Ten years after the death of David Bowie, Nick is joined by author Alexander Larman to discuss his new biography, Lazarus: David Bowie from the Tin Machine to Blackstar.
While the 1970s "Ziggy Stardust" era has been endlessly dissected, Larman shines a light on the often-overlooked second half of Bowie's career. From the artistic wilderness of the late 80s and the critical mauling of Tin Machine to his renaissance in the 90s and the "masterpiece" of his final album Blackstar, we explore the man behind the myths.
Was Bowie a chameleon, a charlatan, or a genius trying to rediscover his voice? We discuss his flirtation with fascism, his "performative" interviews, and why, despite decades of reinvention, the Thin White Duke remains one of the most unknowable figures in cultural history.
Key Topics:
- The Wilderness Years: Why Bowie lost his way in the 80s and how he found it again.
- Performance as Identity: Was Bowie ever "himself," or was every interview just another character?
- Blackstar: Reassessing Bowie’s final album as a meditation on mortality in a godless universe.
- The Bowie Archive: What the newly opened V&A East archive reveals about his creative process.
Books Mentioned:
- Lazarus: David Bowie from the Tin Machine to Blackstar by Alexander Larman
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