Every so often my Mum reminds me of the time she caught me singing, very out of tune, to David Bowie's 'Changes' - an event that kept me off Karaoke for years. She also likes to remind me of the time she caught me kissing the TV when Jennifer Connelly was on screen in Labyrinth - my second most static filled kiss to date and my favourite film as a child. Both these events occurred when I was around seven years old, an age where innocently I hadn't even realised that tights were a poor costume option when it comes to modesty for the Goblin monarchy.
Bowie was very much a part of my youth. It's strange because Bowie was passed on to me. My Dad was a big fan in his youth and so I became a fan by proxy. It probably says more about Bowie than it does about my own family, as this is a tale common through my generation. It goes without saying that not only the musical but even the filmic output of the Thin White Duke transcends age and resonates with new generations. I can't remember any phase in my life where I haven't at some point enjoyed putting on headphones (over time they have decreased then increased again in size) and listening to his music.
Why am I telling you this? Good question...
This Saturday I will be putting on an alternative (not a spoof) to the sold out V&A 'David Bowie Is' exhibition, in the shape of Bowie Fest, with fellow comedian Adam Larter as part of the Weirdos Collective (a group of oddball, award winning/nominated comedians I am proud to regularly work alongside). We have day events where we will walk you through the exhibition and have a lot of bizarre Bowiecentric trivia, art and things that even I find hard to explain. We're also going to have a Bowie themed comedy night headlined by Nick Helm, before closing the day with a Bowie oriented club night. In short it's a Bowie heavy day for fans and fans of fans.
And yes that is a plug, but it also gives me the opportunity to talk about Dave (do you think he'd mind me calling him Dave - yeah I imagine so).
Adam's and my friend called this "an excuse to indulge in our sycophantic fascination of Bowie." I think he may be right. There's something still, to me, otherworldly about Bowie that truly fascinates me. Whether it be the bold fashion choices growing ever more conservative through the years, or the shifting styles of his music laced with vivid imagery, he has always appealed. So putting on a show that tries to encompass what we see as "Bowie" has proved not only interesting but an absolute joy.
Whilst building (cobbling together) this great exhibition, there have been a few themes running through the creative processes. Glitter (key) and poorly imitated accents (also key). We have tried to create something that represents what we see as an accurate portrayal of Ziggy himself. This is not the intimate voyeuristic glimpse you might get at the V&A, this is something more bespoke; a lovingly crafted tribute comprised 87 percent of glitter and the rest, well you'd have to come to see that.
Bowie Fest has become not only a celebration of two peoples' love for a man and his creative output, but a celebration of the mood and feelings evoked in fans around the globe. This carnival of silliness is a homage that, we hope, will tap into both the love and nostalgia surrounding the big man himself.
So whether you enjoy painting on an Aladdin Sane stripe and singing loudly to your favourite track, or simply throwing babies around a Kafkaesque nightmare, there will be something for you at Bowie Fest. Come revel in the life and times (albeit inaccurately) of David Robert Jones.
Bowie Fest will take place all day at The Lion, 2 Britannia Street, Kings Cross, London WC1X 9JE
Tours every hour 4-8pm followed by Comedy, which in turn is followed by dancing. Let's dance.
Tickets available here: http://www.wegottickets.com/bowiefest