David Bowie blue plaque at Trident Studios, Soho. Image courtesy of the BBC
David Bowie’s sudden death (to the public anyway) back at the beginning of 2016 was all so terribly sad. It marked the passing of a truly beloved and mold-breaking musician as he lost his battle with liver cancer at the age of 69. It also seemed to ignite a year of cherished celebrities passing away.
Of course, Bowie will always live on through his music and cultural influence, and he’ll also live on in the form of three new blue plaques which were recently unveiled in the UK. The plaques went up as part of BBC Music Day, which saw 47 being installed in total across the country. The three honouring Bowie went up in Maidstone, Hull, and Trident Studios in St Anne’s Court in Soho.
David Bowie Performing as Ziggy Stardust at Newcastle City Hall in 1973. © Ian Dickson
The latter of which is where Bowie recorded some of his most iconic tracks, including “Space Oddity” which was recorded 48 years ago this month. Bowie also recorded the albums Hunky Dory and The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. Billy Bragg, was in Soho for the unveiling, along with artist and friend of the singer George Underwood, who designed and consulted on some of Bowie’s album covers.
Terry Pastor designed and hand coloured the album artwork for David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust and The Spiders From Mars. © Terry Pastor
“David Bowie was the greatest of the London boys that came out of the '60s.” Bragg said. “In 1971 he turned into something strange and curious – Ziggy Stardust. It’s great to commemorate this spot with a blue plaque, so that everyone who loves these records can gaze up in wonder at Trident Studios.”
While Underwood added, “I remember going in and out of Trident Studios when David was recording, as he often liked company in the studio. Knowing David he would be pleased about the plaque, but he would also make a witty remark about it! I’m sure he’d be very chuffed.”
David in Ziggy makeup in 1973 taken at Hammersmith Odeon before the last show of the tour. © Geoff MacCormack
The Maidstone plaque was unveiled at another important location for David Bowie, the Royal Star Hotel Ballroom, which is now called the Royal Star Arcade. It was a spot that Bowie played on a regular basis in 1964 and 1965 with Maidstone band The Manish Boys.
The blue plaque in Hull was unveiled at the Paragon station, to honour the Spiders from Mars, Bowie’s famous backing band and collaborators, who come from the city.
Newcastle City Hall, June 1973, Ian Dickson eludes security to take this photograph of David Bowie performing as the legendary Ziggy Stardust. © Ian Dickson
Spiders from Mars drummer Mick “Woody” Woodmansey, unveiled it in what is the 2017 City of Culture. “I'm so proud to be unveiling this plaque in Hull Paragon Station awarded to The Spiders from Mars.” Woodmansey said. “The only downside is that Mick and Trevor [his bandmates Mick Ronson and Trevor Bolder] couldn’t be standing here with me. We set off from Paragon Station on lots of trips. I first met Mick here in 1968, I think it was. We hit it off, we formed a band, and then luckily, or Bowie was smart enough, to pick three lads from Hull to help him create what's become one of his most iconic periods of music.”
David Bowie and Mick Ronson eating lunch on a train to Aberdeen in 1973, heading for the first gig of Bowie's final Ziggy tour. © Mick Rock
Rockarchive is delighted to be able to offer these iconic David Bowie images along with many more as limited edition photographic prints which you can buy here.
David Bowie was a leading figure in popular music for over five decades & regarded by critics & musicians as a true innovator.
David Bowie performing live at Wembley Arena, London on the A Reality Tour in November 2003
This print is based on a photograph from the Hunky Dory photo session shot in 1971.
This was a really special performance in October 1973 as it was Bowie's first since announcing his retirement a couple of months before.
This hand coloured print is based on a photograph by Terry Pastor from the Hunky Dory photo session.
David Bowie, Lou Reed & Iggy Pop during a press conference at the Dorchester Hotel, London in July 1972
David Bowie photographed by Mick Rock at Haddon Hall Beckenham in March 1972,
Taken at Freida Kahlo’s Museum known as the ‘Blue House’, in Mexico City a few days before David Bowie's first ever concert in Mexico, 1997
Newcastle City Hall, 1973, Ian Dickson eludes security to take this photograph of David Bowie performing as the legendary Ziggy Stardust
David Bowie performing at Newcastle City Hall, UK on the Ziggy Stardust Tour in June 1973
Performing as part of The Hype, David Bowie onstage at the Roundhouse in July 1970
David Bowie onstage at his first and only ever concert in Mexico in July 1997
David Bowie photographed whilst filming the 1976 sci-fi film The Man Who Fell To Earth.
David Bowie photographed looking out over the May Day Parade on Red Square, Moscow, 1973
He's playing up to my camera to keep himself amused in-between takes. It's as if he is saying: "And you are?"
David Bowie listening to a playback of 'Station to Station’ at Cherokee Studio, Los Angeles.
This was the site of the detonation of the first atomic bomb in 1945, an eerie and desolate place.
Although originally taken in black and white, this image has the feel of an early 1940s movie star, hence the sepia finish I settled upon.
David chose this image from The Man Who Fell To Earth (1975) for publicity posters in the late seventies.
David Bowie in front of a Diego Rivera mural whilst visiting the Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City in October 1997
David Bowie at his flat in Beckenham in 1969. This photograph was used as the cover to 'Lover To The Dawn', a 10-song acoustic demo tape.
David Bowie on the video shoot for 'Loving the Alien' at Meantime Studios, London in March 1985.
David Bowie photographed with a mask at Frida Kahlo's house and museum in Mexico City in October 1997
David Bowie at press conference for his single 'Lets Dance' at the Savoy Hotel in London. It was the fifteenth studio album by Bowie.
David Bowie wearing a black scarf on a photo shoot by Mick Rock in New York in 2002
David Bowie looking into a mirror at Haddon Hall, Beckenham in March 1972 during an interview for Club International magazine.
David Bowie performing to an audience of twenty at the Beckenham Arts Lab, UK at the start of his career in 1969
We drank cheap Riesling and beer (Peeva) with a bunch of soldiers we'd met the night before. They were friendly and inquisitive.
David Bowie in Ziggy makeup in 1973. This shot was taken at the Hammersmith Odeon before the last show of the tour.
I took advantage of the free time and the sublime New Mexico light and picked up my Nikon. This image of David is one of my favourites.
David Bowie and photographer Geoff MacCormack backstage on the set of The Man Who Fell to earth.
in 1997 prior to his first ever gig in Mexico City David Bowie explores the local cultural sites including the 'Pyramids of Teotihuacan'
Iconic Mick Rock photograph of David Bowie during the 'Saxophone' Session in London 1973
David Bowie and Mick Ronson eating lunch on a train to Aberdeen in 1973 heading to the first gig of David Bowie's final Ziggy Stardust Tour
David Bowie captured by Mick Rock whilst applying make-up in Scotland in 1973
Contact sheet of David Bowie images taken during an interview in London, 1972. One of the images was used on the cover of Melody Maker
Aladdin Sane is the one image that has defined David Bowie and is nicknamed the 'Mona Lisa of Pop' - Shot by Duffy in his London studio.
The Aladdin Sane image was digitally remastered to a black and white negative format by Chris Duffy in 2012
Taken from the Scary Monsters album cover shoot by Duffy in 1980, 'the most beautiful clown in the circus' - David Bowie
Alternative shot taken from the Aladdin Sane 'photo shoot in 1973, known as 'Eyes Open' - this image was rediscovered in the archive in 2011
David Bowie wearing a two piece quilted suit designed by Freddie Burretti for the 1972 Ziggy Stardust tour.
In 1990 David Bowie poses at a photocall for his 'Sound & Vision' Tour at the Rainbow Theatre not Heddon Street as the K.West sign suggests
David Bowie at home, smoking in bed in his apartment on Foxgrove Road, Beckenham in July 1969, the morning after the first moon landing.
Terry Pastor photographed & hand coloured the album artwork for Bowie's Spiders from Mars album.
Terry Pastor shot & hand coloured the photo for the album artwork on David Bowie's iconic album.
Photographer Terry Pastor's 'pink' variation of Bowie from the Hunky Dory album cover photo session.
Terry Pastor's photograph of David Bowie from the 'Hunky Dory' album cover photo session.
Photographer Terry Pastor shot & hand coloured the photo artwork for Bowie's Hunky Dory album.
Music photographer Mick Rock may be best known as 'The Man Who Shot the Seventies', instrumental in creating many key rock ’n’ roll images.
Discovering how much fun and money there was in rock 'n roll, Ian Dickson hitched a lift to London on Roxy Music's tour bus in early 1973.
Photographer Terry Pastor is probably best known for his iconic album artwork for David Bowie's Hunky Dory and Ziggy Stardust.
During the years 1973-1976 writer/producer Geoff MacCormack toured with David Bowie on the Aladdin Sane and Ziggy Stardust tour.
