8 Things Young Musicians Should Learn* from David Bowie
* besides how to make awesome music, of course

At the beginning of July, 40 years ago, after a sold-out concert, David Bowie was killing off Ziggy Stardust, the alter-ego that defined his career, a blueprint for dozens of artists, the character that changed the face of music forever. Some called his gesture madness, others called it integrity, we don’t know exactly what Bowie called it, but in an interview he once said “I think he was a very successful character and I think I played him well, but I’m glad I’m me again”.

And Bowie’s life is full of examples like the above-mentioned one, outlining the career of a musician fearlessly chasing his own artistic endeavors. He’s seen good, and he’s seen bad and he has been constantly faced with challenges that can become any young musician’s challenges irrespective of time and place. His career is a sturdy template. You can find out how he dodged delicate issues, how he got stuck and how he managed to keep his artistic integrity.

The following rant is a fan’s investigation into the hours of reading biographies, watching interviews and listening to Ziggy’s father, brother and executioner.

1. Kill them creations when time comes

So, Bowie ‘killed’ Ziggy after one year. You’re probably still a long way till that time will come, but the truth is that what’s good for your manager, colleagues and fans is not necessarily good for you. As creator of your own work, you know better than anyone else when the time to pull the plug and start anew has come. Call it instinct. It’s a fluid, but handy tool. And by all means, wear a dress if you have to.

2. Perseverance

His debut album launched in 1967. In 1969 he hit it pretty big with “Space Oddity”, but it was only two more amazing albums later, in 1972, that he got as big as you could get at the time, with “The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars”. So, never take your toys and leave when something doesn’t work the way you want and when you want it. Bowie tried various styles until he finally got to the place he wanted.Complete dedication to the project can work miracles too. CONTINUE READING

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