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remembering bowie
January 11, 2016

David Bowie’s Extraordinary Life in 57 Photos

By Dee Lockett

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Photo: Michael Ochs Archives

The late David Bowie was a man of many personae, a rock star defined by his experimentation with identity. Bowie’s shape-shifting musical genius was often captured by photographers like Terry O’Neill and personal shooter Mick Rock, two greats of celebrity portraiture, and countless others as it evolved over the decades. Take a look back at the life of the man who fell to Earth in these career-spanning photographs.

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1 / 57 Photos
1963, the early years. 1963, the early years.

1963, the early years.

Photo: CA/Redferns.
1969, during the release of Space Oddity. 1969, during the release of Space Oddity.

1969, during the release of Space Oddity.

Photo: RB/Redferns
1969 1969

1969

Photo: Michael Ochs Archives
1972 1972

1972

Photo: Michael Ochs Archives
1972 1972

1972

Photo: Michael Putland/2011 Getty Images
1972, the Ziggy Stardust years. 1972, the Ziggy Stardust years.

1972, the Ziggy Stardust years.

Photo: Michael Ochs Archives
1973 1973

1973

Photo: Hulton Archive
1973 1973

1973

Photo: Michael Ochs Archives
1973 1973

1973

Photo: Michael Ochs Archives
1973 1973

1973

Photo: Debi Doss/Doss/Redferns
1973 1973

1973

Photo: Michael Ochs Archives
1973 1973

1973

Photo: Michael Ochs Archives
1973 1973

1973

Photo: Chris Walter/Chris Walter
1973 1973

1973

Photo: Michael Ochs Archives
1974 1974

1974

Photo: Terry O’Neill/2006 Getty Images
1974 1974

1974

Photo: Terry O’Neill/2006 Getty Images
1974 1974

1974

Photo: Gijsbert Hanekroot/1974 Gijsbert Hanekroot
1974 1974

1974

Photo: Laurance Ratner
1974, photographed by Terry O'Neill. 1974, photographed by Terry O'Neill.

1974, photographed by Terry O'Neill.

Photo: Terry O’Neill/2005 Getty Images
1974 1974

1974

Photo: Terry O’Neill/2006 Getty Images
1975 1975

1975

Photo: Ron Galella
1976 1976

1976

Photo: Terry O’Neill/2005 Getty Images
1976, from The Man Who Fell to Earth. 1976, from The Man Who Fell to Earth.

1976, from The Man Who Fell to Earth.

Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/2012 Getty Images
1976, the Thin White Duke. 1976, the Thin White Duke.

1976, the Thin White Duke.

Photo: New York Daily News Archive/1976/Daily News, L.P. (New York)
1978 1978

1978

Photo: Richard E. Aaron
1980 1980

1980

Photo: Lester Cohen
1983, in his pop era. 1983, in his pop era.

1983, in his pop era.

Photo: Phil Dent
1985, with Mick Jagger in "Dancing in the Street." 1985, with Mick Jagger in "Dancing in the Street."

1985, with Mick Jagger in "Dancing in the Street."

Photo: RB/Redferns
1986, with Jennifer Connelly in Labyrinth. 1986, with Jennifer Connelly in Labyrinth.

1986, with Jennifer Connelly in Labyrinth.

Photo: Stanley Bielecki Movie Collectio/2013 Getty Images
1987 1987

1987

Photo: Bob King
1990 1990

1990

Photo: Foto Rob Verhorst/1990 Rob Verhorst
1991, with future wife Iman. 1991, with future wife Iman.

1991, with future wife Iman.

Photo: Barry King/2002 WireImage.com
1991 1991

1991

Photo: Peter Still/1991 Peter Still
1992, with Annie Lennox at a Freddie Mercury tribute. 1992, with Annie Lennox at a Freddie Mercury tribute.

1992, with Annie Lennox at a Freddie Mercury tribute.

Photo: © Michael Putland/2010 Getty Images
1996 1996

1996

Photo: Mick Hutson/1996 Mick Hutson
1996 1996

1996

Photo: ullstein bild
1997, with Trent Reznor. 1997, with Trent Reznor.

1997, with Trent Reznor.

Photo: KMazur
1997 1997

1997

Photo: Kevin.Mazur
1997, at Bowie's 50th-birthday celebration at Madison Square Garden. 1997, at Bowie's 50th-birthday celebration at Madison Square Garden.

1997, at Bowie's 50th-birthday celebration at Madison Square Garden.

Photo: Patti Ouderkirk
1997 1997

1997

Photo: KMazur
1999 1999

1999

Photo: Karl Feile
2000 2000

2000

Photo: KMazur
2000 2000

2000

Photo: KMazur
2000 2000

2000

Photo: Ron Galella/2000 Ron Galella
2000, with James Brown at the 2000 VH1 Vogue Fashion Awards. 2000, with James Brown at the 2000 VH1 Vogue Fashion Awards.

2000, with James Brown at the 2000 VH1 Vogue Fashion Awards.

Photo: KMazur
2001 2001

2001

Photo: Frank Micelotta Archive
2001, in the studio with Diddy. 2001, in the studio with Diddy.

2001, in the studio with Diddy.

Photo: KMazur
2002 2002

2002

Photo: KMazur
2002 2002

2002

Photo: KMazur
2002 2002

2002

Photo: Dave Benett
2003 2003

2003

Photo: KMazur
2003 2003

2003

Photo: KMazur
2003 2003

2003

Photo: James Devaney
2006, with Lou Reed at Reed's New York photography exhibit. 2006, with Lou Reed at Reed's New York photography exhibit.

2006, with Lou Reed at Reed's New York photography exhibit.

Photo: Andrew H. Walker/2005 Getty Images
2007 2007

2007

Photo: G. Gershoff
2009 2009

2009

Photo: Kevin Mazur/2009 Kevin Mazur
2015, one of the last known photos of Bowie, from the Lazarus rehearsals photographed by Vulture. 2015, one of the last known photos of Bowie, from the Lazarus rehearsals photographed by Vulture.

2015, one of the last known photos of Bowie, from the Lazarus rehearsals photographed by Vulture.

Photo: Jan Versweyveld
1 / 57

Tags:

  • david bowie
  • tributes
  • remembering bowie

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