Music historians will remember David Bowie as among the first rockers to introduce theatricality to rock performance with Alice Cooper, Peter Gabriel who were also donning makeup and costumes as a part of the live act.
Bowie devised the distinctive character of Ziggy Stardust from a combination of "A Clockwork Orange" and Kabuki theater. Bowie's 1972 album, "The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust," presented the character, which the singer then portrayed live and often maintained the persona even in interviews.
At a time when concept albums were common enough, it wasn't so much that the idea drove the album, it was how far Bowie was willing to take it.
The important difference in Bowie's approach was that most new albums often brought with them a fresh persona -- and also a change of musical style as well.
By 1976, for instance, Ziggy was long gone and Bowie was the Thin White Duke, a character that could not be more different from the androgynous Stardust.
Fans came to expect change from Bowie. While Alice Cooper's persona remained relatively stable and Kiss kept the same makeup, Bowie seemed to reinvent himself at every opportunity.
20-01-2016 - Vidéo David Bowie / The Rock /
