We will be operating a strict door policy for the event, so please mail us using the link below, and tell us that you are coming - giving your real name and net/chat name and the number in your party. To be sure of getting in mail us straight away bnetukbash@mailcity.com

Travel: Edward's is on the corner of King Street and Beadon Road in Hammersmith.

By Tube: District Line to Hammersmith turn right out of the station and it's across the road. Picadilly Line to Hammersmith: pub is opposite the station.

We look forward to seeing you there! So go on reply today!!!!!

This BNet event has been brought to you by: Electric Blue (Steph) and Spaceface (Karen).

THE PASSAGE thanked DAVID BOWIE last week for giving them the exclusive image Hand for use in their annual report, and for auction to raise funds for the Charity. The Passage is a mission that meets the basic needs of homeless people. A day and night shelter along with advice, medical services, surgery, and door to door needs are all part of The Passages' plan to cut homelessness down by 2/3 for 2002.

"It's easy for someone else to see something's missing, but when you live with it every day it's not so obvious. We listen to our clients and help them to see that there are alternatives to life on the streets."

BowieNet have confirmed the following shows:

November 16th:
LATE NIGHT WITH CONAN O'BRIEN.

November 17th:
THE ROSIE O'DONNELL SHOW.

November 22nd:
MUSIQUE PLUS "GUEST ARTIST OF THE MONTH" (Montreal, Canada).

Get your video recorders ready - Top Of The Pops lineup for the 24th September:

Eiffel 65 - Blue (Da Ba Dee)
Vengaboys - We're Going To Ibiza
Sting - Brand New Day
Everything But The Girl - Five Fathoms
Paul Johnson - Get Get Down
Wyclef Jean & Bono - New Day
David Bowie - Thursday's Child
Tom Jones & The Cardigans - Burning Down The House

DAVID BOWIE, The Charlatans, Gomez, Foo Fighters, Travis and James have all been confirmed for the new series of BBC2's late-night live music show Later With Jools Holland.

The line-ups for the first three shows are as follows:
October 16 - James, Foo Fighters, Bryan Ferry, Gabrielle, The Breakbeat Era.
October 23 - The Charlatans, Shelby Lynne, Jeff Beck.
October 30 - David Bowie, Cheikh Lo, Jimmy Scott.

Musicians working on the album include Reeves Gabrels (guitars and programming) Mark Plati (bass) Mike Leveque (drums) and Chris Heskett (guest guitar). The album was produced by Bowie and Gabrels and mixed by Bowie, Gabrels and Plati.

Written and recorded in Bermuda, 'hours...' speaks from the point of view of an older guy taking stock of his life. Bowie says "I wanted to capture a kind of universal angst felt by many people of my age. You could say that I am attempting to write some songs for my generation".

The first single to be taken from the forthcoming album will be "Thursday's Child". This beautiful track was co-written by David with Reeves Gabrels and will be released on Monday 20th September on two cd singles and cassette format. All the single formats feature exclusive new recordings that will not be available on the album.

CD1 will feature the radio edit of "Thursday's Child" and two brand new songs "We All Go Through" and "No One Calls". CD2 will feature a rock mix of "Thursday's Child" and two brand new recordings "Shall We Go To Town" and "1917" plus interactive video element. The cassette single will feature the radio edit of "Thursday's Child" and "We All Go Through" and "No One Calls".

'hours...' will be released on Monday 4th October and will be available on four formats. A special limited edition version of the CD will include a unique lenticular hologram - there are limited quantities available of this version so please order early! (catalogue number CDVX2900). You will find a sample of the hologram enclosed.

The album will also be available on a standard CD, cassette and mini-disc formats.

David will be back in the UK in October - watch out for some special TV performances of "Thursday's Child".

On September 6th and 20th, EMI Records release David Bowie's 17 studio albums recorded between 1969 and 1989, now in 24 bit digital remasters.

Songs from the album 'hours...' appear in "The Nomad Soul" - a PC CD-Rom game from Eidos Interactive, with original soundtrack by David Bowie and Reeves Gabrels.

Join David Bowie online and become a member of the world's first artists-supported cyber community. davidbowie.com gives you exclusive access to David, his world, his music and his guests. Enjoy cutting edge technology such as 3D chats and hearing Bowie's newest album as he's making it.

eden.vmg.co.uk - more music, more video, more news - standby for details of the exclusive David Bowie webring.

The THURSDAY'S CHILD" single released TODAY 20th September in Europe which contains three new tracks not available on the forthcoming 'hours...' release.

CD1: "Thursday's Child" (Radio edit) 4:25 / "We All Go Through" 4:09 / "No One Calls" 3:51
Virgin 7243 8 96265 2 0 - VSCDT 1753.

CD2: "Thursday's Child" (Rock Mix) 4:27 / "We Shall All Go To Town" 3:56 / "1917" 3:27
Virgin 7243 8 96266 0 5 - VSCDX 1753 - (Interactive CD with promo video for Thursday's Child).

Cassette single: "Thursday's Child" (Radio edit) 4:25 / "We All Go Through" 4:09 / "No One Calls" 3:51
Virgin 7243 8 96265 4 4 - VSC 1753 (Complete program appears on both sides).

CD1 with the video (which btw seems to be a different cut to the one shown on VH1 in the UK) is reportedly very limited. Most retailers I have spoken too were in fact only allowed limited quantities of this particular disc.

International rock legend DAVID BOWIE joins forces with Canon Theatricals/Susan Dietz and Joan Stein to produce the Los Angeles premiere of "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" at the Henry Fonda Theatre in Hollywood.

The production's text is by John Cameron Mitchell and the music and lyrics by Stephen Trask. Peter Askin will direct the company, which will star Tony-nominee Michael Cerveris (The Who's "Tommy" and "Titanic") direct from his critically-acclaimed performance of "Hedwig" in New York. Performances begin October 22, 1999, with an official opening on October 31, 1999.

"'Hedwig' is the most wholly rounded piece of rock theatre that we've seen in years," said Bowie. "We are looking forward to working with David and bringing this brilliantly written piece to Los Angeles," said Dietz. Her partner, Stein, added, "David Bowie is one of the most influential pop icons. His association with 'Hedwig' could not be more perfect."

"Hedwig and the Angry Inch" is inspired by Plato's symposium. The musical tells the triumphant rock-n-roll journey of "internationally ignored song stylist" Hedwig Schimdt - from her childhood in East Berlin to her love affair with rock's greatest icon.

The musical burst on the New York scene, received rave reviews, was included in Time magazine's 1998 list of "The Best of Theatre," won the 1998 Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Musical and a 1998 Obie Award Special Citation. Rolling Stone magazine proclaimed that "Hedwig" is "the first rock musical that truly rocks." The phenomenal Off-Broadway run is now in its second smash year.

Bowie will be featured as VH1's Artist of the Month in October. Virgin Records will release his new album "hours..." on October 5, and fully remastered CDs of his entire back catalogue over the next several months.

Canon Theatricals, in association with David Bowie, is producing "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" by special arrangement with Alice's Enterprises Inc., The Westside Theatre and J.B. F. Producing Corp.

DAVID BOWIE, the English rocker mentioned in passing during a recent interview that he had re-recorded his 1967 novelty song "The Laughing Gnome" in a collaboration with drum 'n' bass pioneer Goldie.

Say what? Stop the presses!

This cheery ditty, about a little fellow with a squeaky voice who looks like a Rolling Gnome and comes from gnome-man's land, was a hit for Bowie when it was re-released in 1973. But alas, he does not control the rights to it, which is why it will never appear on a compilation alongside latter songs like "Space Oddity" and "Diamond Dogs."

Bowie actually appears on a track on Goldie's 1998 album "Saturnz Return," and said Goldie returned the favor by instilling "The Laughing Gnome" with the scattershot snare drums and subsonic bass sound that is big in the U.K.

But Bowie said it will not be released because drum 'n' bass has fallen out of fashion. And God forbid he should languish in a genre after everyone else has moved on.

Just when this reporter was considering arranging a break-in of Bowie's homes in Manhattan, Bermuda and Switzerland to obtain a copy, Bowie added, "I am joking, you know. I do hope you know that!"

Pregnant pause, followed by quick-thinking reporter's vehement claims that he knew the entire story was a goof and was just playing along with Bowie's wacky sense of humor.

David Bowie to rock 'SNL' opener.

David Bowie will be just days away from releasing his latest album "hours..." when he appears as the musical guest on the opening episode of "Saturday Night Live's" season Oct. 2. The appearance marks Bowie's third on the legendary late night sketch comedy show, which will be hosted by Jerry Seinfeld, who will be making his first network television appearance since the finale of "Seinfeld." He will be hosting "SNL" for the second time. Bowie will perform songs from "Hours," which will be released three days later on Oct. 5.

Third batch of five winners of the "Strange Fascination" Book Competition are:

1. Paul McFarlane
2. Mark Adams
3. Danielle McIntyre
4. Steph Lynch
5. Mark Oudesluys

Enter the final and FOURTH PART of the Wonderworld Competition number 4 NOW - to win one of 20 FREE COPIES of the soon-to-be published 'Strange Fascination: David Bowie - The Definitive Biography' written by David Buckley and published by Virgin.

The Interactive db Discography from now on is called the Illustrated db Discography. As I added thumbnails for most albums in v9.0 I thought this name would be more appropriate.

Release notes:
v10.0: This David Bowie discography from now on is called the Illustrated db Discography! Lots of additions in this update: the new 'hours...' album, the 'Without You I'm Nothing' single with Placebo, the Stigmata soundtrack, the forthcoming Saturday Night Live compilation, a 17-Track Album Sampler for the EMI re-release CD series, a promo called Unconditionally Guaranteed, and the 20th Century Boy (BOW 0198/DB 20 CB) and Emerged From Shadows (EDB 001) bootlegs. Furthermore I implemented several corrections and additions as suggested by Steen Christiansen.

I'm writing to inform you about my new book, which features some great in-studio anecdotes and observations about - among many others - DAVID BOWIE.

The title is 'INSIDE TRACKS: A FIRST-HAND HISTORY OF POPULAR MUSIC FROM THE WORLD'S GREATEST RECORD PRODUCERS AND ENGINEERS', the publisher is Spike/Avon Books, the foreword is by Brian Wilson, and included are interviews with Tony Visconti, Gus Dudgeon, Hugh Padgham, and Langer and Winstanley in which they talk about DAVID BOWIE.

Behind every classic pop record is a musical mentor whose job it is to coax the finest performance from an artist, while a technical virtuoso captures that unforgettable sound for posterity. In this book, the great record producers and engineers come out from behind the control room glass to talk about their work with popular music's most legendary performers.

Bestselling author and journalist Richard Buskin interviews more than sixty producers and engineers, taking us in their own words on a multi-decade musical odyssey ranging from big band, jazz and folk to rhythm and blues, rock, pop, punk, disco, metal, alternative and every other nook and cranny that has brought exciting performances together with an experienced recording hand. We meet the people who recorded Louis Armstrong, John Coltrane, Ella Fitzgerald, Bob Dylan, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Doors, Jimi Hendrix, Elton John, Paul Simon, Michael Jackson, Nirvana, Alanis Morissette, and more-and find out what those sessions were really like. Here is a very personal history of popular music told from a vantage point that may be new to us, but not to the many musicians who have labored in the studio: here is how it felt to help them make history.

As part of the Millennium celebrations, HMV are offering you the chance to WIN EXCLUSIVE DAVID BOWIE PRIZES

1st prize: Commissioned solely to mark these historic releases, HMV have five extremely rare artwork prints - signed by David Bowie himself.

Five Runners-Up Prizes: A complete set of Bowie's 17 re-released studio albums, recorded between 1969 and 1989.

Through his various guises from Ziggy Stardust via The Thin White Duke to The Earthling, Bowie has become an icon to millions. EMI Records and HMV celebrate this staggering reputation with the re-release of 17 of his seminal studio albums, recorded between 1969 and 1989.

Digitally transferred, processed and mastered to the highest standard - the albums feature the original artwork together with previously unseen or rare photographs, all designed to ensure these are the definitive version of Bowie's impressive legacy.

Hey, since you run the kick ass Bowie page, I thought I'd tell you this:

When he's in Toronto for the Much Music Video Awards (where I live) it's still to be confirmed he'll be interviewed on a show called Live In Toronto. If in fact the interview does go through, it will be aired in between 6 and 8 pm eastern standard time and people can listen to it over the internet from edge102.com

David Bowie Teams With Former Helmet Guitarist.

Amid rumors that DAVID BOWIE and longtime collaborator REEVES GABRELS have had an acrimonious parting of ways, comes news that Gabrels asked Bowie for a leave of absence to work on a solo album; the fact that the Thin White Duke didn't have any plans to tour in the near future made the decision easier.

In an email posted on the David Bowie fan site Little Wonderworld, Reeves puts all the malicious talk to rest: "We didn't have a falling out... it was just obvious to me that I needed to get on with my own thing... It is all amicable and we plan on reuniting for the next studio project. Plus, as far as I know (and I would have known) there is no tour ... just a bunch of press dates. A tour might have made me stay."

Bowie has tapped former Helmet guitarist/singer Page Hamilton to fill in for the aforementioned press dates, including an appearance at next month's NetAid concert at Wembley Stadium in London. According to spokesman at Real Time, Hamilton's management firm, nothing is written in stone yet, but he did confirm that Bowie had approached Hamilton. "He's met with Bowie and auditioned for him," he said. "They didn't have a prior relationship. Bowie didn't know him but knew his work. Page is slowly learning all the songs."

When he's not rehearsing, Hamilton has been writing songs for an upcoming solo album. Hamilton's representative did not yet have a firm date when the opus might see the light of day, but did note Page is still signed to Interscope Records.

Several planned television and a radio appearances in the USA have been confirmed by DAVID BOWIE via BowieNet, including Saturday Night Live, Modern Rock Live and David Letterman.

Track number eight the wonderfully excellent "NEW ANGELS OF PROMISE" is the latest piece of the 'hours...' jigsaw to be posted on BowieNet.

BowieNet members have the unique opportunity to take an exclusive first look at the new album cover artwork and the new tracks from the forthcoming DAVID BOWIE album 'hours...' slowly revealed piece by piece until the week of release.

The tracks posted so far are:

1. "Thursday's Child" 2. "Something In The Air" 3. "Survive" 4. "If I'm Dreaming My Life" 5. "Seven" 6. "What's Really Happening?" 7. "The Pretty Things Are Going To Hell" 8. New Angels Of Promise.

Second five winners of the "Strange Fascination" Book Competition are:

1. Lynzi Moore
2. Graham Mathason
3. Alisha H.
4. Stephanie Hasz
5. Sandra Atkins

Enter the THIRD PART of the Wonderworld Competition number 4 NOW - to win one of 20 FREE COPIES of the soon-to-be published 'Strange Fascination: David Bowie - The Definitive Biography' written by David Buckley and published by Virgin.

Cable channel VH1 will air performances from the international NetAid concerts on Oct. 9. The event, to be held simultaneously at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., Wembley Stadium in London, and The Palais des Nations in Geneva, will raise funds for poverty-stricken people across the world.

NetAid will air on VH1 from noon to midnight EST and will include overlapping performances from all three locations. VH1.com will webcast the event and provide exclusive backstage footage. Artists scheduled to appear at the event include Wyclef Jean with Bono, Mary J. Blige, Bon Jovi, Busta Rhymes, Counting Crows, Jimmy Page, Puff Daddy, Sting, Bryan Adams, DAVID BOWIE, the Corrs, Eurythmics, George Michael, Robbie Williams, and Bryan Ferry. The event is sponsored by the United Nations Development Programme and Cisco Systems.

Midnight tonight (GMT time) is your last chance to enter the SECOND part of Wonderworld Competition number 4 - to win one of 20 FREE COPIES of the soon-to-be published 'Strange Fascination: David Bowie - The Definitive Biography' written by David Buckley and published by Virgin.

Alternatively, if you would prefer not to enter the competition and simply purchase a copy at a "special discount price" - see here for full details.

CDNow are accepting advanced orders for 'hours...' the new studio album by DAVID BOWIE to be released in the UK on 5th October. Priced at $12.49 - CDNow have a 30% discount sale on now till September 22nd.

Tracklisting: 1. Thursday's Child. 2. Something In The Air. 3. Survive. 4. If I'm Dreaming My Life. 5. Seven. 6. What's Really Happening. 7. The Pretty Things Are Going To Hell. 8. New Angels Of Promise. 9. Brilliant Adventure. 10. The Dreamers.

DAVID BOWIE appeared on stage last night at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City for the MTV awards to introduce LAURYN HILL. There was also a brief interview with David and Iman before the show.

'Best Artist Web Site' Nominations:

DAVID BOWIE
Limp Bizkit
Jennifer Lopez
Massive Attack
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Sheryl Crow
Smashing Pumpkins

CONTEST: Stigmata - Strive for Five.

In conjunction with today's official release of the MGM film STIGMATA, MIKE GARSON - who co-composed the score with Billy Corgan - is sponsoring a contest on his web site (http://mikegarson.com).

Titled "Stigmata - Strive for Five," this contest offers people who correctly answer five questions about Mike a chance to win one of five "Stigmata" soundtracks, autographed by Mike himself!

The contest starts Monday, September 13 and continues through Friday, September 17. For additional details or to submit your entry, visit http://mikegarson.com/news starting on Monday!

LES INROCKUPTIBLES the popular French music magazine has a cover mounted promo CD entitled: Une Rentrée 99, which contains the SURVIVE track from the forthcoming album 'hours...' by DAVID BOWIE. It also contains new Iggy Pop tracks from his forthcoming album 'Avenue B'.

Track number seven "THE PRETTY THINGS ARE GOING TO HELL" is the latest piece of the 'hours...' jigsaw to be posted on BowieNet. There is a different version of this track on the newly released Stigmata soundtrack album.

BowieNet members have the unique opportunity to take an exclusive first look at the new album cover artwork and the new tracks from the forthcoming DAVID BOWIE album 'hours...' slowly revealed piece by piece until the week of release.

The tracks posted so far are:

1. "Thursday's Child" 2. "Something In The Air" 3. "Survive" 4. "If I'm Dreaming My Life" 5. "Seven" 6. "What's Really Happening?" 7. "The Pretty Things Are Going To Hell".

UK Channel 4's THE COMEDY LAB broadcast an incredibly funny documentary type film in their latest "talent spotting" series entitled 'GOLDEN YEARS'. Written by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, it tells the story of 'Clive Meadows', a self made millionaire, who along with his business partner 'Barry', run a successful business 'Video Zone', a chain of video shops.

Clive decides as part of the publicity for their video shops to audition for a spot on 'Stars In Their Eyes' TV show performing as DAVID BOWIE as well as producing television commercials, radio, releasing records and so on.

During one brain storming business meeting Clive comes up with the idea for a TV commercial.... "Allo. I've just fallen to earth and landed in 'Video Zone'. There's a Video Zone near you. Why not drive in saturday and rent the Disney classic Aladdin... sane. We've got It's A Wonderful Life... on Mars. Suffragette City Slickers 1 and 2 we got both. Rebel Rebel Without A Cause... John I'm Only Dirty Dancing... Big Trouble In Little China Girl.

He gets so into the role that he decides to split the video business and start another full time career as the premier "David Bowie" impersonator.

His main rival is 'Steve Baxter', another DB impersonator... and along with the hilarious Freddy Mercury spoof Ian 'Freddy' Croft Clive sets out on his mission to become the number one in England.

Pop Stars, Presidents Unveil Anti-Poverty Web Site:

World leaders, pop stars, U.N. development officials and technologists Wednesday promoted a U.N. Web site aimed at getting the rich to help the poor.

President Clinton, British Prime Minister Tony Blair and former South African President Nelson Mandela joined Bono from the Irish rock group U2, hip-hop artist Wyclef Jean of the Fugees and rocker DAVID BOWIE at a press conference in New York City yesterday (Sept 8) in support of netaid.org.

NetAid is gearing up initially for a series of three celebrity-studded fund-raising concerts to take place in New York, London and Geneva Oct. 9.

Cisco says the site will have 10 times greater viewing capacity than any previous Web broadcast.

"I love that figure," said Bowie. "It is ten times more HUGE."

Up to 60 million visitors to the Web site every hour will be able to see and hear the performances.

Bowie will perform at the London show, but he's also psyched that people at home will finally have the chance to make a difference when it comes to the world's less fortunate. "We so often feel incapable of contributing to the world we live in. That's why I'm particularly enthusiastic about the involvement of the Internet," Bowie said. "Here's a positive initiative that can be accessed by, let's be honest, only some people at the moment."

The legendary rocker does have his eyes open to the oppression poverty creates, which is the main reason why he committed to perform at NetAid.

"I guess the existence of any of the so-called pillars of poverty creates walls," he added. "And these walls create not the certainty of comfort and security, but rather prisons. The English radical Thomas Payne said, 'Man is born free, but everywhere is in chains.' And it seems stupefying that over 200 years later those words are still appropriate, and they are appropriate."

For the London show Bowie will be joined by Bryan Adams, Bush, Catatonia, The Corrs, The Eurythmics, George Michael, Stereophonics, and Robbie Williams.

Other News articles:
Rolling Stone.com: NetAid Gets Star Powered Launch.
E-Online: Forget Live Aid, Here Comes NetAid.
Bigmouth.co.uk: NetAid launches web site and concert line-up details.
SonicNet.com: NetAid.
Wyclef And Bowie On NetAid.

Check out this wonderful BowieWonderworld Promo Game - another freebie to all visitors of this web site. You'll need FlashPlayer by Macromedia to view and play it.

As no doubt you are all are aware DAVID BOWIE is appearing at the MTV Music Video Awards. For those of you here in the UK here are the transmission details:

And just in case your down the pub and miss it or your video goes to pieces it is being repeated at the following times:

DAVID BOWIE clears the muddy rumour mill waters today this this announcement:

"Because of the Gisborne Festival fold-up, plans for a small Winter tour have been abandoned. Our friend, Chris Haskett, was ear-marked only for the cancelled tour. There will be NO promo-tour, there never was one planned. I have undertaken to do only a handful of radio and TV appearances.

PAGE HAMILTON, ex-Helmet founder member, will stand in on lead guitar for Reeves Gabrels on these shows. Reeves will finish off two projects that have impending deadlines in October."

To set the record straight for all the numerous people who presumed that REEVES GABRELS and DAVID BOWIE had a "falling out" because of the inclusion of another lead guitarist... here's the email reply from the man himself:

"We didn't have a falling out... it was just obvious to me that I needed to get on with my own thing. My album will be out mid October and I'm really into that plus my co write/co production work on hours is thru. It all is amicable and we plan on reuniting for the next studio project. plus, as far as I know (and I would have known) there is no tour... just a bunch of press dates. A tour might have made me stay."

Reports are circulating of a DAVID BOWIE live show at The Olympia in Paris, France on 10th or 12th October to promote the European release of 'hours...'.

There is also a live TV show to be broadcast on the Canal Conducting Bynagui.

DAVID BOWIE will have a high television profile in the forthcoming weeks. US TV appearances to be confirmed shorty include: 'The Rosie O'Donnell Show', 'The Late Show With David Letterman', and 'Late Night With Conan O'Brien'.

"I wanted to capture a kind of universal angst felt by many people of my age. You could say that I am attempting to write some songs for my generation." - DAVID BOWIE, Bermuda 08/99.

'hours...' is David's twenty third solo album. Produced by Bowie and long-time collaborator/guitarist Reeves Gabrels it's a next generation of Bowie songs, successor to the Hunky Dory days."

David sees this album as his return to traditional song writing - his idiosyncratic structures, providing, as before, the best framework for the expression of personal retrospects and prospects. Written solely with guitar foil Reeves Gabrels over the last year, 'hours...' could be described as one of David's most seemingly autobiographical records to date.

In recent years the musical frontierland ethos that created "Heroes" and "Low" has turned its gaze on the marriage of music and technology. As a result of Bowie's latest fascinations, eight of the ten songs featured on 'hours...' are included in the forthcoming Eidos PC format game "Omikron; The Nomad Soul". David, Reeves and the rest of the band also appear in scenes performing the songs.

An interactive level further on, Bowie fans have had the opportunity of sneaking a private listening of 'hours...' before its release. David exclusively previewed 45 second chunks of 'hours...'and revealed the album sleeve over his ground breaking and award winning web-site and ISP, "BowieNet" (www.davidbowie.com). He then offered fans the opportunity to vote on specific mixes of the album's lead track "Thursday's Child", with the majority choice due to appear on the single formats.

One fan had more interaction than most. 'hours...' will also include the song that was co-written by Alex Grant, winner of the BowieNet cyber-song contest. Wisconsin born Alex Grant was chosen from literally tens of thousands of applicants in one of the biggest music competitions ever run. He describes the experience of writing with Bowie as "A mecca for songwriters and Bowie fans alike". Their joint venture, "What's Really Happening", will see writing credits and royalties split between them.

The first single from 'hours...' will be "Thursday's Child" - a subtle and expansive song with themes of loss and regret built into the harmonies as well as the lyrics. The music to "Thursday's Child" builds slowly up to a classic Bowie chorus, which is definitely one of the album's many highlights. Another notable inclusion is "The Pretty Things Are Going To Hell" from the forthcoming film "Stigmata". The soundtrack for the film as a whole was been supplied by Smashing Pumpkin mainman Billy Corgan along with veteran Bowie pianist Mike Garson).

Musicians performing on the album include David on keyboards and 12 string acoustic guitar, long time co-collaborator Reeves Gabrels on guitars and programming, mixer Mark Plati (who worked extensively on David's "Earthling" album) on bass, Mike Leveque (from Dave Navarro's band) and Sterling Campbell (who played on David's album "Outside") on drums, and Chris Haskett (Ex of The Rollins Band) on guest guitar.

The album was produced by Bowie and Gabrels and mixed by Bowie, Gabrels and Plati.

The first batch of the seventeen titles from DAVID BOWIE'S back catalogue are released today 6th September on EMI Records. Each album has been digitally re-mastered at the world famous Abbey Road Studios.

The packaging for each CD will include booklets up to sixteen pages. They feature the original album artwork, a selection of photos and with the exception of Pin Ups, the full lyrics. While the original integrity of the artwork remains intact, the back inlays and spines of the CD's have been designed to achieve a continuity across all seventeen albums.

The first batch of re-releases released are:

The albums were digitally transferred from, wherever possible, the original analogue masters at 24 bits resolution. They were processed using Sonic Solutions NoNoise technology and mastered to 16 bit for CD using Prism SNS Noise Shaping.

These new edition re-issues will be a fitting way to take David's core catalogue into the 21st Century and are a must for all Bowie fans! There is even a cool multimedia presentation about BowieNet on each CD

EMI also previously issued a seventeen track promo CD sampler DAVID BOWIE - catalogue number CDLRL015 for the album re-releases.

DAVID BOWIE on World Beat on CNN (International, I think). A one minute report on the downaloadable album "hours..." with a snippet of an interview with David saying: "You'll recieve it in liquid audio, which means that it is actually encoded so that it can't be so easily copied. Although, you see, I see absolutely no problem taking a CD and copying it and putting it straight back online again. I'm very ambivalent about that side of it."

They promised to dedicate "World Beat" to David Bowie in the next few weeks. Wonder when that's gonna be?

The STIGMATA film soundtrack featuring an alternative version of DAVID BOWIE'S "The Pretty Things Are Going To Hell" is released tomorrow on 6th September in the UK. Catalogue number CDVUS161.

The Japanese release of DAVID BOWIE'S 'hours...' (Virgin VJCP-68160) is released on 29th September, which features the bonus track "We All Go Through".

DAVID BOWIE is to play Wembley Stadium in the UK on 9th October for the NetAid concerts intended to raise awareness of global poverty and to benefit African and Kosovar refugees.

Two new acts added to bill are Catatonia and Bryan Adams. Also on the bill at Wembley Stadium will be Bush, The Corrs, The Eurythmics, George Michael, Stereophonics and Robbie Williams.

Tickets priced £45 seated, £35 general admission (max 6 per person, plus booking fee) available on the official credit card hotline 0870 738 2000.

UK Channel 4 are currently running a trailer for THE COMEDY LAB new series featuring a DAVID BOWIE sketch as Aladdin Sane complete with the lightning bolt face. The new series starts this week.

7th September - 11.05pm - Tuesday.
8th September - 10.55pm - Wednesday.
9th September - 11.00pm - Thursday.

REEVES GABRELS will be leaving the DAVID BOWIE camp until the beginning of the next album (next year sometime?) to finish work on his solo CD due in October and to put final touches on the Omikron game instrumental music AND to finish an album of electronic dance industrial music. Reeves is opting to finish his solo projects rather than embarking on a "promo tour" for 'hours...', the album he co-wrote and co-produced with David Bowie.

Ex-Rollins Band axeman CHRIS HASKETT will join DAVID BOWIE'S touring band for his upcoming world tour in support of the upcoming 'hours...' album. According to Bowie, Haskett will be quite handy on the road. "Chris is great," praises Bowie. "An endless source of amusement for us and he's also very good at cleaning. He's a wonder with a feather duster! He's one of these guys that has to be doing something all the time. Unbelievable! I've never seen anybody move like a blur all the time! And if he's not got any work to do then he goes and finds something, he goes and cleans something! He's just extraordinary! I like having him around a lot. It makes me feel kind of slow and doddery and it takes an incredible person to be able to do that to me! So it's quite a relief having somebody around faster than I am. Good God! That takes the pressure off! Now somebody else can be shouted at and told to shut up!"

The THURSDAY'S CHILD" single released on 20th September contains three new tracks not available on the forthcoming 'hours...' release.

CD1: "Thursday's Child" (Radio edit) 4:25 / "We All Go Through" 4:09 / "No One Calls" 3:51
Virgin 7243 8 96265 2 0 - VSCDT 1753.

CD2: "Thursday's Child" (Rock Mix) 4:27 / "We Shall All Go To Town" 3:56 / "1917" 3:27
Virgin 7243 8 96266 0 5 - VSCDX 1753 - (Interactive CD with promo video for Thursday's Child).

Cassette single: "Thursday's Child" (Radio edit) 4:25 / "We All Go Through" 4:09 / "No One Calls" 3:51
Virgin 7243 8 96265 4 4 - VSC 1753 (Complete program appears on both sides).

First five winners of the "Strange Fascination" Book Competition are:

1. Walter J. Magnuson III
2. Tjeerd Stroo
3. Hannah Aki Hawkins
4. Stephen Compton
5. Susan Ettesvold

Enter the SECOND PART of the Wonderworld Competition number 4 NOW - to win one of 15 FREE COPIES of the soon-to-be published 'Strange Fascination: David Bowie - The Definitive Biography' written by David Buckley and published by Virgin.

Many thanks to Ricardo from Mexico who wrote these wonderfully addictive DAVID BOWIE Labyrinth games and was kind enough to send them in for everyone to download free.

DAVID BOWIE is to headline the 10th Anniversary of the MuchMusic Video Awards. The show takes place on 23rd September in Toronto, Canada. He will be performing the excellent 'The Pretty Things Are Going To Hell' from his upcoming 'hours...' album.

I've heard from a very reliable source that DAVID BOWIE WILL be doing a small tour after Christmas early on in the year, possibly January or February 2000.

New section added is the "What's Really Happening" Monthly View Calendar. Just basically so that all events, releases and shows can be seen easily on one page.

DAVID BOWIE TO RELEASE ENTIRE NEW ALBUM ONLINE.

DAVID BOWIE has pulled another cyber-coup by becoming the first major-label artist to sell a complete album online in download form.

Starting Tuesday, September 21, fans will be able to purchase the digital files for 'hours...' at VirginRecords.com, BowieNet and at participating record-store Web sites (unspecified at present). More than fifty stores have signed on to offer the record for the two-week period preceding the album's North American CD release on October 5th. Pricing will be left up to retailers.

Midnight tonight (GMT time) is your last chance to enter the first part of Wonderworld Competition number 4 - to win one of 20 FREE COPIES of the soon-to-be published 'Strange Fascination: David Bowie - The Definitive Biography' written by David Buckley and published by Virgin.

Alternatively, if you would prefer not to enter the competition and simply purchase a copy at a "special discount price" - see here for full details.

hours... tracklisting:

There is an exclusive DAVID BOWIE interview in the October issue of the brilliant UNCUT magazine.

On sale now: 'Bowie: The man who changed the world', David also gets the front cover page.

The DAVID BOWIE exclusive interview entitled: "Station To Station" beautifully written by Chris Roberts - excellent seventeen page interview (yes 17!) plus full colour ad for the EMI album re-issues, plus a 2 page "Music For Chameleons" Bowie's 12 best albums compiled by Stephen Dalton, plus 2 page "The Man Who Fell To Celluloid" 30 years of cracked acting also complied by Stephen Dalton. Hang on there's more... BRIAN ENO "David Bowie? God, He's Smart!" A 2 page interview with Eno talking exclusively about working with David. An IGGY POP interview "A Life Less Ordinary" with some excellent Bowie stories and related quotes from The Igster. And last but not least... "Stop Me If You've Heard This One Before..." the Allan Jones interview with MICK RONSON from April 1975.

The October issue of Q MAGAZINE features an exclusive five page interview with DAVID BOWIE entitled: "Now Where Did I Put Those Tunes?" written by David Quantick. Great interview along with new photographs included.

This issue also contains a very funny IGGY POP "Cash For Questions" 3 page article... also with lots of references to David. The "Rock Star Dignity Wallchart" features David Bowie, there's also the full colour ad for the EMI album re-issues.

DAVID BOWIE'S latest venture into the land of the music video marks a departure from his previous form of recent years. Like the new material for 'hours...' the video is simplistic in style and highly effective. Bowie is in reflective mood - the music seems to be playing in Bowie's head as the images which he sings about are visualised in the mirror, his youth and life and loves and his relationship with them. The video is acutely personal and very much from the perspective of Bowie himself, this is emphasised by the overlaying of actuality sound over the song i.e. him coughing, singing lightly to the tune.

All in all, Walter and David have done a great job on the video and it more than does justice to a great song.

The Thursday's Child video debuted on UK MTV last Monday.

David himself describes it as: "The video is a strange and slow moving piece that wanders between a present and a past in a bewildering fashion."

For the numerous people who enquired about the previously "unseen" DAVID BOWIE footage of 'Oh You Pretty Things' originally from The Old Grey Whistle Test session from 8th February 1972 and shown on the John Peel evening last Sunday in the UK on BBC2... here's the lowdown:

The version of 'Oh You Pretty Things' that was ORIGINALLY broadcast was "take 2"... the version broadcast on the John Peel Evening was "take 1" where he messes/leaves out "the earth is a bitch" line. There are only two versions of this song on tape.

Next up is 'Queen Bitch'... "take 1" doesn't get past the opening shot of David's boots... then messes up. (This was shown on a BBC outtakes music programme a few years back). "Take 2" David gets into the first verse and messes up... he turns his back to the camera and waves his hands... "take 3" is the one they originally broadcast back in 1972.

The final song is 'Five Years'. Only one take of this track is on tape and obviously that again is the one originally broadcast.

Each "take" of each song starts off with a clock countdown... stuck on a blackboard slate stating which take of which song. Occasionally you can hear David in the background making comments such as "Are we ready?" etc and so on.

Congratulations to the ten winners of Competition Number 3 - who each win a copy of the limited edition PLACEBO/DAVID BOWIE 'Without You I'm Nothing' CD EP.

There is an exclusive DAVID BOWIE interview in the October issue of the brilliant UNCUT magazine.

Each week until 25th September you have the opportunity to win one of 20 FREE COPIES of the soon-to-be published 'Strange Fascination: David Bowie - The Definitive Biography' written by David Buckley and published by Virgin.

Alternatively, if you would prefer not to enter the competition and simply purchase a copy at a "special discount price" - see here for full details.

BowieNet Cybersong winning entry from Alex Grant "WHAT'S REALLY HAPPENING?" is the latest piece of the 'hours...' jigsaw to be posted on BowieNet.

BowieNet members have the unique opportunity to take an exclusive first look at the new album cover artwork and the new tracks from the forthcoming DAVID BOWIE album 'hours...' slowly revealed piece by piece until the week of release.

The tracks posted so far are:

1. "Thursday's Child" 2. "Something In The Air" 3. "Survive" 4. "If I'm Dreaming My Life" 5. "Seven" 6. "What's Really Happening?".

BowieWonderworld.com is pleased to announce a special "fan" discount offer available with Virgin Publishing for the new DAVID BUCKLEY penned publication 'Strange Fascination: David Bowie: The Definitive Biography'.

'Strange Fascination' by David Buckley is published by Virgin on September 23rd 1999 priced £20.00. If you would like to receive a copy of Strange Fascination at the special discount price of £16.00 including postage and packing then please send your name, address and credit card details, or a cheque made payable to Virgin Publishing Ltd and send to:

In conjunction with this special offer there is also a special BowieWonderworld competition with your chance to win one of 20 FREE COPIES of the book. Enter now.

DAVID BOWIE is to play Wembley Stadium in the UK on 9th October for the NetAid concerts intended to raise awareness of global poverty and to benefit African and Kosovar refugees.

Tickets priced £45 seated, £35 general admission (max 6 per person, plus booking fee) available on the official credit card hotline 0870 738 2000.

Wembley Box Office 0870 738 2000 / wbo.co.uk
TicketWeb 0171 771 2000 TicketWeb
Ticketmaster 0870 843 2000 / ticketmaster
First Call 0870 906 3743 / firstcalltickets.com
Way Ahead 0870 121 0120 / tickets-online.co.uk
Stargreen 0171 734 8932

SEAN MAYES knew and toured with DAVID BOWIE at the height of his fame in the early 1970s with Ziggy Stardust and The Spiders From Mars.

By 1978 he had been welcomed as a fully fledged member of Bowie's band. Over these years of touring and playing together Sean gained a unique insider's knowledge of this most distant and enigmatic of rock stars.

'WE CAN BE HEROES' is the culmination of several years on the road with the most influential and successful artist of his generation.

Containing in-depth personal insights and recollections, this book is an essential purchase for any Bowie fan, or indeed any one interested in the excessive lifestyles of pop stars at the absolute peak of their powers.