Almost every new wave band owed David Bowie something: the synths, the style, the nerve to change. In the ’80s he stepped into the sound he’d helped invent, and owned it.
Space Oddity to Ziggy Stardust
Bowie’s first album, David Bowie (1967), went nowhere. Two years later “Space Oddity” made his name. The Man Who Sold the World (1970) and Hunky Dory (1971) showed a songwriter finding his voice fast, and in 1972 The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars changed rock for good. Aladdin Sane, Pin Ups, Diamond Dogs and Young Americans followed in three years, each one a new direction.
Berlin, Eno and the birth of a sound
After Station to Station (1976), Bowie moved to Berlin and worked with Brian Eno and producer Tony Visconti on Low (1977), “Heroes” (1977) and Lodger (1979), known as the Berlin Trilogy. Electronic experiments, ambient textures and stripped-back production: post-punk and synth-pop bands studied these records closely. This is where Bowie becomes part of our story.
Ashes to Ashes and Let’s Dance
Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) (1980) brought “Ashes to Ashes”, with a video full of new romantic club regulars, and “Fashion”. Then Let’s Dance (1983), produced by Nile Rodgers, made him a global pop star all over again with “Let’s Dance”, “Modern Love” and “China Girl”. Tonight (1984) and Never Let Me Down (1987) kept him on MTV through the decade.
Is David Bowie new wave?
Bowie isn’t a new wave artist in the strict sense, but he’s one of its biggest influences. His Berlin albums shaped post-punk and synth-pop, and his early-’80s records like Scary Monsters and Let’s Dance sit right alongside new wave on the radio.
He never stopped moving
Black Tie White Noise (1993), Outside (1995), Earthling (1997), Hours (1999), Heathen (2002), Reality (2003) and The Next Day (2013). Bowie died in January 2016, two days after releasing Blackstar, one of the most powerful farewell albums ever made.
Bowie by the numbers
- 26 studio albums
- More than 100 million records sold worldwide
- Cited as an influence by Duran Duran, Depeche Mode, Nine Inch Nails, Arcade Fire, the Killers and Lady Gaga
The Bowie songs we play
“Space Oddity” · “Changes” · “Starman” · “Ziggy Stardust” · “Life on Mars?” · “Rebel Rebel” · “Young Americans” · “Fame” · “Sound and Vision” · “Heroes” · “Ashes to Ashes” · “Fashion” · “Under Pressure” (with Queen) · “Let’s Dance” · “China Girl” · “Modern Love”
The essential albums
Hunky Dory (1971) · Ziggy Stardust (1972) · Station to Station (1976) · Low (1977) · “Heroes” (1977) · Scary Monsters (1980) · Let’s Dance (1983) · Blackstar (2016)
New to Bowie the new wave way? Start here
Low, side one, then Scary Monsters. You’ll hear the Berlin experiments turning into the sound of 1980. Finish with “Modern Love” at full volume.
Like Bowie? Try these next
- Bryan Ferry: Roxy Music’s art-rock glamour
- Gary Numan: took Bowie’s Berlin sound to number one
- Nile Rodgers: the producer behind Let’s Dance
- Duran Duran: the band who grew up on his records
- Talking Heads: Brian Eno’s next big collaboration
Hear David Bowie on New Wave Radio
Request “Ashes to Ashes” and listen for the new romantic era taking shape.
Official links: davidbowie.com · Facebook · Instagram · YouTube · Spotify
