We Could Be: Bowie and his Heroes

by Tom Hagler

David Bowie's story has never been told quite like this.

Tracing the star's encounters with fellow icons throughout his life, We Could Be offers a new history of Bowie, collecting 300 short stories that together paint a portrait of humour, humility, compassion, tragedy and more besides.

He embarrasses himself in front of Lennon and Warhol. He saves the life of Nina Simone. He is hated by Bob Dylan. He teaches Michael Jackson the moonwalk. Individually astonishing, together these stories - including details never before revealed - build a new picture of Bowie, one which shows his vulnerability, his sense of humour, his inner diva.

Exhaustively researched from thousands of sources by BBC reporter and Bowie obsessive Tom Hagler - with the guidance and memories of Bowie's long-time producer Tony Visconti - We Could Be is fascinating, comic, compelling, and a history of Bowie unlike any that has come before.

Genres: Music, Biography, Nonfiction, Biography Memoir

393 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 11, 2021

Reviews

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

"'Every report I'd heard about meeting Bowie suggests that the guy was really good at meeting people and making them feel like a million bucks, but no words could really describe the man's complete generosity of spirit, intelligence, and charisma.'" -- violinist Owen Pallett of Arcade Fire, on pages 327-328

First of all, let's get that problematic title out of the way -- We Could Be . . . Bowie and His Heroes is NOT really about the musical luminaries or others who have inspired / influenced the 'Thin White Duke,' nor is it about his 1977 album which also spawned a hit single (🎶"we can be heroes - just for one day"🎶) of the same name. No, this book is a big collection of random celebrity anecdotes, stories and near-misses on meeting, conversing with, and/or their professional collaborations with the glam rock singer-songwriter / musician who was known, at least early on in his 40+ year career, for reinventions of his appearance amidst producing a lot of great music. (He also occasionally and effectively dabbled in acting - I have friends that just loved him in director Jim Henson's Labyrinth, and I thought he acquitted himself quite nicely as an inquisitive Pontius Pilate in director Martin Scorsese's controversial The Last Temptation of Christ.) The narrative is constructed in chronological order - his career path is charted throughout chapters like 'Fear & Foaming in Los Angeles, 1974-1976' and 'Berlin & Switzerland, 1977-1981,' etc. - so it runs the gamut of Bowie being inspired as a young teen by Little Richard (!) to eventually becoming the inspiration for scores of musical acts. (I should also note there are a handful of photographs included, but a couple of them are absolutely striking in their sensuality - Bowie and actress Elizabeth Taylor embracing while sharing a cigarette in 1975, and Bowie kissing Tina Turner while they drink from a shared bottle of wine backstage in 1983 . . . as a disheveled, Jack Daniels-wielding Keith Richards looks on. Said pics arguably almost make the book worth its purchase price.) It's likely not the best Bowie-centric book out there, but it was some reasonably entertaining light reading that often presented the man in a positive light.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, here I am 24 hours later, and I've devoted a full day to this book and Bowie's music, coming out the other side with zero regrets. I can't objectively rate it as it was more of a personal life experience than sitting with a book: David's been such an integral part of my life that reading this was a cross between nostalgic reminiscence and therapeutic catharsis. I can only rate it 5✴, but that's really not a very reliable indicator for you.

The format is relatively short anecdotes, arranged in a chronological sequence, which Hagler has collected from other books and assorted media, and which Visconti has obligingly fact-checked and corrected. Initially, it feels shallow and disposable, but it starts to cohere the more you read, like looking close-up at a mosaic and gradually stepping back to resolve a portrait made of individual tiles.

David's flaws aren't glossed over, and his humanity shines through, despite the last chapter of celebrity fan anecdotes getting rather gushy, breathless and elegiac (obviously, mea culpa), but by this time the spectacle of his life and public persona was overawing for just about anybody who'd grown up in a world in which he existed.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly, I can't really remember when my love of Bowie's music started. To some extent, he's always been there although I don't really remember anyone I know listening to him. I do know that the second cd I ever bought was one of his greatest hits. I played that thing over and over again much to the annoyance of my parents no doubt. One which I still have to this day although a little less played these days. I suppose when an artist's body of work is longer than you have been alive it makes it easy to think they will always just sort of be there. But as always in life, things have to come to an end at some point. And with his death, it meant no more reinventions no more filling venues of adoring fans. But it was only whilst skimming shelves at the local book store was it that I came across this book. I suddenly realized I knew very little about the man himself. What had he hoped for, or the people he had loved or called friends. Sure I saw the odd interview and some of his films but it's all hardly the same things. Can we ever really know the musicians and actors we idolize. And to some extent should we, maybe we need these heroes to hold up high like in ancient Greece even if they are very much fallible humans.

First of all, something you need to get your head around when it comes to this book is that it doesn't follow the usual biography standards. The author doesn't give us a constant flow in his narrative about Bowie. Sure there is a timeline but here it is more about those people he came into contact with and to a certain extent how they viewed the man himself. Here we get to see the great and the good of not only the music industry but a smorgasbord of celebrities from each of the decades and a few a bit closer to home. With this said I still sat there with my phone by my side having to google more than a few to find out who they were. But hey who can be expected to know some of these people even if they were the biggest stars of their age. It did however lead to some time away from the book reading up on some of their extraordinary lives. It also helped me to have some context as to how they related to him. As they say, we will always be the villain in some people's stories no matter how hard we try.

In many ways, this book is like picking small exert from others' biography detailing the time they met this rock god. He is a man who I would imagine will be held high for a great many years to come. One of the few whose names will echo on never quite being lost to time. Hagler could have just cherry-picked the very best moments from Bowie's life in hopes of continuing on these lofty realms. And that would have been fine. Sometimes we don't want to look too hard for fear they might just fall off the pedestal we have put them on. But for me, I was grateful that the author choose a different path. Here we do get to see his high for which there are many, but also the very human man behind the Ziggy Stardust farecard. And I'm not going to lie there were moments especially early on in his career where I thought what an arrogant ego-driven dick he was. How could he act like that, should he not have been more grateful just to have a place at the table. But I am not he and for me to judge is also a little wrong. Each of us has a path to walk and his is most definitely not mine. It is still interesting though to see how he struggled even with his own success. A man it would seem was much more insecure than I would have given him credit for. After all to walk out on stage in a look that at the time sent many screaming for the hills. Singing songs about space and twisted worlds you would think would take a certain amount of courage.

For me, Bowie is one of those arts I feel has an era of music that can probably fit anyone's tastes in music. A man who has possibly reinvented himself more than any other musical artist. And with these mistakes will happen, people will feel snubbed and others will have found a lifelong friend. Even if that is only hearing it through our speakers. After all, no matter what happens in our live music is one thing that will always be there when we reach out in the dark. What Hagler has given us is a very tangible rock god. One in some way we can relate to. Could he be cold and aloof, sure but he could it would seem to be very warm a compassionate as well. His music has given many a person a refuge for a world that didn't want to understand us. That normal was fine but it was just as much fun to go off and find the real you no matter if people understood you or not. This man not only told us it was ok to be weird but it was something to be celebrated.

For me, this book Hagler has curated is an amazing body of work. he has managed to write a book as unique as the man it's about. For better or worse he has tried his best to give an overall picture of bowie without input from the man himself. A feat difficult enough to fathom but he seems to have found a balance and one would hope has given us a more even balance of who he was. At the end of the day you no doubt will make up your own mind and for me, this gives you a great shot at that. Definitely, one for his fans as I'm sure you will most certainly come across a few hidden gems even if we have all heard the Dave Grohl story.

[Allan Heron · Rating 4 out of 5]

A chronological collection of stories by people whose paths crossed with Bowie.

Two main things to take from the book.

Firstly, however "out there" you thought David was in the 70's, you're still underestimating things.

Secondly, David comes across so well as a human being as many of these interactions suggest.

A more than worthwhile read for any Bowie fan.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not a hardcore fan of David Bowie, but I do like his music and I am fascinated by his many incarnations.
This book contains many anecdotes about Bowie's encounters with various celebrities and contemporaries. Not all of them are necessarily Bowie's heroes, in fact for many it is Bowie himself who is the hero.
Not all of the anecdotes show Bowie in a positive light, but it hasn't coloured my appreciation for him.
An enjoyable, informative read.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite about Bowie.

[Francesco · Rating 3 out of 5]

300-something short anecdotes of David Bowie's encounters with assorted celebrities throughout his life, which are collected from other sources and fact-checked by Tony Visconti, which brings credibility to the all venture. I found it not so gratifying because the episodic nature of the book doesn't help to gauge a real sense of the characters involved, neither Bowie himself, nor his many encounters. But for Bowie fans (I include myself!), if this is not new information, it is a handy compendium of anecdotes and little events in the life of their hero. By the way, the title is misleading as not all people Bowie met in this book are "his heroes!"

[Nicole · Rating 2 out of 5]

Man, I really wanted to like this book.

1. The title. I get the reference to Heroes. But 95% of the stories in this book are about Bowie being someone’s hero not the other way around.

2. Why were there so many stories of Bowie being a jerk?? I want to hear the good things, not to leave the book liking him less.

The last section, Years 2005-16, was by far the best. As much as this book disappointed me, the ending was certainly done right. The last story perfectly encapsulated Bowie and made the final words of the Thin White Duke’s story even more devastating.

[Alec Downie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was going to be about the people that influenced Bowie but it was more tabloid who's who of people that transited through Bowie's life.

A ton of rehashed stories, retold or stories gathered in one place that would suit people who have a passing interest in Bowie, more than hardcore fans.

Easy read and did trigger some smiles and memories but nothing earthshattering or perhaps I am finally getting Bowie book fatigue-

[Kim Hayes · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this disappointing and am surprised TV allowed his name as “consultant editor”. This is basically a collection of anecdotes that any self-respecting Bowie fan would know although I do admit to hearing a few for the first time. Ok to dip in and out of though.

[Dbgirl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sure this was an interesting and different book about David Bowie by collecting different memories from many, I mean MANY, people, famous or not, about what kind of a man Bowie is. Was. I wanted to know these, there were lots of new information to me. The writer has done a massive work by collecting all these little stories/interviews. At the same time I didn’t want to know these because I’m a Bowie's fan and let’s be honest, by reading this now I know Bowie could be an assh*le. I don’t want to know the truth, I want my idol to be unreachable god or something, like Jake Shears from the Scissor Sisters wrote, even though he regretted what he said… A surprisingly fast read, took only 9 days from me. But fans prepare, you might not want to know all of this stuff. I still love his music and images, though… I hope I can forget all the negative stuff so I can fully love him again some day. I know no-one is perfect and drugs and fame probably had a share in his behaviour too, so I can comfort myself with that knowledge. A good book nevertheless.

[Lance Lumley · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy formatted book to read in sections or multiple about Bowie and his history in music, and the many people he interacted with from musicians, actors and other people.
The book shows some of the ealry days of Bowie when he actually had a folk singer vibe before launching into the other characters from Ziggy Stardust and the White Duke.
The book is spaced out nicely with covering each part of his career, and the stories flow nicely with the chapters without all being put into a historical text book style format. The last -part of the book deals more with how current musicians and actors were inspired by him and aren’t as entertaining as the previous sections . Having Visconti involved with the book helps with the credibility of the stories as well, who knew David for decades. This is a nice start for people just learning about Bowie's life.
For an in depth review, visit my page at : https://lancewrites.wordpress.com/202...

[LordSlaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

We Could Be...Bowie And His Heroes is an interesting book. Through a multitude of individual stories, brief paragraphs to a page or two, about Bowie's encounters with celebrities, artists, fashion designers, and musicians, I learned a bit more about Bowie than I already knew. His involvement in the world of art was particularly interesting. And I knew very little about Bowie's latter days. The book's a bit of a choppy read, seeing as it's a series of bite-sized chunks of Bowie info, but it does provide a throughline, that thread being the larger-than-life Mr. Bowie himself. It's an interesting read.

[Stephen Dallimore · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hard core Bowie fans will read.
It’s an easy read to pass the time. For me on trains in Europe.
Positive encounters, negative encounters and some funny little stories in between. Felt there could have been better stories used to describe the encounters (Trent Reznors for example missed the chance to delve into more interesting topics).
If you get this as a Christmas or Birthday present, don’t be disappointed.

[Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think a better format would be if these anecdotes were tied into an analytical essay about David Bowie. some of the interactions make me think so what lmao (because they're very surface-level and very second/third handed stories) but I guess the connecting the dots is what the readers are supposed to do. For me who isn't as informed about the scene of the time, this is a fun time-killing book where I get to unlock new songs and fun facts as I read.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title is misleading, since not all of these encounters were with Bowie's heroes; it's frequently the other way around.

That said, this is an interesting way of looking at someone larger than life. Each vignette is another tile in the mosaic that was Bowie. Eventually, you get to stand back and admire the whole thing.

[Irene · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was never a big Bowie fan though I am now. I am so impressed at how many musicians he not only influenced, but how kind and generous he was with his praise and encouragement. Many little known groups were asked to front for his bands. Many credit him with helping or saving their careers. I was also surprised at the other artistic areas he was involved in Quite a life.

[Timothy Swartout · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a collection of anecdotes, compiled from many of the famous “heroes” mentioned in the title, detailing circumstances in which they and the sadly deceased rock star interacted. Nothing earth-shattering here, but the book is fun romp through Bowie’s artistic periods and most of the stories tell of a man who held deep feelings for those he revered.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

As has been said, they're not his heroes, he is their hero, in most cases.
As you'd expect, some more interesting than others - good ones are the Sex Pistols ones, Saxa, Ray Bradbury (who actually appeared to be one of Bowie's heroes!)
Interesting to dip into but it should be noted that any book about Bowie can always be improved by more photos. Be still my beating heart.

[Coffeenoir (David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall I would say that this is a good read, but as is usually the case of learning about those we hold in high regard there is that danger of learning too much. I think there are some of the recollections in here are that way. Still a very touching and good book.

[Jennie · Rating 4 out of 5]

My review is very biased as I am a huge self-declared Bowie fan.

Many of Bowie's heroes are listed here as well as collaborators.

Too much treasure to list here.

Much read to any Bowie fan.

Highly recommended

[Steven Vinnicombe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting insightful book .
Well worth seeking out and definitely I would recommend this to anyone who loves the musical genius that is David Bowie.
So many interesting stories from throughout his life and career.

[Zargyr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Got it as a xmas gift from my best friend. Thank God for my friend's taste in music and books. A story with Bowie is always a good story.

[ella · Rating 5 out of 5]

:(

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A highly entertaining collection of anecdotes about Bowie and all the musicians, actors, artists and other celebrities he met throughout his life.

[Jaga · Rating 2 out of 5]

Obsessed much, aren't ya, Mr Hagler? eyeroll

[Colin Partington · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nice little read about the great talent, that is David Bowie. 10/10

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

For Bowie fans, an interesting insight of our hero.

[anaa · Rating 5 out of 5]

my new favorite book of all time!! loved this so so much

[José · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bowie’s life story through encounters with musicians, actors, and politicians. Not a bad way to get to know someone.