Bowie at the BBC: A life in interviews

by David Bowie

The life of an icon, in his own words. David Bowie had a unique relationship with the BBC, making more appearances on 'the beeb' than any other broadcaster throughout his career. An anonymous pre-fame teenager, a blossoming starlet, a white-hot rock star and a veritable elder statesman of the BBC had the inside scoop on it all. In this fascinating collection of BBC television and radio transcripts, Bowie's life story is told in his own words, across more than 35 appearances spanning over forty years. Each provides an illuminating snapshot of moments in a remarkable career. But read together, they offer a completely new take on Bowie himself, a first-person look at the rise and rise of a star. Compiled and guided by David Bowie expert and BBC journalist Tom Hagler, Bowie at the BBC is the complete story of an incredible life lived on the airwaves.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction

464 pages, Hardcover

Published October 24, 2023

About the author

David Bowie (born David Robert Jones) was an English singer, songwriter, actor, multi-instrumentalist, bandleader, producer, arranger, and audio engineer. Active in five decades of rock music and frequently reinventing his music and image, Bowie was widely regarded as an influential innovator, particularly for his work through the 1970s. Bowie has taken cues from a wide range of fine art, philosophy and literature. He was also a film and stage actor, music video director, and visual artist.

Reviews

[Philippa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book about a true rock superstar, a truly gifted musician and song writer who influenced so many other musicians and creatives in other fields of fashion, design, painting and others. From the first moment I heard him in the 1970s I was drawn to his many different guises, his sexual ambivalence, and his queerness was a beacon for me as a teenager. This book covers the many interviews Bowie had on the BBC - radio, tv and online. His sense of humour approaches the childish and ridiculous at times, but underlying the silliness and the quips is a hugely creative person, widely read, very insightful and intelligent who was always striving to be more than what people expected from him. With so many different musical styles and personalities over his long career the depth of his intellect shines through the pages of the book. If you're a Bowie fan (and who isn't?!) you'll love this book. Read it and learn how to be a more creative, interesting and better person!

[Adam Steiner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tom Hagler has done a great job bringing together interviews from across the BBC archives, some of which have only been available through online fansites or as pirated radio recordings. The interviews range from in-depth conversations, radio documentaries and career-spanning overviews.

I highly recommended to casual and hardcore fans looking a for a retrospective of Bowie interviews!

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bowie at the BBC: A Life in Interviews is an exceptional collection that takes you deep into the psyche of one of music’s most enigmatic and transformative figures. Curated from over five decades of interviews, this book offers fans and newcomers alike a chance to experience David Bowie’s evolution—both as an artist and as a person—through his own words. It's a masterclass in candidness, wit, and brilliance.

What makes this book so captivating is its raw, unfiltered look at Bowie’s thoughts on everything from fame and identity to music and culture. The interviews are organized chronologically, allowing you to see how his perspective and persona shifted over time, mirroring the constant reinvention he was known for. Whether he’s discussing his early days in the music scene, his time in Berlin, or his thoughts on being a cultural icon, Bowie’s voice remains as captivating and insightful as ever.

The interviews themselves are rich in substance, with Bowie offering reflections on his work, personal life, and creative process in a way that feels both intimate and intellectually stimulating. It’s a rare chance to hear the man behind the persona speak about his life, struggles, and artistry with incredible depth. The book also touches on the legendary interviews that defined his public image, shedding light on how he navigated the complex relationship between his private self and his public persona.

Bowie at the BBC is not just for die-hard fans—it’s for anyone interested in understanding what made Bowie a cultural force unlike any other. The collection offers a deeper appreciation of his artistry, his complexity, and his unyielding drive to push boundaries. It’s a tribute to his legacy and a treasure trove for anyone who has ever been fascinated by the man who reinvented not just his music, but the very concept of what it meant to be an artist.

This book is a must-read for anyone who has ever been captivated by Bowie’s genius. It’s a perfect blend of his eccentricity, wisdom, humor, and profound insight into the world and himself.

[Nigel Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

A companion piece of sorts to Hagler’s “We Could be Heroes”. In this he gathers most of the radio interviews that Bowie did with the BBC and transcribes them with helpful contextual introductions.

Of interest are the approaches journalists take to engage with their subject and you can imagine how tired Bowie must have got dealing with some of the more inane questioning. On paper, those who come out best such as Jonathan Ross and Mark Radcliffe, don’t take him too seriously even though they are well known Bowie fans and the results are sometimes hilarious. To these Bowie joins in the spirit with gusto.

If you are approaching Bowie for the first time, then this is not essential. For the fan, these provide useful additional background information about the man and his life.