Hanif Kureishi on David Bowie
Great Lives
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The Rights and Wrongs of Using Real Lives as Material for the Composition of Fiction
Bowie knew that his work was autobiographical. I remember him referring to himself as a collector. As an artist, it's really important that you are under the influence all the time. And do you mind if people object to being collected? Well, if they don't object, you're probably doing it wrong in a way. You have to try and say things that are on the edge. That's what's so exciting about Bowie. Was he popular? Did he have friends? What was the business with this chap George Underwood, who apparently gave him the funny eye? It was a brilliant example of what happens between teenage boys at school because it was over a girl. They got
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