David Bowie
David Bowie was born David Robert Jones in Brixton, London on January 8, 1947.
Bowie changed his name in 1966 to avoid confusion with Davy Jones of The Monkees.
Over his extensive career, David Bowie has had a variety of personae and musical styles, the consistent factor being sheer quality. Many of Bowie's best albums are from the 1970s: Hunky Dory (1971), "The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and The Spiders From Mars (1972), Diamond Dogs (1974), Young Americans (1975), Station to Station (1976), Low (1977), and Heroes (1977).
The The Rough Guide to Rock has this quote from David Bowie:
"I once asked John Lennon what he thought of what I do. He said 'It's great, but it's just rock 'n' roll with lipstick on."
Bowie's first major acting role was the television obsessed alien in The Man Who Fell To Earth. He also appeared in Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence.
David Bowie has explored many avenues, not least the internet, where he has an arts site.
Indeed, in 2007, David Bowie won a Webby Special Achievement Awards: Lifetime Achievement Award.
As at 2007, David Bowie and Robbie Williams shared the record for having the most number one albums in the UK.