Dana's twist on Bowie's 'Andy Warhol' (the song had actually been written for her) was unique. Both these album highlights were issued as singles.

Dana swiftly followed up with a second album for RCA, Ain't Gonna Play No Second Fiddle. The recordings were bluesier in places than on its predecessor but still equally impressive. The LP was promoted by a single, 'Really Love The Man', but thereafter Dana parted ways with MainMan before building an enviable reputation as a blues singer of some renown.

Issued with the full support and involvement of the artist and MainMan, What Memories We Make is the first proper retrospective of Dana's recordings for MainMan/RCA. Many album tracks make their debut on CD and have been joined by a raft of rarities and previously unissued material.

All five tracks from the legendary BOWPROMO album from 1971 are included: this was an album circulated by MainMan featuring rough mixes by David Bowie on one side (made prior to him signing with RCA) and Dana Gillespie on the other.

Also present is the semi-mythical, previously unheard original demo of 'Andy Warhol' featuring backing vocals from Bowie, and the rare Libido single (issued on Mooncrest in 1973), plus sessions from late 1974 for what would have been Dana's third album for RCA/MainMan.

Housed in a plush Digipak with lengthy sleeve-notes by David Wells within a 24-page booklet also boasting an embarrassment of photographic riches, What Memories We Make is a long overdue tribute to a rare British singing/songwriting talent.

The tracklisting runs as follows:

Disc One: 1971 Promo LP

01. Mother, Don't Be Frightened*
02. Andy Warhol
03. Never Knew*
04. All Cut Up On You*
05. Lavender Hill*
(Weren't Born A Man LP)
06. Stardom Road Part I / Stardom Road Part II
07. What Memories We Make
08. Dizzy Heights
09. Andy Warhol
10. Backed A Loser
11. Weren't Born A Man
12. Mother, Don't Be Frightened
13. All Cut Up On You
14. Eternal Showman
15. All Gone
16. Lavender Hill (alternative version)
17. Never Knew (alternative version)
18. Hold On To Your Fire
19. Weren't Born A Man
*Previously unissued

Disc Two:

01. Ain't Gonna Play No Second Fiddle
02. Really Love The Man
03. Hold Me Gently
04. Don't Mind Me
05. Pack Your Bags
06. No Tail To Wag
07. Get My Rocks Off
08. Wanderlust
09. Getting Through To Me
10. Never Knew
11. Man Size Job (Outtake)*
12. Stoke The Engine (October 1974 demo)*
13. Goin' Crazy With The Blues (October 1974 demo)*
14. Say Goodnight To The Night (October 1974 demo)*
15. Do The Spin (October 1974 demo)*
16. Gone At The Game (October 1974 demo)*
17. Andy Warhol (Original demo)*

*Previously unissued

What Memories We Make - The Complete Mainman Recordings 1971-1974 is available to purchase NOW!

The sixty-first episode of THE A TO Z OF DAVID BOWIE podcast created by MARC RILEY, ROB HUGHES and sound assisted by HOWARD NOCK is now available online for your listening pleasure.

This episode covers the letter T and discusses: Trumps, Pete Townshend, Shel Talmy, The Three Tuns and Terry Burns.

Available FREE via your preferred podcast download or streaming. I personally prefer acast.com for streaming - LISTEN HERE

For more information, updates and questions you can follow @zofdavidbowie on Twitter.

Also check out their YouTube channel A to Z of David Bowie and don't forget to subscribe for notifications.

For the podcast each letter is currently averaged at 2 episodes of 30 plus minutes and will be published at 3am on Tuesday's each week.

You can listen to ALL previous episodes HERE

About to hit the market are the VANS DAVID BOWIE collection of footwear.

I'm told these limited editions are to be released next month on 5th April.

You can sign up to be alerted when the products are available in your country: [UK] - [US] - [Europe].

Update: Looking around online, I have found SIX different styles, although most recent news stories are reporting only four.

The sneaker styles reported are: Slip-On 47 V DX, Era, Old Skool, and Sk8-Hi which are styled for Space Oddity, Hunky Dory, Aladdin Sane and Diamond Dogs Bowie 74 logo.

I have noticed two other styles: a 'platform sole' pair that mimic his copied Kansai red boots he wore on the cover of his Ziggy Stardust album, which obviously fits in perfectly with the other styles and there is also a Blackstar style

More details coming soon.

The sixtieth episode of THE A TO Z OF DAVID BOWIE podcast created by MARC RILEY, ROB HUGHES and sound assisted by HOWARD NOCK is now available online for your listening pleasure.

This episode covers the letter T and discusses: Tin Machine.

Available FREE via your preferred podcast download or streaming. I personally prefer acast.com for streaming - LISTEN HERE

For more information, updates and questions you can follow @zofdavidbowie on Twitter.

Also check out their YouTube channel A to Z of David Bowie and don't forget to subscribe for notifications.

For the podcast each letter is currently averaged at 2 episodes of 30 plus minutes and will be published at 3am on Tuesday's each week.

You can listen to ALL previous episodes HERE

THE HD PROJECTS is very proud to present the first in a series of video's featuring our interview with world-famous music producer, TONY VISCONTI.

The interview took place in 2018. Tony generously and comprehensively answered our questions. He provided a lot of information and insight into the music he and DAVID BOWIE made, and the times they shared with drummer DENNIS DAVIS.

As part of the interview, Tony provided some unique Bowie track breakdowns, to illustrate how important Dennis Davis drumming was to the sound of Bowie's groundbreaking late 70s music.

One such was of Look Back in Anger - the classic Bowie rocker from his 1979 album, Lodger. It is a track dominated by Dennis Davis' drums, and is rightly regarded as one Dennis' signature tracks with Bowie.

Check out the interview below...

Photographer KEVIN CUMMINS is offering you the opportunity to own one of his fabulous DAVID BOWIE photographs.

All proceeds are to raise money for THE TRUSSELL TRUST the foodbanks charity in the UK.

It's a photographer signed 10 x 8 digital print for £100 +p&p

Heads up - you can purchase as many as you like.

If you are interested in this worthwhile cause please contact Kevin via his Twitter account @KCMANC or instagram.com/kcmanc/.

At today's OMEGA AUCTIONS Music Memorabilia auction Lot 451 the reel-to-reel rehearsal/reference tape containing unheard demos of DAVID BOWIE performing 'Starman' and 'Hang On To Yourself' realised an incredible winning bid of £41,000 GBP.

Other highlights of David Bowie related items sold included:

Lot 221: Various press invites incl an RCA Records preview screening of TMWFTE on 10 March 1976 at Fox Rank Century Theatre in London - £380 GBP.
Lot 315: David Bowie and The Buzz 13/11/66 Marquee Club contract - £650 GBP.
Lot 449: Mick Ronson and The Spiders From Mars/Kevin Hutchinson/Dana Gillespie unreleased Emidisc demo acetate 'Hey Saturn' / 'Good Loving Times' - £700 GBP.
Lot 450: Dana Gillespie/David Bowie and Mick Ronson Trident Studios acetate 'Andy Warhol' / 'Mother Don't Be Frightened' - £1,100 GBP.
Lot 451: David Bowie Reel-To-Reel Tape - Ziggy Stardust rehearsal/reference tape - £41,000 GBP.

For more details, information and lots sold, visit the omegaauctions.co.uk website.

Check out ITV Granada News where reporter Paul Crone speaks to the buyer Kelly - [Watch here].

The fifty-ninth episode of THE A TO Z OF DAVID BOWIE podcast created by MARC RILEY, ROB HUGHES and sound assisted by HOWARD NOCK is now available online for your listening pleasure.

This episode covers the letter T and discusses: Tonight and Toy.

Available FREE via your preferred podcast download or streaming. I personally prefer acast.com for streaming - LISTEN HERE

For more information, updates and questions you can follow @zofdavidbowie on Twitter.

Also check out their YouTube channel A to Z of David Bowie and don't forget to subscribe for notifications.

For the podcast each letter is currently averaged at 2 episodes of 30 plus minutes and will be published at 3am on Tuesday's each week.

You can listen to ALL previous episodes HERE

The College of Arts and Letters invites you to join us for an intimate conversation on the influence of R&B and soul music on DAVID BOWIE's musical styling.

Taking place this Saturday (9th March) the FREE talk is entitled: 'The Soulfulness of David Bowie happening at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey, USA.

Award-winning guitarist, composer and lecturer CARLOS ALOMAR, the college's Distinguished Artist in Residence, draws on thirty years of experience as Bowie's music director and member of his funk rhythm section, the D.A.M. Trio, to reflect on the overlooked but vital influence of R&B and soul on Bowie's pop career.

Carlos will be joined by vocalist ROBIN CLARK, whose vocals were first featured on Young Americans (1975), which became a pivotal moment in Bowie's career and rock history. Music journalist Christian John Wikane will moderate.

For more details and information please visit the stevens.edu website.

Released later this month on 22nd March is RUN by KEVIN ARMSTRONG. The album features two co-written DAVID BOWIE songs namely 'Run' and 'Outside'.

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE:

KEVIN ARMSTRONG is the guitarist you may never have heard of, but have most certainly heard. He has had a stellar career since the early 1980s as sidekick for DAVID BOWIE, Iggy Pop, Morrissey, Sinéad O'Connor, Prefab Sprout, Thomas Dolby, Transvision Vamp and host of others. He has played with a huge range of stars from Roy Orbison to Brian Eno. Grace Jones to Paul McCartney, Sandie Shaw to the Eagles of Death Metal, Gil Evans to Alien Sex Fiend. Kevin continues to tour the world with Iggy Pop as his go to guitar guy and bandleader.

22nd March sees the release of Kevin's solo album entitled RUN. A collection of his most personal songs and collaborations. Richly layered guitar work and strong memorable tunes weave a spell that sticks in the memory.

"I didn't care about making these songs particularly 'modern' or in a specific 'style', I just wanted them to be honest and represent my voice as it is with no artifice", Kevin Armstrong.

David Bowie once said, "Kevin's a proper musician." Bowie recognised the quality in his sinuous and melodic guitar playing. Included here, are the Tin Machine song 'Run' and the title track of Bowie's '1.Outside' album, both of which started life as original Kevin Armstrong songs. Also here, are two of Kevin's original tunes that Morrissey chose to turn into 'He Knows' and 'Oh Phony'.

Kevin's guitar virtuosity is coupled with his considerable prowess as a singer on these deeply felt, atmospheric songs. RUN is an album that will not date and one you'll return to again and again to discover something new each time.

The tracklisting runs as follows:

01. Run (Songwriters: David Bowie, Kevin Armstrong)
02. Where Does The Time Go? (Songwriter: Kevin Armstrong)
03. Dog Ate My Giro (Songwriter: Kevin Armstrong)
04. Leucocytes Of Love (Songwriter: Kevin Armstrong)
05. The Way Of All Flesh (Songwriter: Kevin Armstrong)
06. On Beachy Head (Songwriter: Kevin Armstrong)
07. Feel This Jones (Songwriter: Kevin Armstrong)
08. He Knows I'd Love To See Him (Songwriters: Kevin Armstrong, Morrissey)
09. Clean (Songwriter: Kevin Armstrong)
10. Outside (Songwriters: David Bowie, Kevin Armstrong)
11. Oh Phony (Songwriters: Kevin Armstrong, Morrissey)

You can listen to 30 second samples of each song and pre-order his new album now!

The fifty-eighth episode of THE A TO Z OF DAVID BOWIE podcast created by MARC RILEY, ROB HUGHES and sound assisted by HOWARD NOCK is now available online for your listening pleasure.

This episode covers the letter T and discusses: Trevor Bolder.

Available FREE via your preferred podcast download or streaming. I personally prefer acast.com for streaming - LISTEN HERE

For more information, updates and questions you can follow @zofdavidbowie on Twitter.

Also check out their YouTube channel A to Z of David Bowie and don't forget to subscribe for notifications.

For the podcast each letter is currently averaged at 2 episodes of 30 plus minutes and will be published at 3am on Tuesday's each week.

You can listen to ALL previous episodes HERE

Two more DAVID BOWIE snippets taken from Lot 451 in the upcoming OMEGA AUCTIONS Music Memorabilia auction on 12th March - a reel-to-reel rehearsal tape containing unheard demos of DAVID BOWIE and Mick Ronson performing 'Starman', 'Moonage Daydream', 'Hang On To Yourself' and more.

Check out Lot 451 in the upcoming OMEGA AUCTIONS Music Memorabilia auction on 12th March - a reel-to-reel rehearsal tape containing unheard demos of DAVID BOWIE and Mick Ronson performing 'Starman', 'Moonage Daydream', 'Hang On To Yourself' and more.

Have a listen to the three snippets below...

Description: DAVID BOWIE REEL 2 REEL REHEARSAL TAPE INCLUDING UNHEARD DEMOS OF STARMAN, MOONAGE DAYDREAM AND HANG ON TO YOURSELF.

This remarkable collection of recordings were collated by Mick Ronson on a 5" EMITAPE reel 2 reel containing 18 tracks (taped on both sides) of Bowie and Ronson recordings that went on to feature on 'The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and The Spiders From Mars' album along with some on David Bowie's releases. All tracks would have been recorded either direct onto a reel 2 reel or at Trident Studios during the Summer and later months of 1971.

The reel of tape is made up of numerous pieces of tape that have been connected with leader tape resulting in 1 or 2 second gaps between tracks. The 3 important tracks are unheard demos of Starman (4 minutes 31 seconds), Moonage Daydream (4 minutes 35 seconds) and Hang On To Yourself (2 minutes 10 seconds). In addition to these 3 unheard demos, other tracks include Five Years, Rock 'N' Roll Suicide, Round And Round, Amsterdam, Holy Holy, Ziggy Stardust, Velvet Goldmine, Soul Love and Lady Stardust, along with some small sections of chat and harmonising. The total length of the recording is approximately 44 minutes.

The tape was given to Kevin Hutchinson (the vendor) in late 1971 by Mick Ronson. Kevin was a friend and neighbour of Mick Ronson's from Hull who at the time was a budding 15/16 year old musician writing his own songs. Kevin spent time with Mick (at Mick's house) working on a variety of both Kevin and Mick's own songs. One of Kevin's songs included 'Hey Saturn' which Mick recorded at Trident Studios (see Lot 449). With Kevin looking to find a recording deal himself Mick gave Kevin the tape suggesting he learn the tracks as it would put him in good stead going forward and may even lead to him working with Bowie and The Spiders From Mars. Kevin spent the night learning the tracks and the next day gave a rendition in Mick's living room to Mick and his mother - they were very impressed!

The reel is currently housed in a card reel 2 reel box with sticker on the outside that reads 'David Bowie Rehearsal Tape'. A complete CD recording of the tape will be included in the sale.

**Please note that the acetate and its contents are being sold as an artefact only and that no copyright is included with the sale.

Estimate: £5,000-£10,000 with a starting bid of £4,000 GBP

Auction: Music Memorabilia - lots (1-451)
Date: Tuesday 12th March, 10.30am
Venue: Omega Auctions, Sankey Valley Industrial Estate, Newton-Le-Willows, WA12 8DN.

For more details and information, please visit the omegaauctions.co.uk website and check out other items available.

Update: CANCELLED FOR 2019

Grab your tickets now for the DAVID BOWIE CONVENTION 2019 which takes place on Friday 10th and Saturday 11th May at Queens Hall, Derby, England.

Amazing live acts and special guests!

Jean Genie, The London Boys, David Love, The Maggi Ronson Band, Luxury Stranger, The Froot, Rebel Heroes, Secret Life, Miss Bowie and The New Killer Stars, Heroes Indie DJs Baz and Daz and Andy Yeo's Bowie-oke.

Venue: Queens Hall, 125 London Road, Derby DE1 2QQ, England.

For more details and ticket purchasing please visit the Facebook page or you can email Jimster Draper directly at

All set for release next month on 5th April is the DAVID BOWIE Spying Through A Keyhole 7" Vinyl Box Set.

With 2019 marking 50 years since David Bowie's first hit, Space Oddity, Parlophone is set to release a 7" vinyl singles box set of nine previously unreleased recordings* from the era during which Space Oddity was first conceived.

The title 'Spying Through A Keyhole' is a lyric taken from the previously unknown song, Love All Around, and though most of the other titles are known, these versions have never been officially released until late last year. Most of the recordings are solo vocal and acoustic home demo performances, unless otherwise stated.

The design of each single label is presented to reflect the way David sent many of his demos to publishers and record companies, featuring his own handwritten song titles on EMIDISC acetate labels. The singles themselves are all mono and play at 45 r.p.m.

Please note: Due to the nature of some of the solo home demos where Bowie accompanied himself on acoustic guitar, the recording quality isn't always of a usual studio fidelity. This is partly due to David's enthusiastic strumming hitting the red on a couple of the tracks, along with the limitations of the original recording equipment and tape degradation. However, the historical importance of these songs and the fact that the selections are from an archive of tracks cleared for release by Bowie, overrides this shortcoming.

The tracklistings run as follows:

SINGLE 1
Side 1
Mother Grey (demo)
Side 2
In The Heat Of The Morning (demo)

SINGLE 2
Side 1
Goodbye 3d (Threepenny) Joe (demo)
Side 2
Love All Around (demo)

SINGLE 3
Side 1
London Bye, Ta-Ta (demo)
Side 2
Angel, Angel, Grubby Face (demo version 1)

SINGLE 4
Side 1
1. Angel, Angel, Grubby Face (demo version 2)
2. Space Oddity (demo excerpt)
Side 2
Space Oddity (demo) with John 'Hutch' Hutchinson.

*Although this will be the first physical release of these tracks, Parlophone did make them available on streaming services for a limited period only in December.

You can pre-order Spying Through A Keyhole NOW!

DAVID BOWIE WONDERWORLD REMINDERS BOYS KEEP SWINGING 40th Anniversary 7" picture disc single to be released on 17th May - you can pre-order NOW! DAVID BOWIE - CLAREVILLE GROVE DEMOS 7" Vinyl Box Set containing THREE singles and SIX songs - to be released on 17th May - available to pre-order NOW! DAVID BOWIE - SPYING THROUGH A KEYHOLE 7" Vinyl Box Set containing FOUR singles and NINE songs - to be released on 5th April - available to pre-order NOW! New book ASHES TO ASHES: THE SONGS OF DAVID BOWIE, 1976-2016 by CHRIS O'LEARY published on 19th February - you can purchase NOW! FIVE DAVID BOWIE selected break out releases on vinyl, CD and digital released on 15th February all available to purchase now! SERIOUS MOONLIGHT (Live '83) Audio 2CD / GLASS SPIDER (Live Montreal '87) Audio 2-CD / LET'S DANCE Vinyl LP and Audio CD / TONIGHT Vinyl LP and Audio CD / NEVER LET ME DOWN Vinyl LP and Audio CD New book AT THE BIRTH OF BOWIE by PHIL LANCASTER published on 10th January - you can purchase NOW! The 2018 softback edition of DAVID BOWIE WORLD 7" RECORDS DISCOGRAPHY 1964 - 1981 book by MARSHALL JARMAN and RETO STÖCKLIN available to purchase via the marmot-publishing.com website.         Exclusive DAVID BOWIE lino-cut print that appears in MUTE movie directed by Duncan Jones is available to purchase here - don't hang around, these are ALL the remaining original left-over stock from 34 years ago, once they've gone, they've gone!                  [CLOSE BOX]