David Bowie

Although a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and GRAMMY Award winner, significant aspects of Bowie’s work have promoted science fiction and fantasy to the mainstream.  

David Bowie’s breakthrough 1969 single Space Oddity, which tells the story of an astronaut’s possibly tragic mission, bridged the science-focused world of the space race, rock ‘n’ roll, and popular culture when it was broadcast by the BBC during its coverage of the Apollo 11 launch and lunar landing. Bowie’s 1972 concept album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars tells the story of one of his numerous alter egos, Ziggy Stardust, a manifestation of an alien who brings a message of peace to Earth on the eve of its destruction. The 1974 album Diamond Dogs is heavily inspired by George Orwell’s novel 1984 and describes a post-apocalyptic world.

As an actor, Bowie often explored the genres of the fantastic with three of his biggest roles spanning science fiction, horror, and fantasy. In his first leading film role, Bowie leveraged his cultivated androgyny in the creation of an otherworldly alien visitor for the 1976 adaptation of Walter Tevis’ novel, The Man Who Fell to Earth. In The Hunger (1983) he portrayed a vampire’s consort seeking eternal life. In Labyrinth (1986) his portrayal of Goblin King Jareth was a signature role. In addition, Bowie recorded five songs on the film’s soundtrack.

David Bowie’s work in music and on screen frequently dove into the questions surrounding the meaning of human existence and identity. As an artist, he constantly looked beyond music for inspiration and influence, drawing on literature, art, film, and fashion to create works that break the boundaries of both genre and medium.