Davie Jones and the King Bees – 1964

Bowie was still going by his birth name David Jones when he made his first single “Liza Jane” with bluesy rock band the King Bees, which he split from soon after.

David Bowie – 1964

At just 17 years old, Bowie hadn’t yet settled on the most flattering hairstyle. 

Bowie and the Mannish Boys

Bowie’s next group, the Mannish Boys, performed on British TV in 1965, and Bowie playfully “refused” to have his hair cut for the occasion. 

Early fashion icon – 1967

David Bowie hadn’t yet created any of his alter egos in 1967, but he was already rocking an elaborately embroidered short-sleeved jacket in a publicity shot.

Bowie as a mime -1968

In 1967, Bowie had already released his first album “The World of David Bowie,” but he continued to perform in theater productions such as this mime show at the Middle Earth club in London. 

David Bowie and Hermione Farthingale in Turquoise – 1968

Bowie and his girlfriend Hermione Farthingale had a folk group called Turquoise — later known as Feathers — that also performed poetry and mime.

David Bowie – 1969

His second album, “Space Oddity,” was released in 1969, when Bowie was sporting uncharacteristic long curls.

David Bowie and John Hutchinson – 1969

David Bowie reads about pot smokers in the same year he moved in with Mary Finnigan, a single mom who invited him into her apartment for some “tincture of cannabis” when she heard him playing “Space Oddity.”
 

David Bowie and John Hutchinson

1969

David Bowie – 1969

Bowie at home on Foxgrove Road in Beckenham in 1969.

David Bowie with Mick Ronson – 1972

David Bowie, Mick Ronson and Mick ‘Woody’ Woodmansey on drums perform on TV show “Lift Off,” where they debuted the single “Starman” from “Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars.”

Ziggy Stardust – 1973

Bowie applies makeup as he take on glam rock alter ego Ziggy Stardust in 1973. He learned Kabuki makeup in Japan.

David Bowie and Mick Ronson – 1973

The Ziggy Stardust World Tour with the Spiders from Mars at Hammersmith Odeon, London, in 1993. 

Ziggy Stardust – 1973

The Ziggy Stardust tour saw some of Bowie’s most outrageous fashion statements, with numerous costume changes in each performance. 

Ziggy Stardust – 1973

Bowie donned a one-legged knitted body sock with blue feature boa at one point during the show.

David Bowie – 1973

Still in the Ziggy Stardust guise, Bowie plays acoustic guitar in a jumpsuit printed with numbers.

David Bowie – 1973

David Bowie wore a metallic tux on a 1973 trip to Paris.

David Bowie and Angela Bowie – 1973

Bowie and his wife Angie were a glam couple at the premiere of James Bond film “Live and Let Die” in London.

Angie, Zowie and David Bowie – 1974

Known as Zowie Bowie as a child, David Bowie’s son now goes by Duncan Jones. He’s the director of films including “Warcraft.” 

Bowie with musical greats at the Grammys – 1975

During his Thin White Duke period, Bowie chatted with Art Garfunkel, while Paul Simon, Yoko Ono, John Lennon and Roberta Flack waited backstage at the 1975 Grammys, where Bowie presented Aretha Franklin with an award. He wouldn’t be nominated until 1984.

David Bowie – “The Man Who Fell to Earth” – 1976

Bowie’s role as alien Thomas Jerome Newton in Nicolas Roeg’s “The Man Who Fell to Earth” was possibly the most appropriate casting of all his films.

David Bowie – 1976

Bowie was looking suitably louche as he prepared for a court appearance in Rochester, N.Y. after being charged — with Iggy Pop — for possessing about a half pound of marijuana. 

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David Bowie – 1976

Bowie flawlessly wears a leather jacket, during the Thin White Duke period, in Helsinki, Finland. 

David Bowie and Bing Crosby – 1977

Transitioning from leather-jacketed bad boy to Christmas crooner, Bowie sang “Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy” on “Bing Crosby’s Merrie Olde Xmas” in 1977.

Iggy Pop and David Bowie – 1977

David Bowie collaborated on Iggy Pop’s “The Idiot” album in 1977, kicking off his Berlin period. 
 

Kim Novak and David Bowie – 1978

Bowie starred with Kim Novak in David Hemmings’ movie “Just a Gigolo,” which also featured Marlene Dietrich’s last screen performance. The film was not well-received.

Debbie Harry and David Bowie – 1980

Debbie Harry of Blondie visited Bowie backstage at Broadway’s Booth Theater, where he starred in “The Elephant Man.” He wore no makeup for the performance.

Catherine Deneuve and David Bowie – 1983

Catherine Deneuve and Bowie played a vampire couple in Tony Scott’s “The Hunger,” which also starred Susan Sarandon.

David Bowie – 1983

David Bowie played saxophone in Gothenberg, Sweden on the Serious Moonlight tour.

David Bowie – 1983

During the song “Cracked Actor,” on the Serious Moonlight tour, Bowie would sing to a skull while wearing sunglasses, a routine he first developed in 1974.