Bowie

by Jerry Hopkins

Book by J.K

Genres: Music, Nonfiction

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1985

About the author

Jerry Hopkins was an American journalist and author best known for writing the first biographies of Elvis Presley and Jim Morrison of The Doors, as well as serving for 20 years as a correspondent and contributing editor of Rolling Stone magazine.

Reviews

[Lydia Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read a lot of negative reviews about this book and many seem to be for the reason that it was published in 1986 and misses out a large proportion of Bowie’s life and career. However, I don’t see this as a bad thing, and actually think it gave room for a much more detailed look at his early life, his relationship with Angie, the birth of Zowie and his gradual decent into worldwide stardom. It also focuses deeply on Bowie’s life as an actor, in motion films and on stage. I found this aspect of the book fascinating; something that is not often discussed about his life and something I myself had never really researched or read about. It enlightened me to a number of films and plays that I have never heard off or knew Bowie had participated in, and as a film lover it was great to discover and watch them along side reading Hopkins biography. Overall, I am giving this a solid 4 star rating. Well written, informative, enjoyable and emotional. A good read for any Bowie fan.

[Jill]

I love Bowie but read this book so long ago I can’t honestly review it properly. What I do recall is this: as a Bowie fan, I picked up this book in high school. I was reading it during a so-called free reading period when my English teacher spotted me and gave me shit for not reading the classics. I stood up for my right to be free during “free” reading. Yeah!

[Chris O'leary · Rating 1 out of 5]

strong candidate for most useless Bowie bio.

[Diane · Rating 2 out of 5]

Published in the mid 1980's so this bio covers David Bowie's early life. The writing is flat and often sloppy. Keith Richards name is misspelled twice, the index is incomplete and the "facts" are not always facts. The author spends way too much time talking about Bowie's problems with Tony Defries. Overall, a dull bio about a fascinating man.

[Shark Adelic · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are better BOWIE books. It didn't bother me that this was published in 1985 as I thought it would give plenty of insight and ink to the early years. But when I (excitedly) got to the point of David & Mick Ronson producing Lou Reed's masterpiece Transformer... It was barely a page. Right then I closed the book and moved on.

[Sarah Rigg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Of course this is outdated by now, but I was fascinated by it as a 14-year-old. I was just figuring out that some of my friends were gay, so him being so offhand about having affairs with boys was electrifying at the time. Honestly, that's the thing I remember most about this book!

[Dee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not the worst Bowie bio (there are far worse), but certainly the least interesting. Published in 1985, it missed the second half of Bowie's life, but it doesn't uncover new insights even in the period it does cover.

[EvilSpace · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bowie has been a recent obsession of mine so reading a book about his life seemed like the next natural progression after listening to Low while I slept. Unfortunately the author of this book can't keep up with the subject and although it was interesting to read some of the details about his stage show with the Diamond Dogs tour (which pisses me off because I wasn't alive in the 70's, well only the end of 79') the slow journalistic style of the book doesn't keep up with him. I've heard good things about "Strange Fascination" so maybe i'll try that next if I get enough time to read another bowie biography, I can only hope.

[Nic · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book (a biography of David Bowie, if you can't tell) is highly interesting and informative. I recommend it, but with two caveats:
1. Being published in 1985, it misses out on a LOT of Bowie's career.
2. The author seems to cast Bowie in a somewhat disapproving light. To be fair, the man had some irresponsible times in the seventies, which is largely the period focused on in the book. I, however, am a diehard fan, and I kind of wanted to challenge Mr. Hopkins to a duel for David Bowie's honor. Just a little bit.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good biography of Bowie, though as it was published in 1985 it finishes with the Serious Moonlight tour in 1984. In the later years Bowie comes off as being a not very pleasant character, shunning his mother and mentally ill older half brother who committed suicide at the time the book was published.

[l · Rating 1 out of 5]

basically useless. the opening bit is pretty bowdlerized re: pitt and kemp. also, it deems 'conversation piece' throw-away, which is pretty unforgivable. I am not sure why I read this.