David Bowie: Rock 'n' Roll with Me

by Geoff MacCormack

David Bowie: Rock ‘n' Roll with Me is Geoff MacCormack's remarkable photographic memoir, charting his lifelong friendship with David Bowie. Images bring MacCormack's stories to life, showing the places he and Bowie inhabited, the people they met and the adventures they shared. Beginning at Burnt Ash Primary school in the mid-1950s, the years go by in a whirlwind of discovering and making music. The book contains nearly 150 photos taken by MacCormack throughout the years, some never seen before: from touring the Ziggy Stardust and Aladdin Sane shows and sailing to New York on a world tour, to Bowie's first major film The Man Who Fell to Earth and the recording of Station to Station and his Thin White Duke persona. David Bowie: Rock ‘n' Roll With Me is an incredible story, told with wit and candour. A must for all Bowie fans, it sheds a rare insight into a friendship where two men shared their love for music from the moment they met to their final goodbyes.

240 pages, Hardcover

Published March 8, 2023

Reviews

[Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun insight into the life and music of David Bowie, as told by one of the Spiders from Mars. Stories from the globetrotting adventures of the Ziggy Stardust and Diamond Dogs tours make for a delightful read.

As one of Bowie's oldest friends, MacCormack writes a sweet, non-exploitative tribute. His photos are what make this book especially enjoyable! I particularly love this one of Bowie, in a hella great fit, striking a pose as a train rolls through the USSR:

It's a slay.

[Kim Hayes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written by one of DB’s oldest friends, this is an interesting peek into his time on the road, and as a friend, of the Great One. Great photos too!

[Andrew Kepple · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve done my share of reading books and watching documentaries on Bowie, but none of them have had this level of personal intimacy. David’s childhood friend had a backstage pass (basically literally) to the Bowie’s career in the 70s. When he shares an anecdote about correspondence with David you can tell they are friends, and Bowie’s stardom didn’t make a lick of difference. They remained close friends for the rest of David’s life. Geoff is a decent writer, although I would have preferred some light editing for grammatical mistakes, but it’s undeniably in his voice. It grated at first but it grew on me, to the point where I might have to say this was the most revealing Bowie biography I’ve read. It was personal, focusing on funny little things that occurred rather than discussing the importance of Ziggy or dwelling on his record label woes. The photos are fantastic as well. This is possibly the highest praise I can give a book on Bowie: I learned things.