David Bowie Biography

Birth of David Robert Jones, later known professionally as David Bowie.

Releases Liza Jane under the name Davie Jones with the King Bees, his first commercial single.

Adopts the stage name David Bowie to avoid confusion with Davy Jones of the Monkees.

Releases his debut album David Bowie, showing theatrical pop and music hall influences before his later rock breakthrough.

Releases the album later known as Space Oddity.

Marries Angela Barnett, who becomes closely associated with his early 1970s public image and creative circle.

Releases Space Oddity shortly before the Apollo 11 Moon landing.

Releases the album later known as Space Oddity, expanding his folk, rock and theatrical songwriting style.

Releases The Man Who Sold the World in the United States, introducing a heavier rock sound with Mick Ronson.

Releases the album Hunky Dory.

Releases the album The Man Who Sold the World in Britain.

Releases The Man Who Sold the World in Britain, marking an important step toward his glam and hard rock period.

Becomes father to Duncan Jones, inspiring the song Kooks on Hunky Dory.

Releases Hunky Dory, including Changes, Life on Mars?, Queen Bitch and Oh! You Pretty Things.

Describes glam rock as a useful category for his work while becoming one of its leading figures.

Creates the Ziggy Stardust persona, blending theatre, science fiction, glam rock and pop stardom.

Releases Starman as a single, helping introduce the Ziggy Stardust persona to a wider British audience.

Releases The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, his breakthrough concept album.

Releases The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars.

Performs Starman on Top of the Pops, creating one of the defining television moments of British glam rock.

Releases the album Aladdin Sane.

Releases the covers album Pin Ups.

Releases Aladdin Sane, the first album written and issued after the breakthrough of Ziggy Stardust.

Announces the end of Ziggy Stardust from the stage at Hammersmith Odeon, surprising many fans.

Releases Pin Ups, an album of cover versions paying tribute to songs from his 1960s influences.

Releases the album Diamond Dogs.

Releases Rebel Rebel, a guitar-driven single that becomes one of his last major glam rock statements.

Releases Diamond Dogs, moving from glam rock toward dystopian themes and a more theatrical stage presentation.

Releases the album Young Americans.

Releases Young Americans, shifting toward soul and funk influences during his Philadelphia soul period.

Fame tops the US singles chart, co-written by Bowie, John Lennon and guitarist Carlos Alomar.

Releases the album Station to Station.

Releases Station to Station, introducing the Thin White Duke persona and bridging soul, rock and European art music.

Stars as Thomas Jerome Newton in The Man Who Fell to Earth, his first major film role.

Releases Low, the first album of his Berlin-era trilogy and a major move toward electronic and ambient music.

Releases Stage, a live album documenting his late-1970s touring band and Berlin-era material.

Releases Lodger, completing the Berlin trilogy with Brian Eno and Tony Visconti.

Releases the album Scary Monsters and Super Creeps.

Releases Ashes to Ashes, revisiting Major Tom and becoming a major UK number one single.

Releases Under Pressure with Queen, creating a major collaboration built around a memorable bass line.

Releases Cat People with Giorgio Moroder for the film of the same name.

Releases the album Let's Dance.

Releases Let's Dance, a Nile Rodgers-produced album that gives him his biggest commercial success.

Begins the Serious Moonlight tour, turning his early-1980s commercial success into a major global concert event.

Releases the album Tonight.

Releases Blue Jean, one of the major singles from Tonight.

Records Dancing in the Street with Mick Jagger for the Live Aid charity organisation.

Performs at Live Aid at Wembley Stadium, appearing during one of the decade's most watched charity concerts.

Stars as Jareth the Goblin King in Labyrinth and contributes songs to the film soundtrack.

Releases Never Let Me Down, followed by the large-scale Glass Spider tour.

Founder Member of Tin Machine

Releases the first Tin Machine album, presenting himself as part of a hard rock band rather than a solo star.

Begins the Sound and Vision tour, promoted as a final outing for many of his older hits.

David Bowie and model Iman hold their wedding ceremony in Florence.

Releases the album Black Tie White Noise.

Releases Outside, reuniting with Brian Eno for a dark concept album about art, crime and identity.

Releases Earthling, incorporating drum and bass and electronic music into his late-1990s sound.

Releases Hours, an album connected to music written for the video game Omikron: The Nomad Soul.

Releases Heathen, his first album on ISO Records and a strong late-career critical success.

Releases Reality and begins what becomes his final major concert tour.

Releases The Next Day after a long absence from new albums, surprising listeners with a sudden comeback.

Releases Blackstar on his sixty-ninth birthday, a final studio album made with Tony Visconti and jazz musicians.

Dies in New York two days after the release of Blackstar, closing one of popular music's most influential careers.