No one wants to think about death too much in the West. Somewhere along the line, we were taught to stay schtum on the subject and push it into the shady corners of silence. Yet death awaits us all. It’s an absolute certainty and with death comes life and in life, we try to bring as much colour as possible.
Someone who did just that – and more – was David Bowie. Trying to detail all of his life here between South London and New York City requires a weighty biographical tome. He had a long creative life, with his first album released in 1967, and his last just a few days ago (January 2016). With nearly 50 years of music, every generation has a Bowie of their own.
Those at the start had the pomp of Ziggy Stardust. Later came ‘soul’ Bowie with Young Americans. Then escaping the excesses of the U.S to Berlin came the triumvirate of Krautrock like albums: Low, Heroes & Lodger. Next, it was pop Bowie that saw his commercial star shine brightest (but was arguably the lowest creatively for him). Later came Tin Machine (and I think I’m the only person who likes that first album) and then albums that touched on many genres that illustrated a restless ambition to, sometimes borrow but always, experiment.
David Bowie is never too far away from the conversations between the tailors here at M&M. When we have no customers in the shop, Oliver Cross and bespoke shirtmaker Sean O’Flynn are heard breaking out into a Hunky Dory number.
Sartorially too, Bowie was ahead of any game in town and continuously pushed the boundaries in this area while also looking cool in a beautifully cut suit.
A lot has been said about the mystery of the man and his ability to be front and centre of culture while also existing at its edges. A magician of sorts, otherworldly of course, who could surprise us with a new album on Friday (his 69th birthday) and the biggest surprise of all, his death just a few days later. One memorable final bow on a career which has been full of colour and of course, sound and vision.
David Bowie 1947 – 2016
M&M