Is there Life on Mars?

I have thought long and hard about what to write about this week. I have a lot of options but I thought I would take the time to talk about, like so many others, the passing of David Bowie.

When I found out he had died I genuinely struggled to believe it. How could someone so seemingly larger than life, the King of reinventing the wheel and pushing boundaries artistically and musically suddenly be gone?

The day I was born Ashes To Ashes went to number one, his music has been a part of my life since I came into this world. My father is an unashamed music fanatic and has ensured my sister and I have an eclectic taste, with his own ranging from his old Soul vinyl records to his weird love of American Skate Punk. Bowie was always there, in the mix of his ever rotating car playlists and therefore always a part of our own musical subconscious. As I grew and developed my own tastes, he still featured: strong and ever present.

I love to make mix cd's and playlists and on every version Bowie is there in some way - Life On Mars is one of my favourite records of all time, China Girl, Changes, Let's Dance, Man Who Sold the World .....the list goes on and I truly feel sad that we will never get to see how many more faces the Starman had up his sleeve.

When I was younger someone once told me I couldn't be a true Bowie fan because I don't particularly like Labyrinth. That's bull shit. I don't like Rod Stewart singing Sailing but it doesn't lessen my respect and love for him (also courtesy of my Dad). David Bowie was a voice for the people, a man who showed us it is ok to simply be whoever and whatever you choose, his lyrics were fantastic, his creativity unparalleled and the world is definitely a much less colourful and theatrical place without him.

I was lucky enough to see him play his last ever live performance in England in 2004 at the Isle of Wight festival. The gig was special to me because I was seeing a hero on stage at the very festival my own father attended in the 70's. By coincidence I bumped into three school friends. One of them I spent the entire day reminiscing with, two I saw right at the front, right there as the great man himself played. It was a moment we all remember (I still maintain he was staring right at me during Ashes To Ashes....he knew!)

I thank you David for the music which has underscored my whole life so far, memories and the theatrical gift you gave us. I thank you for being brave enough to simply be yourself and for seeming to remain humble and grounded in spite of achieving the level of fame few will see again. This weekend I will raise a glass for you: we can, indeed, be Heroes, just for one day.....you truly were the Starman, so shine on.