ZIporyn Leads Tribute to Bowie
The recent death of David Bowie (born David Robert Jones) deprived rock of one of the stars in its firmament. His death was unexpected; even the obituary writers, who prepare for our demise long before we do, were taken unawares. Initial reports were succinct in stuttering shock, then scribbling away the midnight oil fuller appreciations appeared. One of my earlier reactions was appreciation and awe that the public figure managed a private life, keeping news of his liver cancer from the world at large and ending his days recording music and dying privately. Bowie’s last album, Blackstar, was released the day before his death; reportedly the Thin White Duke prepared albums for posthumous release so the coming years will see more music—re-releases and perhaps new tracks. Tributes abound to his influence on music, be it pop or art rock or ambient music or genre-defying combinations of all styles. He continued exploring, learning new ways of releasing music into the world and teaching us to hear it. Of all the memorials in the wake of the sad news, this observation resonated with me the most: David Bowie lived his life on his own terms, taking risks, being flamboyant, marching to his own beat, making his own music—and that meant the world to misfit kids in lock-step small towns. He declared he was gay when it was still illegal in his native U.K. (He later recanted, declaring himself a “closet heterosexual.”) He acted in erotic noir films that were more arty than mainstream. He was candid about using drugs. And his fashion choices kept evolving. What publicist today would cotton to any of that? This is one of the lasting legacies of David Bowie the icon: a willingness to buck trends and express one’s own true self. It is part and parcel of the protean performer David Bowie and the evolving musician open to all influences. READ MORE at Boston Musical Intelligencer
OTHER REVIEWS:
Vanyaland
http://www.vanyaland.com/2016/02/01/live-review-mit-philip-glass-and-dav...
The Boston Globe
https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/music/2016/02/02/mit-honors-bowie-with-...
