10th January 2016. One year ago, just two days after the release of his latest record “Blackstar”, the great David Bowie passed away, following a 18-months-long battle against cancer.
“Blackstar”, which has been the best-seller vinyl of 2016, represents the White Duke’s last mistery: many have speculated about the possibility that Bowie’s last project, whose music videos allude to the Artist’s death, has been intended as an “artistic last will”.
Whether this theory is true or not, we’ll unlikely figure it out, but one thing is for sure: Bowie has been, and still is, one of the most influential personality in the music industry. Eccentric, original, in perpetual transformation: these are just few adjectives used in describing David Bowie and his creativity.
2016 witnessed the release of many projects dedicated to the White Duke. The musical “Lazarus”, inspired by the book ”The Man Who Fell to Earth” written by Walter Tevis, debuted first in New York and then in London; furthermore, on October 21th, the soundtrack from the play, with reinterpretations of Bowie’s classics performed by the cast, dropped.
In addition, two compilations have been released: “Who Can I Be Now? (1974-1976)” on September 23rd, and “Bowie Legacy” on November 11th.
On 8th January 2017, the day in which David Bowie would have celebrated his 70th birthday, an EP called “No Plan” has been published, including 4 tracks out of the musical’s soundtrack, along with the title track’s music video.
Many events have been organized in order to celebrate the Artist’s incredible career and life, in Italy and abroad. In Bologna, Mambo Museum hosted, until November 2016, an exhibition called “David Bowie is”. Commemorations took place also in London, more precisely thanks to Victoria & Albert Museum and London O2 Academy Brixton.
On rotation on Sky Arte, it’s possible to watch “The Man Who Changed The World”, a documentary made by Sonia Anderson, showing interviews with Bowie himself, friends, collaborators, along with performances and behind the scenes.
VH1, starting from 7pm of January 10th, dedicates its programming, first, to the most famous music videos in Bowie’s long career, and then, to the airing at 9pm of the BBC documentary “David Bowie – The Last Five Years”. Following, the movie ”The Man Who Fell on Earth” by Nicolas Roeg, David Bowie’s first main role.