#15. The Comeback Issue
"Life is what happens to us while we are making other plans." Allen Saunders / John Lennon
Two months. 8 weeks. 56 days. That’s how long it’s been since I wrote one of these! Why? #lifehappens, that’s why. I’ve still been reading, watching, listening to, looking at and doing stuff, I just ran out of time to write about it. And then I went on holiday. I’m still on holiday but in Liverpool at…wait for it…the inaugural David Bowie World Fan Convention!
There are almost no lengths to which I would not go for David. Just a few years ago I travelled to London for the spectacular David Bowie Is… exhibition at the V&A. Whereas that was a collection of artifacts from his life, this is a collection of people, former band members and collaborators, recollecting on stage what it was like to be David Bowie’s colleague and friend (and a Spider from Mars!).
They say never meet your heroes, and sadly I never will, but on meeting those who knew my hero it is utterly heartwarming to hear the love and respect they have for him. Even those who shared a tour bus with him and saw him at his most humdrum are still awed by his musical, no, his all-round artistic genius.
Next week I am in London stocking up on gigs, plays and exhibitions but here is some of the standout stuff of the last few weeks.
Mooreish Words
So that this issue is not ALL about Bowie…
George Monbiot is a journalist and environmental activist with actual solutions and thus one of the few who gets through to me. His latest book ‘Regenesis’ is about the end of farming and since I read it I haven’t touched a piece of meat. Not sure how long that will last but it’s rare that a book can have such a profound impact on me, which is why I recommend giving it a go, particularly if you’re struggling with Singapore’s ‘Chicken Rice Crisis’!
His love for the natural world pours through his literary descriptions, which are in turn fed by solid science. An easy, timely and relevant read but, if you haven’t time, you can watch this for the gist…
Before you go on, I have to admit, this is a slightly Bowie-heavy issue but one of the reasons for that is because I’ve been going deep on my interests lately instead of wide and here I wrote about why…
Mooreish Visions
Now, some of you may know that I spent several years and several thousand dollars attempting to make a film about the Bromley Contingent and the birth of punk. Sadly it didn’t happen for me but it has for punk fan and Trainspotting auteur Danny Boyle who is behind 6-part mini-series ‘Pistol’. I’ve not had a chance to see it yet as I’m on the road but it’s fair to say this looks like it’s captured the energy and aesthetic of punk and Thomas Brodie-Sangster has absolutely nailed Malcolm McLaren’s upper-crust accent. (It also delights me no end to know that John Lydon is completely opposed to it, as is right and proper!).
One of the things I discovered whilst researching my film was that, without David Bowie, punk would in all likelihood never have happened so it is fitting that the trailer for ‘Moonage Daydream’ was also just released; the first film sanctioned by the Bowie estate and it looks like total blam blam!
Mooreish Sounds
Last month was my Godson’s 14th birthday so I made him a playlist of 14 songs specifically for dancing round his bedroom to. I invite you to do the same!
One of those songs is ‘80s classic ‘Together In Electric Dreams’ by Phil Oakey of Human League and synth-pop pioneer Giorgio Moroder who put out an album cover versions in 2015 featuring Britney Spears singing ‘Tom’s Diner’ by Susan Vega and it will blow your damn mind!
Yesterday I picked up the vinyl version of ‘Blow’ by Donny McCaslin, the jazz saxophonist and band leader who was Bowie’s musical director on his final album ‘Blackstar’. If you’re looking for something experimental yet accessible with a honking jazz sensibility, get in here!
Finally, although I am missing the ‘Punkadelia’ show in Singapore’s Geylang neighbourhood tonight, the organisers have kindly provided a playlist of our island’s finest punk rock, pop-punk, oi and ska bands that I can rock out to anywhere!
Mooreish Happenings
I dunno - did I not mention I’m at the DAVID BOWIE WORLD FAN CONVENTION! I promise I’ll have plenty of happenings in London and Singapore next week and absolutely no more Bowie (*crosses fingers behind back*).
Cheers! N