1974 January February March April May June July August September OCTOBER November December

MY WORLD by David Bowie A WEEKLY DIARY EXCLUSIVELY WRITTEN FOR MIRABELLE MAGAZINE

5th October 1974 - (4 Page Special)

   I must confess that just recently I turned into one of your typical camera carrying tourists! Little Zows had a short holiday away from nursery school to be with his mum and dad out here in California. So, I've got the perfect excuse to go all the places I've heard about since I was just about Zowie's age.

   The family's first outing was to Disneyland. We all started out really early - Angie, me, Zowie, Zowie's nanny Marion, and Geoffrey (who was a bit annoyed that he was dragged out of bed so early) and started out to discover just what wonders Disneyland had to offer.

   Well, we weren't in the least bit disappointed. Disneyland is quite fabulous! We began on Main Street which is designed to look just like an American town in the 1890s. It's full of old houses, gas lamps, horse-drawn carriages and people walking around in old-fashioned costumes. All the Disney characters came out to meet us and Zowie was astonished to see all the cartoon characters he'd seen in the movies come to life right before his eyes!

   Of all the cartoon characters Zowie met that day, Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and so on, it was hardest to drag Zowie away from Dumbo. Angie had just taken Zows to see the film 'Dumbo' in New York, so Zowie thought Dumbo and he were old friends.

   We spent the whole day going on just about every ride here. Angie loved the Matterhorn, which is a huge replica of that particular Swiss Alp, complete with cascading waterfalls and a roller-coaster which speeds through and around the mountain. I don't know who was more frightened on that 60 m.p.h. trip down the mountain, Zowie or me, but we were holding on to each other for dear life!

   Another trip is the boat ride down the Amazon. It's so well done that one really begins to believe one is down in South America. Lazy hippos gaze at you from the water, and alligators swim right up to the boat. They're not real, of course, neither are the natives who stare fearfully at you from the shore - but they certainly look and act real enough. And I was glad when that ride was over and we landed on safe, dry land. I'm afraid I'd never make it as a great white hunter!

   We went to Frontier Land just in time to witness a gun fight in front of the old-time western saloon. We were really getting into the swing of things - rooting for the good guy and all. Zowie looked up at me and said: "Don't worry, Daddy, they're just pretending." Just what I need, a three-year-old know-it-all!

   But all good things must come to an end and Zowie's little holiday with Angie and me did just that and he's back at nursery school.

   Since then I've been receiving some very curious items in the mail. Marion likes to keep me posted on Zowie's progress and so far I've received a number of finger paintings, one of which I'm told is supposed to be me. Actually, it looks like a big red splotch with something resembling an eye on one corner of the paper and arms and legs going every way. I can't remember ever looking like that and the thought of Zowie picturing me in that condition is rather distressing!

   The next little project of Zowie's I had the pleasure of receiving was a figure made of clay which was intended to be an animal one would find in a zoo. Well, in my travels, I've been to many zoos all over the world and I've yet to figure out what Zows had in mind for this one. At any rate, I look forward to Zowie's little packages 'cos they're always good for a laugh - no offence, Zowie!

   I was paid a very pleasant surprise visit by my friend, Freddie, just a few days ago. He not only regaled me with stories of what has been happening in New York while I've been away, he also showed me designs of all the new autumn clothes that he's been working on for me.

   These days, my off-stage wardrobe has been mostly jeans and t-shirts (definitely due to Californian influence) - and Freddie's replenishing my wardrobe with the splendour I fancy myself accustomed to! He's started on a few more suits like the one I wear on stage now, except in heavier-weight materials for colder weather. But the one piece of clothing I'm really excited about is the new coat he's almost finished for me. It's tan camel's hair, very long, with a large stand-up collar and very loose, widely cuffed sleeves. It's very elegant really and definitely a Freddie original. I know it's a Freddie original 'cos Freddie himself has one almost exactly like it! Freddie and I are always being mistaken for one another and from now on there will be no telling us apart!

   From what Freddie's been telling me I've really been missing a lot that's going on in New York. Mick Ronson and his assistant, Susie, have just arrived in the city to put the finishing touches to Mick's new album and to generally just have a good time. Every time Mick's been to New York it's been on tour with me, so he hasn't had a chance to see much except the inside of his hotel room. But this time he swears he'll make up for lost time.

   Actually while Mick is here I'm really looking forward to one of those really long 'heart-to-heart' talks we used to have together.

   Since Mick left to go solo we really haven't had the chance to get together and talk. Also since Mick's departure the rumours that we don't like each other any more have inevitably started.

   Well, let me tell you that any rumours like that are definitely rubbish. The only reason Mick and I haven't bothered to deny them is that we simply didn't think it was worth it. We reckoned that anybody who cared about us would know that people like Mick and I couldn't fall out overnight like that.

   All that happened was that Mick wanted to find his feet by himself and do the artistic things that he'd always wanted to do.

   The latest thing is that he's joining Mott The Hoople. The Hoople, as I'm sure you all know. I'm very intrigued about this, because it could be a really interesting partnership. I can't wait to ask Mick about it. It sounds great and nobody's more pleased about it than I am.

   I think I'll take him out for a celebration meal at one of my favourite places where I know he'll get the full star treatment. Mick's a bit shy, but I know he'll love it really!

   Of course, there'll be all the news and gossip from England as well. Nobody likes a bit of gossip better than me! I bet you're the same. No, well I don't believe you!

   Okay, it's about time for me to sign off now. Keep on smiling!

26th October 1974

   I must tell you all about something funny that happened quite recently.

   Suzie Crackers, Freddie's assistant designer is in the States for a visit. Angie and she are good friends, so Suzie is a guest in our house whenever she comes over here. One night Suzie just happened to mention to Angie that she hadn't yet seen my new show and that she'd love to, especially since she'd never seen me wearing the new clothes she'd helped Freddie make for me. So, Angie got the bright idea that the two of them would surprise me and show up at my next concert unexpectedly. Well, they found out it was was easier said than done!

   They knew what hotel I was booked into, so since they were early getting into Madison - the city in Wisconsin I was playing in - they went straight there to surprise me before the show. And that's when the trouble began!

   None of the hotel staff believed that Angie was who she said she was, and they wouldn't let her up to see me. In fact, when she told the manager that she was my wife and was just trying to surprise me, he said: "Sure, and I'm Queen Elizabeth!" This went on for about an hour and a half, so finally she and Suzie decided that they'd just meet me at the concert hall.

   They came prepared with tickets for the show, but getting backstage was a different matter entirely. When Angie told the guard that she was Mrs. Bowie, the guard said that he'd seen pictures of Angela and she definitely wasn't her. Mind you, Angie has quite a new look these days. She's wearing her hair with a fringe and in a softer style, so she doesn't look like the Angie of her pictures.

   It took quite a while to convince this fellow that she wasn't an impostor. He went backstage to double-check with me but, meanwhile, Angie and Suzie sneaked right past the other guards and made their way to my dressing room. They arrived backstage grinning from ear to ear and told me that they really hadn't had that much fun in ages!

   When the show was over and we went back to the hotel the manager spotted us and practically went down on his knees trying to apologise, but by that time we'd all forgotten about the trouble. We did decide though, that in the future Angie should plan her surprises a bit more carefully!