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Hero: David Bowie by Lesley-Ann Jones
'Through interviews with friends and colleagues, as well as detailed research, the writer has gained unprecedented knowledge of the true story behind the legend. This is a fascinating insight into one of the greatest artists of our lifetime.' Evening Standard
'Through several interviews with Bowie she evocatively portrays his fascinating life, often with a tenderness you wouldn't expect.' Daily Express
'An intriguing book. This is a personal friendship in writing. The knowledge divulged here is an endearing and powerful tale of a man who conquered the entire entertainment industry with his creative force.' Variety
A unique portrait of the globally revered artist and the extraordinary, complex man behind the legend.
His music thrilled the generation it was written for, and has entertained and inspired every generation since.
DAVID BOWIE is an intelligent exploration of the man behind the myths and the makeup told from the very beginning.
Respected music journalist and biographer Lesley-Ann Jones knew David Jones from the days before fame, when he was a young musician starting out, frustrated by an industry that wouldn't give him a break and determined to succeed. Here she traces the epic journey of the boy from Bromley born into a troubled background to his place as one of the greatest stars in rock history.
Jones has interviewed numerous friends and associates of Bowie, many of whom have never spoken publicly about him before. Drawing on this new material and meticulous research, the real story of Bowie's family background is told; the true inspiration behind the creation of Ziggy Stardust is revealed, and we learn how his marriage to Angie ended in agony following his comeback from a near fatal drug addiction. Jones also revisits Bowie's tragic relationship with his brother and his deep bond with T Rex frontman Marc Bolan.
Bowie's rebellious nature, his many sources of inspiration and creativity, and his complex, intense personality are discussed here, creating a unique and compelling portrait of an extraordinary man.
This is Bowie as you've never seen him before.
'Through several interviews with Bowie she evocatively portrays his fascinating life, often with a tenderness you wouldn't expect.' Daily Express
'An intriguing book. This is a personal friendship in writing. The knowledge divulged here is an endearing and powerful tale of a man who conquered the entire entertainment industry with his creative force.' Variety
A unique portrait of the globally revered artist and the extraordinary, complex man behind the legend.
His music thrilled the generation it was written for, and has entertained and inspired every generation since.
DAVID BOWIE is an intelligent exploration of the man behind the myths and the makeup told from the very beginning.
Respected music journalist and biographer Lesley-Ann Jones knew David Jones from the days before fame, when he was a young musician starting out, frustrated by an industry that wouldn't give him a break and determined to succeed. Here she traces the epic journey of the boy from Bromley born into a troubled background to his place as one of the greatest stars in rock history.
Jones has interviewed numerous friends and associates of Bowie, many of whom have never spoken publicly about him before. Drawing on this new material and meticulous research, the real story of Bowie's family background is told; the true inspiration behind the creation of Ziggy Stardust is revealed, and we learn how his marriage to Angie ended in agony following his comeback from a near fatal drug addiction. Jones also revisits Bowie's tragic relationship with his brother and his deep bond with T Rex frontman Marc Bolan.
Bowie's rebellious nature, his many sources of inspiration and creativity, and his complex, intense personality are discussed here, creating a unique and compelling portrait of an extraordinary man.
This is Bowie as you've never seen him before.
- GenresMusicBiographyNonfiction
Paperback
First published September 22, 2016
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About the author
Lesley-Ann Jones
30 books86 followersLesley-Ann Jones is a British biographer, novelist, broadcaster and keynote speaker.
She honed her craft on Fleet Street, where she worked as a newspaper columnist and feature writer for more than twenty years. She has also worked extensively in radio and television, appears regularly in music documentaries in the UK, USA and Australia, and is the writer and co-producer of ‘The Last Lennon Interview’, a film about the final encounter, in New York, between the former Beatle and BBC Radio One presenter Andy Peebles.
Her debut memoir ‘Tumbling Dice’ is out now.
NB: the cover of TUMBLING DICE displayed here is NOT the current, correct one, but is of an edition that was never published! It appears to be impossible to change it! The ISBN for the CORRECT, CURRENT VERSION is 978109175
First serialisation rights for TUMBLING DICE were acquired by the Mail on Sunday UK, published across four pages on 7th April 2019. Second serial went to The Times, UK, featured as a double-page spread on 10th April.
The author’s interview with US ABC Radio network is syndicated to 2,000 stations across the United States. She has discussed the book on most BBC local stations, including BBC York, Northampton, Guernsey, Cornwall, Solent, Hereford & Worcester, Derby and Oxford. Live radio exposure continues over the coming weeks, with BBC Radio London’s Robert Elms Show, Wandsworth Radio, Express FM’s The Soft Rock Show, K107FM Scotland, Wycombe Sound, Camglen Radio (Scotland), the Sticks Radio Show & podcast, BBC Radio Kent, Radio Caroline, Talk Radio’s The Paul Ross Show and Talk Radio Europe’s Bill Padley Show.
Lesley-Ann Jones’s agents are currently negotiating with two independent production majors on a screen adaptation of TUMBLING DICE.
Other recent works include ‘Hero: David Bowie’, ‘Imagine’, and ‘Ride a White Swan: The Lives and Death of Marc Bolan’. Her globally-acclaimed definitive biography of Queen frontman Freddie Mercury, re-issued in 2019 as ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, is a Sunday Times Top Ten Bestseller. The book accompanies the band’s long-awaited eponymous feature film, the highest-grossing music biopic of all time.
The author is currently working on two further titles, for publication in 2020.
She is a mother of three, and lives in London.
She honed her craft on Fleet Street, where she worked as a newspaper columnist and feature writer for more than twenty years. She has also worked extensively in radio and television, appears regularly in music documentaries in the UK, USA and Australia, and is the writer and co-producer of ‘The Last Lennon Interview’, a film about the final encounter, in New York, between the former Beatle and BBC Radio One presenter Andy Peebles.
Her debut memoir ‘Tumbling Dice’ is out now.
NB: the cover of TUMBLING DICE displayed here is NOT the current, correct one, but is of an edition that was never published! It appears to be impossible to change it! The ISBN for the CORRECT, CURRENT VERSION is 978109175
First serialisation rights for TUMBLING DICE were acquired by the Mail on Sunday UK, published across four pages on 7th April 2019. Second serial went to The Times, UK, featured as a double-page spread on 10th April.
The author’s interview with US ABC Radio network is syndicated to 2,000 stations across the United States. She has discussed the book on most BBC local stations, including BBC York, Northampton, Guernsey, Cornwall, Solent, Hereford & Worcester, Derby and Oxford. Live radio exposure continues over the coming weeks, with BBC Radio London’s Robert Elms Show, Wandsworth Radio, Express FM’s The Soft Rock Show, K107FM Scotland, Wycombe Sound, Camglen Radio (Scotland), the Sticks Radio Show & podcast, BBC Radio Kent, Radio Caroline, Talk Radio’s The Paul Ross Show and Talk Radio Europe’s Bill Padley Show.
Lesley-Ann Jones’s agents are currently negotiating with two independent production majors on a screen adaptation of TUMBLING DICE.
Other recent works include ‘Hero: David Bowie’, ‘Imagine’, and ‘Ride a White Swan: The Lives and Death of Marc Bolan’. Her globally-acclaimed definitive biography of Queen frontman Freddie Mercury, re-issued in 2019 as ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, is a Sunday Times Top Ten Bestseller. The book accompanies the band’s long-awaited eponymous feature film, the highest-grossing music biopic of all time.
The author is currently working on two further titles, for publication in 2020.
She is a mother of three, and lives in London.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
May 6, 2021
run of the mill biography of bowie, didn't learn anything new from this
May 31, 2021
Más que biografía, diría que es un trabajo periodístico.
Creo que la autora ha cometido un gran error en poner tantas cosas de su vida personal, hablando con sinceridad, si estoy leyendo una biografía no me interesa mucho saber si la autora no podía coger un avión por estar embarazada tal año, o si su amiga ahora se dedica a tal cosa, etc. Tampoco me ha gustado ver fotos de ella personales (las cuales no tienen nada que ver con Bowie).
Si ha habido aspectos de la vida Bowie que están muy bien documentadas, aunque a veces tenía que leer las páginas por encima porque había páginas enteras en las que no se mencionaba a Bowie y se hablaban de otras cosas.
Como fan de David Bowie, recomendaría otro tipo de biografía más centrada en él.
Creo que la autora ha cometido un gran error en poner tantas cosas de su vida personal, hablando con sinceridad, si estoy leyendo una biografía no me interesa mucho saber si la autora no podía coger un avión por estar embarazada tal año, o si su amiga ahora se dedica a tal cosa, etc. Tampoco me ha gustado ver fotos de ella personales (las cuales no tienen nada que ver con Bowie).
Si ha habido aspectos de la vida Bowie que están muy bien documentadas, aunque a veces tenía que leer las páginas por encima porque había páginas enteras en las que no se mencionaba a Bowie y se hablaban de otras cosas.
Como fan de David Bowie, recomendaría otro tipo de biografía más centrada en él.
January 3, 2019
Was desperate to read about my all time Hero and learn what the man was really like,unfortunately this was not it.The author tried to insert herself into the story and even has a couple of photographs of her and her daughter in one of Davids home .The writing improved when the author was not involved,especially near the end of the book and his later years.
Very disappointing.can anybody recommend the definitive Bowie biography ?
DO NOT READ THIS PIECE OF SELF IMPORTANCE.
Very disappointing.can anybody recommend the definitive Bowie biography ?
DO NOT READ THIS PIECE OF SELF IMPORTANCE.
May 13, 2024
..Bovijs bija ikona. tikai viņa mūziku es ne pārāk klausījos. agrākie hiti, protams, labi zināmi, bet paklausīties kaut ko vairāk sāku tikai ar pirmspēdējo albumu. un pēdējais vispār bija fantastisks. to griezu uz riņķi un pēkšņi Bovija vairs nebija. romāns gan liekas tik tāds ķeksītis izdarīto lietu sarakstā. daudzu cilvēku stāstīto uztvēru kā pašas autores teiktu, un otrādi. tas mazliet kaitināja. bet no audiogrāmatām jau visu ko var sagaidīt. kopumā par mākslinieku uzzināju visu, ko būtu bijis jāzina. | 3,5*
May 28, 2021
Published in 2016. 'Hero: David Bowie' is a biography of David Jones' life, though he was known to us as David Bowie. It is written by Lesley-Ann Jones, who spent more than twenty years on Fleet Street as a newspaper journalist.
Her first published work was in 1990 with 'Kylie Minogue: The Superstar Next Door', and from then on she has penned many other biographies; including 'Bohemian Rhapsody: The Definitive Biography of Freddie Mercury' (2018), 'Ride a White Swan: The Lives and Death of Marc Bolan' (2012) and 'Hero: David Bowie', which I enjoyed so much.
I acquired this book at a car boot-sale, and picked it up just as I was starting to get into Bowie's music - it sat on my shelf for a little bit because I wasn't reading much, and then I picked it up - just begging for a book that could get me back into reading; a hobby that I had once enjoyed so much. Before that point, it had been more than two years since I had finished a book (unless it was for school).
I started the book without knowledge of Bowie's life, and very minimal knowledge about his music - all I knew was that he had died in January 2016, and he was a big name in the music industry.
Right from the get-go, I was gripped; sitting on the edge of my seat and unable to put the book down. It started off with his background, as all biographies and autobiographies should, and then went into his birth, and his childhood.
The book quickly moved on, however, and began to talk about his earliest years of producing music, starting in 1963. It talked of his friends and his family, and how each aspect of his life influenced and affected them, as well as influencing himself - for example his brother Terry, who suffered with mental illness quite badly. I knew more about his later life, because that seems to be all you ever hear of Bowie, so it was extremely interesting to hear about his earlier years, and how he came to be the legend that he now is.
The author, Lesley-Ann Jones, spoke with Bowie several times, and at points in the book, it seemed quite personal between them - I enjoyed reading about these encounters because it seemed like I was there with them. Jones' writing brings Bowie to life within the pages, and I felt as though I was living his life, too.
I noticed that throughout the book, the author included lyrics from other artists' songs, and added context on what other musicians and things were going on at the time that she is writing about. This was helpful as I knew more about some artists than I did Bowie; The Beatles, for example, and Queen, so it was good to be able to match up the timelines, I suppose. Everything came together and formed the bigger picture, which I feel has made me more knowledgeable about other artists; not just Bowie. It clearly shows how he influenced others' work, and how the friendships that he formed within the music industry changed him and led to developments within his own music.
Moreover, I also enjoyed how Jones wrote about what she was doing at the time. I thought it was interesting to know what people from two different backgrounds and walks-of-life were doing, and how they seemed to keep meeting each other once over and over again. However, Jones did not push her life into the pages, and this was good too because it did not feel as though Jones was trying to make herself known as the author, but instead just a person in Bowie's life every so often.
The words from people who did know Bowie were obviously said with heart, soul and emotions, and at some points I found it hard to hold my tears back. It was heart-wrenching in some places, and not many books have made me feel so emotion.
Jones is a talented writer, and that only became clearer as I continued to read. I never lost interest, and spent three nights in a row staying up until my eyes could stay open no longer - I wanted to finish the book and get to the end of Bowie's life... but I didn't at the same time.
I especially enjoyed the pictures that were included within the book; of David Bowie, the author, and others; they were interesting, and it was good to be able to place a photo in with a situation which was being written about... I only wish that there could have been more.
Like I said, I haven't finished a book in a while - but I don't remember ever reading a book that had me as captivated as this one did. Now here I am, four days after finishing it, scouting Amazon and Ebay in hopes of finding more books about Bowie, and hoping that they're as good as Jones'.
Her first published work was in 1990 with 'Kylie Minogue: The Superstar Next Door', and from then on she has penned many other biographies; including 'Bohemian Rhapsody: The Definitive Biography of Freddie Mercury' (2018), 'Ride a White Swan: The Lives and Death of Marc Bolan' (2012) and 'Hero: David Bowie', which I enjoyed so much.
I acquired this book at a car boot-sale, and picked it up just as I was starting to get into Bowie's music - it sat on my shelf for a little bit because I wasn't reading much, and then I picked it up - just begging for a book that could get me back into reading; a hobby that I had once enjoyed so much. Before that point, it had been more than two years since I had finished a book (unless it was for school).
I started the book without knowledge of Bowie's life, and very minimal knowledge about his music - all I knew was that he had died in January 2016, and he was a big name in the music industry.
Right from the get-go, I was gripped; sitting on the edge of my seat and unable to put the book down. It started off with his background, as all biographies and autobiographies should, and then went into his birth, and his childhood.
The book quickly moved on, however, and began to talk about his earliest years of producing music, starting in 1963. It talked of his friends and his family, and how each aspect of his life influenced and affected them, as well as influencing himself - for example his brother Terry, who suffered with mental illness quite badly. I knew more about his later life, because that seems to be all you ever hear of Bowie, so it was extremely interesting to hear about his earlier years, and how he came to be the legend that he now is.
The author, Lesley-Ann Jones, spoke with Bowie several times, and at points in the book, it seemed quite personal between them - I enjoyed reading about these encounters because it seemed like I was there with them. Jones' writing brings Bowie to life within the pages, and I felt as though I was living his life, too.
I noticed that throughout the book, the author included lyrics from other artists' songs, and added context on what other musicians and things were going on at the time that she is writing about. This was helpful as I knew more about some artists than I did Bowie; The Beatles, for example, and Queen, so it was good to be able to match up the timelines, I suppose. Everything came together and formed the bigger picture, which I feel has made me more knowledgeable about other artists; not just Bowie. It clearly shows how he influenced others' work, and how the friendships that he formed within the music industry changed him and led to developments within his own music.
Moreover, I also enjoyed how Jones wrote about what she was doing at the time. I thought it was interesting to know what people from two different backgrounds and walks-of-life were doing, and how they seemed to keep meeting each other once over and over again. However, Jones did not push her life into the pages, and this was good too because it did not feel as though Jones was trying to make herself known as the author, but instead just a person in Bowie's life every so often.
The words from people who did know Bowie were obviously said with heart, soul and emotions, and at some points I found it hard to hold my tears back. It was heart-wrenching in some places, and not many books have made me feel so emotion.
Jones is a talented writer, and that only became clearer as I continued to read. I never lost interest, and spent three nights in a row staying up until my eyes could stay open no longer - I wanted to finish the book and get to the end of Bowie's life... but I didn't at the same time.
I especially enjoyed the pictures that were included within the book; of David Bowie, the author, and others; they were interesting, and it was good to be able to place a photo in with a situation which was being written about... I only wish that there could have been more.
Like I said, I haven't finished a book in a while - but I don't remember ever reading a book that had me as captivated as this one did. Now here I am, four days after finishing it, scouting Amazon and Ebay in hopes of finding more books about Bowie, and hoping that they're as good as Jones'.
January 13, 2024
"'I'll be right here,' he seems to be saying. 'Out there—but also still here. In your ear. In your heart. I haven't gone far.'"
Lesley-Ann Jones gives an introspective—and often heartbreaking—look into the mind of David Jones, who would later become known as the mega Icon David Bowie, from his early childhood years raised in a dysfunctional home without love, to a zany teenager obsessed with style, from a wannabe rockstar to a global phenomenon, and finally, settling down after finding true love.
My only gripe with this book is the author continually slips herself into the story. Granted, she has known David since his teenage years, yet she didn't come across as a close friend. The title of the book focuses on David Bowie. Not David Bowie and I. It also bothered me how she referred to Iman (David's wife) as a mannequin. Iman is anything but. In contrast, Angie (David's first wife) gets a free pass from the author after abandoning her son.
Regardless, I can tell a lot of love and hard work went into this book. I am keeping it in my library bookcase to read every now and again.
Lesley-Ann Jones gives an introspective—and often heartbreaking—look into the mind of David Jones, who would later become known as the mega Icon David Bowie, from his early childhood years raised in a dysfunctional home without love, to a zany teenager obsessed with style, from a wannabe rockstar to a global phenomenon, and finally, settling down after finding true love.
My only gripe with this book is the author continually slips herself into the story. Granted, she has known David since his teenage years, yet she didn't come across as a close friend. The title of the book focuses on David Bowie. Not David Bowie and I. It also bothered me how she referred to Iman (David's wife) as a mannequin. Iman is anything but. In contrast, Angie (David's first wife) gets a free pass from the author after abandoning her son.
Regardless, I can tell a lot of love and hard work went into this book. I am keeping it in my library bookcase to read every now and again.
January 27, 2018
Bought this book during a trip to Stockholm and finally read it. I am fascinated by Bowie as an iconic figure rather than his music. I grew up in the 80s, the first single I ever bought with my own money was Let's dance with Cat People on the B-side. I was vaguely familiar with Ziggy and the Thin white Duke-era and I know nothing of his post-millenial music. So - that is the disclaimer....I am more a Bowie fan for the music videos, the androgyny, the myth and the influence he has had on pop culture. This book did give me an insight into his life but sometimes I wished I had picked up a book about his life by another author. There was something about the familiarity of the author to her subject that sometimes gave me way too much, it made me slightly uncomfortable. I m trying to meld the Icon with the Man as presented in this book. It did change my opinion of Bowie.
January 27, 2025
Growing up in the 70s and 80s Bowie’s music was all around and whilst I found him intriguing never counted myself as a fan then. As I’ve got older I’ve been more interested in his music, and particularly the story of his life.
He’s an interesting character with a rich history of changing his style - most of the time successfully. This book is a good reference point for anyone wanting to learn more about what David Bowie is all about.
The author is an obvious fan but is objective and entertaining in what she writes. From humble beginnings to fame and fortune, Bowie virtually disappeared from the scene for the 15 years before he died. To be honest from what’s in the book, he obviously fitted in plenty of activity before then. Indeed that’s what made his name.
There’s an extensive discography of his work which takes up perhaps 20% of the book at the end, but it’s a very useful reference point for the serious fan. Me, I just dipped into the music on my iPhone that featured throughout in the book.
A must for a fan, and a damn good read for anyone else remotely interested in his work
He’s an interesting character with a rich history of changing his style - most of the time successfully. This book is a good reference point for anyone wanting to learn more about what David Bowie is all about.
The author is an obvious fan but is objective and entertaining in what she writes. From humble beginnings to fame and fortune, Bowie virtually disappeared from the scene for the 15 years before he died. To be honest from what’s in the book, he obviously fitted in plenty of activity before then. Indeed that’s what made his name.
There’s an extensive discography of his work which takes up perhaps 20% of the book at the end, but it’s a very useful reference point for the serious fan. Me, I just dipped into the music on my iPhone that featured throughout in the book.
A must for a fan, and a damn good read for anyone else remotely interested in his work
September 3, 2020
This is the 2nd Bowie biog written since his death that I have read. Both were by people named Jones (Bowie's real surname) but no relation. The other, Dylan Jones' masterful oral biography, A Life, is a must for Bowie fans, but this 1 is immensely enjoyable too. A much more conversational tome, this author knew Bowie & interacted with him many times over the decades. So it isn't forensic, but also never descends to the level of gossip. It's a series of pleasant glimpses into the life of perhaps the most innovative rock artist of all time. I was with him from the start & still can't get enough. But Jones also supplies the occasional titbit I wasn't aware of in her friendly manner. Definitely recommended.
July 2, 2018
This started out with promise. A biography of this kind requires a great deal of research, and Jones does well with perspectives from his friends and collaborators, but the story has gaping holes, and it’s not from lack of space, which she too frequently uses to focus on her occasional acquaintance with DB over the years. It’s awkward and detracts from the worthy aspects of the whole. The author’s place in the story should be parked in the foreword. It’s not a terrible book by any stretch, just a missed opportunity. Oddly there is some crossover with Dylan Jones’s ‘David Bowie A Life’ which I’m currently reading, and would recommend over this.
July 1, 2019
Generally good, but I didn't like how sycophantic the author gets even when discussing Bowie's darker, exploitative, more destructive or self-destructive moments. I didn't like that she's trying to set him as a gay icon just because he claimed to be gay as a fad, which isn't exactly respectful, or she's trying to make excuses because he is a "genius" when he abuses his wife because of drugs or when he fires people on a whim. I also disliked how much she sidetracks into her own life even when it does not relate.
January 27, 2020
Great book, felt complete, felt sincere, nothing was missing. Bowie is my Hero, I didn´t grew up with his most famous hits, I discovered him when Heathen came out. Even then I didn´t understand his music completely. Bowie to me was complex and overwhelming, that is what this book shows you. The overwhelmingly complex life of an amazingHero. I eventually discovered "Heroes", just in the right moment of my life, and then Ziggy in another key moment of my life, and then every Bowie song I discovered came at the exact moment I needed it. That is Bowie, infinite indentities to relate with.
July 13, 2018
A párrafos resulta irritante y faltón, con datos que no aportan nada a la historia de Bowie y hace la lectura pesada. En resumen casi es más un "La sombra alargada de Coco y la ira irracional que le dedicamos todas" que una biografía de Bowie por parte de alguien que presume de su "amistad" con el cantante (de la cual, sin contar las visitas a modo de fan que hizo a su casa de adolescente, sólo se basa en unas cuantas entrevistas concedidas).
August 7, 2020
I'm a bit annoyed and became disillusioned with this book. At the time that I brought it I was looking for anything to do with Bowie and his thought and creative process, but this didn't give me what I thought it would. There wasn't as much detail as I would have liked, and the author kept inserting herself into it, going so far as to included two whole pages of pictures of her holidaying in one of Bowie's houses. At the end, I'm annoyed that I ever spent money on this book.
January 26, 2022
«Quizá fue esa estrella en concreto que hay en uno de los muros del interior de la gruta la que se grabó a fuego en su memoria. Espero que fuera así. Su aspecto aquí, en el diseño de portada de Blackstar, apunta a una puerta en el cosmos, a un portal al espacio, puede que incluso a una grieta a la eternidad.
❛Estaré aquí mismo❜, parece decir. ❛Ahí fuera... Pero al mismo tiempo también aquí. En vuestros oídos. En vuestros corazones. No me he marchado lejos❜»
❛Estaré aquí mismo❜, parece decir. ❛Ahí fuera... Pero al mismo tiempo también aquí. En vuestros oídos. En vuestros corazones. No me he marchado lejos❜»
November 25, 2020
I don't like to post a bad review, but I couldn't finish this book. I didn't like the way the author seemed to put themselves in the centre of the book. It can be done - Paul Morley's managed with great success, but this seemed poorly researched, indulgent and added nothing to what is already known
August 30, 2021
No merece la pena. Una biografía hecha a base de retales de opiniones de otras personas (muchas de ellas, empezando por la propia autora, absolutamente intrascendente). Hecho a mayor gloria de la autora(incluye hasta fotos suyas y de su hija) no merece perder el tiempo en leerla
April 17, 2022
Es una biografía muy escueta, la autora habla mucho de sí y en ocasiones da la sensación de que esta narrando su vida. La única sección qué merece la pena son los apéndices. Realmente cómo fan de Bowie existen biografías mejores
August 22, 2018
Great book from a close source of Bowie. Wasn't expecting that bit about Slash's mom. Everything you ever heard about Bowie is true & this book just makes me miss him even more, 2 years on...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 19, 2018
Listened to this as an audiobook, and I was completely transported.
December 29, 2018
La mejor y mas completa biografía de Bowie que he leido.
February 10, 2019
Not bad.
Positives: A terrific recap of Bowie's career and influence in the music landscape.
Negatives: Too much of the author's personal interactions with the singer.
Positives: A terrific recap of Bowie's career and influence in the music landscape.
Negatives: Too much of the author's personal interactions with the singer.
December 2, 2022
Didn’t really like the style but comprehensive
October 22, 2023
Disappointing
December 28, 2023
Mucho relleno
December 27, 2025
Tuve la desgracia de leer este libro con traducción al español de España. Es sencillamente bochornoso.
March 29, 2018
Bowie was one of the heroes of my youth. Being stopped from going to the Ziggy Stardust Earl's Court concert appeared to me as the biggest of 'misunderstood teen' traumas. As someone who struggles to remember lyrics, I can remember all the first 5 albums. Not the greatest fan of what was to come after Diamond Dogs, it was a fascinating journey through his life, revealing something of the man, accompanied by those teen memories. The author has a nice touch in the story telling which resonated in that she had her own more personal memories of the man. The use of footnotes to keep too much unwanted detail from the main text made it a joy to read and re-live.
June 10, 2024
Lesley-Ann Jones is a journalist (no relation to Bowie) who clearly knew Bowie throughout his career and seemed a trusted acquaintance as evidenced by some of the photos in the book. Like most people, it may not be that she was very close to him and her book in no way seeks to delve into the darker aspects of his life.
She has written a solid biography that covers the main phases of DB's life and covers his death. You would need to go elsewhere for any detail as to his music which is covered only superficially. At times she writes using puns and phrases that I found a little annoying but that's probably down to me. It did not spoil my enjoyment of the book. It contains a useful bibliography for further reading and the notes are good. The index is also helpful.
For someone seeking an introduction to Bowie and his world this is a useful starting point, but you would need to read other authors as well.
I'd recommend it.
She has written a solid biography that covers the main phases of DB's life and covers his death. You would need to go elsewhere for any detail as to his music which is covered only superficially. At times she writes using puns and phrases that I found a little annoying but that's probably down to me. It did not spoil my enjoyment of the book. It contains a useful bibliography for further reading and the notes are good. The index is also helpful.
For someone seeking an introduction to Bowie and his world this is a useful starting point, but you would need to read other authors as well.
I'd recommend it.
May 12, 2020
barely mentions Labyrinth, but otherwise quite an enjoyable and interesting read from a worthy perspective.
November 22, 2016
Well i was expecting it to be utter rubbish with the other reviews being 1 star, but i enjoyed it. Aside from the eye problem revealed in review below, there's also a couple of people's views on Bowie some might not like, someone even referred to him as a prick, but it's all in the balance of one in the public domain. I personally wasn't offended by anything and there were a few wee facts in there i didn't know. Also let it be noted that i'll read anything about bowie and had loads of books in my collection in the past which were worse or duller than this one, so i say give it a go and make up your own mind.
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