The teenage David Bowie was already a rebel
9 days ago
- #music history
- #David Bowie
- #1960s counterculture
- Teenage David Bowie, then David Jones, founded the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Long-Haired Men in 1964, advocating for tolerance towards men with long hair.
- Bowie's early publicity stunts, like appearing on BBC to defend long-haired men, hinted at his unconventional spirit and future career of reinvention.
- The 1960s culture war over men's long hair saw workplace discrimination and societal backlash, with Bowie claiming he'd fight for long-haired workers' rights.
- Bowie's career took off after changing his surname (due to the Monkees' Davy Jones) and releasing 'Space Oddity,' blending art with commercial success.
- Bowie's androgynous personas, like Ziggy Stardust, pushed boundaries, bringing marginalized identities into mainstream culture.
- In the 1980s and 1990s, Bowie shifted between musical styles, influencing emerging artists while maintaining his rebellious curiosity.
- By 1999, Bowie saw the internet as the new rebellious frontier, predicting its transformative impact on society.
- Bowie's meeting with Tony Blair in unconventional attire showed how societal norms had evolved since his youth.