David Bowie Fast Facts - CNN

David Bowie Fast Facts

CNN Editorial Research

Updated 2021 GMT (0421 HKT) December 21, 2020

A 3D wall portrait of David Bowie, created by Australian street artist Jimmy C, in Brixton, South London
Photos: David Bowie's ever-changing look
A 3D wall portrait of David Bowie, created by Australian street artist Jimmy C, in Brixton, South London
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Bowie's hair and outfits shocked and awed for decades. Pictured, a young Bowie sports a Prince Valiant-esque do in March 1965, while he was still going by his birth name of Davy Jones. He changed his name to Bowie following the success of the Monkees and their lead singer Davy Jones.
Photos: David Bowie's ever-changing look
Bowie's hair and outfits shocked and awed for decades. Pictured, a young Bowie sports a Prince Valiant-esque do in March 1965, while he was still going by his birth name of Davy Jones. He changed his name to Bowie following the success of the Monkees and their lead singer Davy Jones.
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Bowie appears at the Disc and Music Echo Valentine Awards ceremony at the Cafe Royal in London in February 1970.
Photos: David Bowie's ever-changing look
Bowie appears at the Disc and Music Echo Valentine Awards ceremony at the Cafe Royal in London in February 1970.
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Bowie wore this "Starman" costume for his appearance in "Top of the Pops" in 1972. It was featured in the "David Bowie is" exhibition in Victoria and Albert (V&A) Museum in London in 2013. It is one of 300 objects from the exhibit.
Photos: David Bowie's ever-changing look
Bowie wore this "Starman" costume for his appearance in "Top of the Pops" in 1972. It was featured in the "David Bowie is" exhibition in Victoria and Albert (V&A) Museum in London in 2013. It is one of 300 objects from the exhibit.
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Bowie performs as 'Ziggy Stardust' in 1973.
Photos: David Bowie's ever-changing look
Bowie performs as 'Ziggy Stardust' in 1973.
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Bowie performs his final concert as Ziggy Stardust at the Hammersmith Odeon in London on July 3, 1973. The concert later became known as the Retirement Gig.
Photos: David Bowie's ever-changing look
Bowie performs his final concert as Ziggy Stardust at the Hammersmith Odeon in London on July 3, 1973. The concert later became known as the Retirement Gig.
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Bowie performs onstage in 1973 wearing makeup and a costume that covers only one leg and one arm.
Photos: David Bowie's ever-changing look
Bowie performs onstage in 1973 wearing makeup and a costume that covers only one leg and one arm.
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This costume was made for Bowie on the 1973 "Aladdin Sane" tour by Japanese designer Kansai Yamamoto. Bowie said the designs were "everything I wanted... outrageous, provocative and unbelievably hot to wear under the lights."
Photos: David Bowie's ever-changing look
This costume was made for Bowie on the 1973 "Aladdin Sane" tour by Japanese designer Kansai Yamamoto. Bowie said the designs were "everything I wanted... outrageous, provocative and unbelievably hot to wear under the lights."
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Bowie appears in concert at Earl's Court, London, during his 1978 world tour.
Photos: David Bowie's ever-changing look
Bowie appears in concert at Earl's Court, London, during his 1978 world tour.
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Bowie grins broadly, wearing a plaid shirt with his hair slicked back, circa 1980.
Photos: David Bowie's ever-changing look
Bowie grins broadly, wearing a plaid shirt with his hair slicked back, circa 1980.
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Bowie appears on the movie poster for the 1986 film "Labyrinth," for which he wrote the music and played the role of the Goblin King.
Photos: David Bowie's ever-changing look
Bowie appears on the movie poster for the 1986 film "Labyrinth," for which he wrote the music and played the role of the Goblin King.
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Bowie performs sporting a blond mullet in 1987.
Photos: David Bowie's ever-changing look
Bowie performs sporting a blond mullet in 1987.
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Bowie appears onstage at the Parc des Princes in Paris in June 1997.
Photos: David Bowie's ever-changing look
Bowie appears onstage at the Parc des Princes in Paris in June 1997.
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Bowie appears with his wife, model Iman, at the New York premiere of "Hannibal" in February 2001.
Photos: David Bowie's ever-changing look
Bowie appears with his wife, model Iman, at the New York premiere of "Hannibal" in February 2001.
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Bowie performs at Zenith in Paris in September 2002.
Photos: David Bowie's ever-changing look
Bowie performs at Zenith in Paris in September 2002.
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Bowie performs at the 2002 VH1 Vogue Fashion Awards at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.
Photos: David Bowie's ever-changing look
Bowie performs at the 2002 VH1 Vogue Fashion Awards at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.
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Bowie performs in Copenhagen in 2003.
Photos: David Bowie's ever-changing look
Bowie performs in Copenhagen in 2003.
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Bowie arrives at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Benefit Gala in April 2003 in New York.
Photos: David Bowie's ever-changing look
Bowie arrives at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Benefit Gala in April 2003 in New York.
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Bowie performs on the third and final day of the 2004 Nokia Isle of Wight Festival at Seaclose Park on the Isle of Wight, England.
Photos: David Bowie's ever-changing look
Bowie performs on the third and final day of the 2004 Nokia Isle of Wight Festival at Seaclose Park on the Isle of Wight, England.
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Bowie looks clean-cut while attending a gala in New York honoring Rihanna and Michael Clinton with his wife, Iman, in April 2011.
Photos: David Bowie's ever-changing look
Bowie looks clean-cut while attending a gala in New York honoring Rihanna and Michael Clinton with his wife, Iman, in April 2011.
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(CNN)Here's a look at the life of British singer, songwriter and actor David Bowie.

Personal

Birth date: January 8, 1947
    Death date: January 10, 2016
      Birth place: London, England
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      Birth name: David Robert Hayward Jones
      Father: Hayward Jones, publicist
        Mother: Margaret Mary (Burns) Jones
        Marriages: Iman (1992-2016, his death); Angela Barnett (March 20, 1970-1980)
        Children: with Iman: Alexandria; with Angela Barnett: Duncan

        Other Facts

        His stage personas included Ziggy Stardust, Aladdin Sane and the Thin White Duke.
        His left eye was permanently dilated after he injured it in a fight as a teenager.
        Studied mime and theater in his youth.
        Overcame drug addiction in the 1970s and gave up drinking alcohol.
        Nominated for 19 Grammy Awards and won five. He received a lifetime achievement award from the Recording Academy in 2007.
        Won one Daytime Emmy Award.

        Timeline

        1964 - Forms his first band, David Jones and the King Bees. Other early bands include The Manish Boys, The Lower Third and The Buzz.
        1965 - Changes his name to David Bowie to prevent being confused with Davy Jones, who was the lead singer of The Monkees.
        1967 - Releases a solo album with Deram Records.
        1969 - "Space Oddity" becomes a Top 10 hit in Britain.
        1970 - Releases first solo album, "Man of Words, Man of Music." It is re-released in 1972 in the United States as "Space Oddity."
        1971 - The album "The Man Who Sold the World" is released. Bowie appears on the cover wearing make-up and a dress.
        1971 - Bowie is signed by RCA. Releases "Hunky Dory," which includes the single "Changes."
        1972 - Releases "The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars."
        1970s - Releases "Aladdin Sane," "Diamond Dogs," "Young Americans," "Station to Station," "Low," "Heroes," and "Lodger."
        1976 - Stars in the film "The Man Who Fell to Earth."
        November 1977 - "Bing Crosby's Merrie Olde Christmas" special airs. Bowie and Crosby sing "The Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth" together.
        1980 - Portrays the main character in a stage production of "The Elephant Man" that runs on Broadway, as well as in Denver and Chicago.
        1983 - Leaves RCA for EMI and releases "Let's Dance," which featured the hits "Let's Dance," "Modern Love," and "China Girl."
        1985 - Wins a Grammy for Best Short Form Video for "David Bowie."
        1986 - Stars in the film "Labyrinth."
        1988 - Appears in the film "The Last Temptation of Christ."
        1989 - Forms the group Tin Machine. The band releases two albums.
        1992 - Tin Machine breaks up.
        January 17, 1996 - Is inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
        1997 - Releases the song "Telling Lies" over the Internet.
        2003 - Wins a Daytime Emmy as host of the special, "Hollywood Rocks the Movies: The 1970s With David Bowie."
        June 25, 2004 - While on tour, visits a hospital in Hamburg, Germany, for treatment of pain in his arm. Doctors later discover a blocked artery and perform an angioplasty.
        2007 - Receives a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
        2013 - Releases an album entitled "The Next Day."
        December 7, 2015 - "Lazarus," written by Bowie and Edna Walsh, opens at the New York Theatre Workshop. The musical is based on the science fiction novel "The Man Who Fell to Earth."
        January 8, 2016 - The album "Blackstar" is released.
          January 10, 2016 - Bowie dies at age 69 after an 18-month battle with cancer.
          February 12, 2017 - Wins four Grammy awards "Blackstar." During the telecast, the Chainsmokers accept the Grammy for best rock song on Bowie's behalf. The musicians who performed with Bowie on "Blackstar" accept the other three awards during a non-televised portion of the ceremony.