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Posted at 2025-03-22 16:45:59(5 wks ago) (Bowie General / Images Vol. 17)

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These articles appear just as they were posted in the Usenet group alt.fan.david-bowie by group member Jamie Soule aka aladInsaNE. I have made no attempt to alter the formatting, spelling, grammar or edit in any way.

Images: Part 17

A WARNING TO READERS:
I am about to embark on writing segments pertaining to the Trilogy. I am
more than likely to go into opinionated tirades about what constitutes
music and what constitutes garbage. My views are set in stone and I am
notorious for not listening to any other opinions on this subject,
because simply put, I am right and any conflicting opinions are just
plain wrong. Now, isn't that easy to understand. Those who know me and
disagree with my opinions politely tolerate these outbursts. Those who
agree with my opinions are geniuses. If I anger some of you, well too
bad because you don't know where I live. If a somewhat arrogant stance
on a topic is going to upset you, I suggest you go blind for a short
time until I get to 1983. If you wind up hating me and want to remove me
from this planet, all I can offer you as a suggestion is to get in line,
there are others ahead of you. I know, can you believe it? Some people
don't find me very likeable. I wonder why? Huh?

Still uncontrollable. If you look at it this lack of conforming to any
rules set Bowie free in a way. What I mean is artistic freedom, he wrote
what he wanted to without sticking to any conventional patterns that
make a good portion of the music out there inanely repetitive, and
endlessly boring. I said it before, some things never change. We expect
artists to "follow the rules." The rules are a nice beat, rhyming verses
and a catchy chorus to hum along to, oh, and some simple minded lyrics
set to a nice melody. I tend to have a nasty habit of calling these
"songs" and I have a worse habit of separating songs from music. I know
some of you reading this will actually understand that sentence.

They called it progressive music. Wrong terminology. Call it music,
period. It is music that has been composed with the concept of the
sound being more important than the lyrics. You know, lyrics about a boy
and a girl and their love. I've heard that story somewhere in the
neighbourhood of sixty seven zillion times. That story has cured me from
being addicted to the radio. I turned it off and I don't even have any
cravings to ever turn it on again. I get better insurance premiums since
I quit because the chances are I will not die from my brain turning to
mush courtesy of Britney Spears, ACDC, Puff Diddy or some other horrible
disease. I tried something awhile back on a few people just to see what
would happen. I asked them a question. Now, please allow me to have your
attention for a brief moment so you see where I was coming from with
this. The question I asked was this, "Do you think that music is any
good if it doesn't have any lyrics?" Think about it. Sadly, although I
wasn't surprised, I got the answer I expected to get from most people.
How could they not get it.

On April 14th, 1976 Bowie travelled to Lake Geneva, Switzerland, during
a break in the tour to see the house that Angela had picked out. On May
20 a greatest hits LP titled CHANGESONE is released. This album was a
milestone and it did the totally unexpected. CHANGESONE was Bowie's very
first recording to go Platinum, selling 1,331,247 copies in America.
Fame was still his only Gold single. Bowie is estimated to have made
three to four million dollars from the Station To Station tour and
MainMan's share was five percent. Financially Bowie was healthy.
Interestingly David Bowie had also discovered a new pastime, he was
drinking very heavily. What awaited his fans from this point in time
and for the next three years would be some of the most brilliant music
ever composed, and I do not mean just by Bowie, I mean some of the most
brilliant works EVER COMPOSED BY ANYONE. From June until December Bowie
is back on and off at the Chateau d' Herouville. This time it is with
Iggy Pop to record his new album, The Idiot. Bowie is living now in
Berlin. Something was about to happen that would take most of the world
twenty years to realize just what it was.

Is it just me, or am I correct in saying that no one seems to care much
for history anymore. My girlfriend told me that they hardly studied
anything on WW1 or WW2 when she was going to high school. Oh, it isn't
"history" anymore apparently, it is "social studies." My comment was to
the effect that if we don't learn about our past, then how the Hell can
we realize our mistakes so we won't repeat them. I guess I just answered
my own question. I know now why we still find the need to kill our
fellow man in wars that serve only as a means to gain control over
people. Of course the ones who have control use their power to abuse the
ones that they have control over. What a great system we built. Really
great. Why am I on about history you wonder? Simple. It is because we
can't understand the relevance of anything without history. You see to
discover the relevance of something one needs to make comparisons.
Comparisons are found using history. Let me simplify this insanity for
you. I call this insanity call common sense, if you care to know. David
Bowie entered the studio to make a new album, tentatively called New
Music Night And Day, in September of 1976. The name of the album was
later changed to Low.

Ambient music, New Age music, Instrumental music, Mood music, Elevator
music, Meditating music, Funeral music or any other idiotic label you
want to attach to Low to describe its lack of vocals is fine. People do
label it, like they do everything else in a usually vain attempt to
appear as though they are a tiny bit more intelligent than your average
human being. It's ambient, grunge, hip hop, new wave and alternative. I
fucking love that one, "Alternative." What the fuck is that? I have
heard that said to me quite often by people when I inquire about their
musical taste. They say, " I'm into ALTERNATIVE music." Being the little
shit disturber that I am at times I can't seem to pass up an opportunity
to put that label into perspective. The perspective being just how
idiotic it sounds. I like to reply, "You know what music I'm into? I'm
into the ALTERNATIVE to the ALTERNATIVE." What is lost on most people
is the plain fact that the operative word is, "MUSIC." Lost I guess
because there isn't much of it out there anymore. Music has almost been
wiped out by songs.

I do not know where I heard this but it went like this, "Bowie fans seem
to all say that Low is Bowie's finest album overall from a creative
standpoint, it rates as number one. Low is also the album that most
Bowie fans don't listen to." When I heard this for the first time I was
in awe. The shear brilliance of that observation and the eloquent way
it is worded left me wanting to meet the person who wrote it, just to
thank him for being able to say it so perfectly. I have firmly believed
this statement for a very long time but I could never find just the
right words to put it so well. This statement could be the dividing
line, or the reason anyway, why there are the "older" fans and the
"newer" fans who often do not agree on much when it comes to Bowie. Now,
anyone who does not recognize Low as one of the most groundbreaking
albums ever made is in error. Grave error. Whoever makes a statement to
the contrary does not know their history because history is the proof of
the impact Low had on the face of modern music. We take things for
granted these days. Go into a record store and there is easily one wall
of so called, "New Age" or "Ambient" music and nobody thinks that at one
time that wall wasn't there. In reality however this style had to start
somewhere.

At the end of 1976, December I believe, Bowie is in court to begin
litigation in the action filed against his former manager Michael
Lippman. I am rather impressed by these two men. I am impressed by the
integrity that both of them displayed in court. It went like this. While
in court, each side having the usual battery of high priced lawyers,
Michael Lippman approached David Bowie. He asked if he could speak to
him for a brief moment in private to which David agreed. Lippman said to
Bowie that the disagreement was between the two of them and since it is
their problem why not try to work it out themselves. Bowie agreed, which
was to me a very brave move after losing so much money to others over
the years, and it was also a very honourable and forgiving gesture.
Together they went into a separate room for privacy and in the space of
ten minutes they came out with all of their differences settled. The
terms they reached are unknown
What the two of them did displays a genuine honour between two men and
in my opinion they both deserve respect for the way they handled this
matter.

The Thin White Duke was as healthy as ever, David Bowie needed rest.
The rumours that circulated in the business, and the stories in the
music rags, was that Bowie had moved to Berlin to clean up. He was going
to quit doing drugs and get "healthy." If you read the interviews with
Bowie that were printed shortly after he moved to Berlin, you get this.
According to Bowie he rented a small flat above an auto repair garage in
the Turkish section of Berlin. He bought his own groceries and led a
quiet existence. He stopped using cocaine according to him in just after
he moved. According to Bowie he was "clean" when Low was made. He said
that Low largely reflected the moods he experienced during the
transition to getting straight. Now, this accounting of events that
Mr. Bowie would have us believe is highly suspect. This "accounting" can
be much better described by labelling it exactly what it is, and that
would be a fairy tale. There is little truth to be had here. Well, it is
true he went to Berlin. Oh, and he did live in the Turkish section.
Other than that the rest is a fabrication. Bowie once again rewriting
his past. If you listen to Bowie's account then you picture him in this
modest little flat living as ordinary folk do. I was rather disenchanted
reading about Bowie's living arrangements. You see, I have worked quite
hard over the years in order to attempt to get a little further ahead in
life than just making ends meet. My house upstairs has three bedrooms, a
kitchen, living room, dining room and a bathroom. My place is by no
means opulent but I could do worse. I thought that I was a little ahead
of the game but I guess that isn't so. To my surprise I find that I am
living modestly apparently. I know this by comparing my home with seven
rooms to Bowie's "modest" flat with seven spacious rooms also separated
with Victorian style glass doors, and the floor covered with Persian
carpets.

I want to be accurate, especially here, so I am copying this quote word
for word. This came from Bowie, "Low was a relatively straight album. It
didn't come from a drug place. And I realized at the time that it was
important music. It was one of the better things I'd ever written --
Low, specifically. That was the start, probably for me, of a new way of
looking at life." I ask you to place trust in me that it is the truth
when I tell you that Bowie made similar statements to this one many
times. There is one part of this quote that I wish to examine a wee bit
closer. It is this part of the quote actually, where he says, "It
didn't come from a drug place." My response to that would be, "Oh, is
that so. How nice. " I would say it in a tone that implied that you
don't lie very well. Would you believe me if I told you that the safest
place that you can put an arsonist is in a Bic Lighter factory. How
about this one then. The Taliban government in Afghanistan did more to
champion women's rights than any feminist movement ever did. You should
always wear sunglasses when driving at night, especially if it is foggy
outside. The best place to kick a drug habit is in the heroin capital of
the world. Which one of these statements do you think makes the most
common sense? "The best place to kick a drug habit is in the heroin
capital of the world," That is the correct answer, according to Bowie
anyway. Oh, yes, Berlin at that time was considered the heroin capital
of the world and that is where Bowie went to clean up. Now, I am NOT
suggesting that Bowie was doing smack, he wouldn't as it would space him
out rather than keep him awake. Bowie wants a drug with the opposite
effect. The same though can't be said for his travelling companion and
room mate, Jimmy Osterburg. Back then Mr.Osterburg happened to like
heroin a great deal, and the affinity he had for it lasted many years. I
am not a substance abuse councillor, I am an abuser yes, and my
counselling would be in the wrong direction. Therefore not being a
professional this is my opinion only. It is my opinion that Iggy Pop is
the wrong person to attempt to stay off drugs with. You may disagree but
I do not think he would be a very good partner in a "support system"
where you rely on your "buddy" to give you the emotional support at
those times when your will power is weak. I believe that Iggy's answer
to "weak" moments would be strong "drugs." The Thin White Duke hadn't
gone anywhere, Bowie was still doing drugs when he made Low. I want to
recall a fragment from Low, the one titled Always Crashing In The Same
Car. If you already know what the song is about then just skip this
part. If you do not know about the incident that the song is written
about then you may wish to read this, you may find it somewhat
interesting. At any rate you will have some more information on a piece
of Bowie's work, which is always a plus for any fan.

Always Crashing In The Same Car was one of the first tracks that I
really got to like on Low. The story behind the song is a wild one. As
much as I liked that song before I can honestly say that it really came
to life when I learned what it was about. Bowie was in Berlin. Contrary
to what he says about being drug free the truth is that he was on a
cocaine binge. This binge was a good one too, he had been going at it
rather hardily for several days non stop. He needed more coke this one
night as he had almost run out so he called his dealer who would deliver
the dope to him. The guy arrived, dropped off the coke, Bowie paid him
and he left. Same old routine. When the guy was gone Bowie checked the
package. There was nothing wrong with the quality, but Bowie got it
into his head that there was something amiss with the quantity and felt
that he had been ripped off by his dealer. Whether it was really
underweight or not I do not know., Nonetheless Bowie got rather upset
and he became angry, then infuriated and finally he flew into a rage
demanding revenge. Iggy and Coco were unable to reason with him in this
state so they kept their distance trying to verbally soothe him while
watching his tirade. Suddenly Bowie was out the door with the car keys.
Iggy and Coco had bought David an older Mercedes Benz. It was a bit
rusty in spots but mechanically it ran just fine, and before they could
intervene Bowie was off down the road. They did not have a second
vehicle to go after him with so they went back inside to wait. Bowie had
a good idea where this dealer could be found and he headed for a rather
popular entertainment area of the city. Sure enough Bowie found him, he
was sitting in his car at a corner. Bowie, fucked up out of his mind
steps on the gas and literally rams the dealers car with his Mercedes.
He then meticulously backs his car up, stops, puts the car into drive,
steps on the gas and rams the guys vehicle again. It is important to
note that this entertainment area is quite popular and so it is rather
crowded at this time of night. By now he has drawn some attention to
himself and people are stopping on the sidewalk to watch what is going
on. Bowie doesn't care, he's used to having an audience. In total Bowie
rammed this person's car six times. He said later that he could not
believe that nobody did anything to try and stop him, not even call the
police. By the sixth impact Bowie had sufficiently calmed down, he had
enough, so he turned around and drove back home. He wasn't through
though. Once he was in the underground parkade he went a little
strange. He was driving in circles like a maniac and contemplating
ramming head on into a cement pillar. He was soon joined in the parkade
by Iggy and Coco who had been alerted by the noise, and who now stood
staring at him in shock. As you know the ending was a happy one. That
is the story behind Always Crashing In The Same Car.

Just one final thought before I close this segment of Images. If you do
not think the character that made Low was The Thin White Duke, along
with all of his vices, then I suggest you have a real good look at the
music video he made for Be My Wife. I knew you'd agree, case closed.

AladINsaNE

To be continued

""I don't begrudge any artist for finding an audience"
- David Bowie abt. 1987

professormouse	Posted at 2025-03-22 23:57:45(5 wks ago) (Bowie General / Images Vol. 17)
Uploaded: 211.04 GB Downloaded: 123.36 GB Posts: 352 Ratio: 1.71 Location: United Kingdom	"......what a "good an editor Jim Henson was -- there are some excellent sequences in the finished movie that were just too long as filmed." 🤔 https://labyrinth.fandom.com/wiki/Labyrinth_(film) U mean they could still do an extended cut. And forget about sequels. For now...... ?

Moony	Posted at 2025-03-23 19:37:14(5 wks ago) (Bowie General / Images Vol. 17)
Uploaded: 193.57 GB Downloaded: 165.26 GB Posts: 115 Ratio: 1.17 Location: Netherlands	hope you are doing well.. thanks for the insightfull piece!

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