This gallery charts Bowie's postmodern manifestations. Whether operating as a pop weirdo, glam hedonist, lost cosmonaut, electronic experimentalist, alien, vampire, goblin king or spy-fi spook — or capably rebooting controversial figures like Pontius Pilate, Andy Warhol, Nikolai Tesla or himself — the artist formerly known as David Robert Jones has executed epic wins like few others.
Above:
Edwardian Pop Bohemian
Self-referentially speaking, Bowie's self-titled 1967 debut is mostly known for ... being Bowie's self-titled 1967 debut. Inspired equally by theater and The Beatles, The Kinks and Pink Floyd, it's a kitchen-sink mash of sonic styles and signatures, none of which really stick.
Ripped from its temporal context, it's a more schizophrenic listen now than when it was released during the Summer of Love. But it's still a revealing experiment, especially for Bowie fans eager to experience their idol trying on different pop masks in search of one or two he'd like to keep for a while.
Authors: Scott Thill