Strange Fascination: David Bowie: The Definitive Story [Paperback]

David Buckley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2001

Thirty years on from his first hit single, 'Space Oddity', David Bowie remains the most influential rock star from the post-Woodstock generation. Strange Fascination chronicles Bowie's career against the colourful backdrop of post-Beatles pop culture. It's a story of amazing creativity, of huge theatricality and of an almost pathological quest to remain relevant and at pop's cutting edge. It is simply the the most complete account of David Bowie and his impact on pop culture ever written. This book is the first genuinely insightful and heavyweight biography of a true musical icon, fully revised and updated for paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Bowie and the media monster and Bowie the man are laid uncomfortably bare with wit, candour and no little insight. -- Flipside, January, 2000

Interviews with guitarist Carlos Alomar and producer Tony Visconti are revealing in this book which boasts exclusive photos. A must. -- Leicester Mercury, July 3rd, 2000

a definitive re-establishment of the man and the myth of David Bowie. -- Future Music, September, 2000

the book reveals many unknown details about a life already studied extensively. -- Future Music, September, 2000

Product Details

• Paperback: 608 pages
• Publisher: Virgin Books; Rev Upd edition (October 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 075350457X
• ISBN-13: 978-0753504574
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 6.2 x 1.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,179,077 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply the best Bowie biography ever written!, December 21, 2001

By 

Emilio Dreyer Pacheco (Porto Alegre, Brazil) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Strange Fascination: David Bowie: The Definitive Story (Paperback)

Believe me, I have read most of them. You can trust me: this is the best Bowie biography ever published. The only drawback is that his pre-1969 years are described rather superficiously. But once you get to "Space Oddity", you realize you're reading a worthy tome by a knowledgeable writer. Buckley is a long-time Bowie fan and he got to interview key people in David's career, most of whom were still associated with the singer at the time of writing (unlike other biographies, where only former associates are heard). But unlike some fans you may have met, Buckley has a critical, non-biased view of Bowie's life. While most biographers concentrate on secondary aspects and anecdotes, Buckley hits the nail in the head and takes you right through the spinal cord of David's career. Whether you're a diehard Bowie fan or a newcomer looking for information, this book is for you!

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Balanced book about a complicated artist, July 20, 2003

By 

"[e-mail]" (Moorpark, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Strange Fascination: David Bowie: The Definitive Story (Paperback)

By his nature, David Bowie isn't an easy person to write a book about. He is very complicated, closed, and truly a "chameleon", which is the label many put on him. Buckley does an admirable job. He is obviously a devout fan, but he writes this book with a very balanced view. It is neither complete idolatry, nor is it a "kiss and tell" book. Instead, it is mostly about Bowie's art (music is obviously most of that, but his other forays as well) and how he works. There are tidbits of gossip here and there, as well as an aspect of setting the record straight. His early life isn't covered very much at all, and I would have liked to have heard more about his relationship with his brother Terry. The book goes as recent as 2000. Overall a great read, but I am left with one question....am I really the only one out there who loved the "Glass Spider" album??? I thought it was great!!!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellence, November 17, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Strange Fascination: David Bowie: The Definitive Story (Paperback)

As a huge Bowie fan, and someone who sought factual information on the enigmatic rock legend i really enjoyed this book. There is more to recommend it than the cover (best picture of Bowie ive ever seen), Buckley meets just about anyone who was ever connected with Bowie, drawing upon bandmates like Carlos Alomar and Earl Slick, as well as contributions from producers such as Tony Visconti and Nile Rodgers as well as sound masters such as Eno, to give us a fuller picture of Bowie throughout the last four decades. What i like in particular about this book is the descriptions of Bowie's 'bad times', the 74-76 period in particular is very full and well outlined. If you love Bowie, you'll love reading this. The book also tries to uncover the meaning and history behind individual classic songs such as Heroes, Station To Station and Life On Mars?, which many of the other Bowie books dont do. As a biography of course we must not automatically accept everything in the book as fact, i mean for example, Bowie didnt contribute or endorse the book - but he never supports or endorses biographies of himself anyway, so just a teeny weeny pinch of salt sometimes thoughout might be wise.