David Bowie Wonderworld News May 2016

At the apex of David Bowie's spectacular rise to fame and glory, photographer Steve Schapiro seized a rare invitation from Bowie's manager for a private photo session with the pop star in LA in 1974...

Synopsis: David Bowie, by 1974, was a man of many faces and as many albums, had already lived the life of Ziggy Stardust and launched Aladdin Sane, with albums Pinups and Diamond Dogs soon to come. A musical force to be reckoned with, Bowie was also widely regarded as a fashion icon, pushing the envelope of sexuality and style and having created an internationally renowned persona.

The mostly never-before-published images in Schapiro's rare collection represent Bowie at his most creative and inspired self and present a glimpse into the intimacy that Schapiro and Bowie shared during their time together. As Schapiro tells it: 'From the moment Bowie arrived, we seemed to hit it off. Incredibly intelligent, calm, and filled with ideas, he talked a lot about Alistair Crowley whose esoteric writings he was heavily into at the time. When David heard that I had photographed Buster Keaton, one of his greatest heroes, we instantly became friends.'

The first photo session started at four in the afternoon and went through the night till dawn. Bowie went through countless costume changes, each more incredible than the last and each seemed to turn him into a totally different person. Bowie relentlessly created these unique characters, each seemingly alive in their own charismatic space for Schapiro to create visual images to complement their very existence and turn them into iconic images for all time.

Bowie and Schapiro kidded and laughed about shooting a series of close-up portraits on a putrid green background because they felt it was the worst possible background colour for a magazine, and so they did on this lark - with the image eventually becoming a People magazine cover.

The last image they made was at four in the morning to wrap up the marathon session when they went outside to shoot Bowie on his motorcycle - the sun hadn't yet risen and the shot was lit dramatically by only the headlights of a car. This image remains one of Schapiro's favourites and is certain to live on in posterity.

DAVID BOWIE WONDERWORLD REMINDERS

40th Anniversary release of CHANGESONEBOWIE released 20th May available on heavyweight 180g vinyl in both clear and black colours, also CD and digital formats - you can purchase NOW.

New book BOWIE - PHOTOGRAPHS BY STEVE SCHAPIRO published 25th April - you can purchase NOW.

New STANDARD EDITION of THE RISE OF DAVID BOWIE, 1972-1973 by MICK ROCK - published on 17th March - you can purchase NOW and SAVE 35%! - £32.49 GBP (RRP: £49.99 GBP) - you save a massive £17.50 (35%).

Limited Edition 3LP Box Set BOWIE - A REALITY TOUR 180 gram Audiophile in translucent blue vinyl to be released 3rd June - you can pre-order NOW.

New book ON BOWIE by Simon Critchley published 7th April via Serpent's Tail - you can purchase NOW.

DAVID BOWIE last studio album ★ released 8th January - you can purchase the CD version and Vinyl version as well as the digital album download NOW!

Japanese only CD digipak first limited edition Blu-spec CD2 of DAVID BOWIE last studio album ★ released 8th January - you can purchase NOW.

Limited Edition 13-Disc Blu-ray Box Set DISSENT & DISRUPTION: The Complete Alan Clarke at the BBC 1969-1989 features DAVID BOWIE in BAAL to be released on 6th June via BFI. Also available as two separate volumes DVD 5-Disc Box Sets - you can pre-order Dissent & Disruption Blu-ray Box Set NOW. Also Volume 1: Dissent and Volume 2: Disruption (Note: Volume 2 features Baal. Revised release date: 6th June).

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