10 Interesting Facts About David Bowie You’ll love

1. His First TV Appearance Was So Strange, It Became a Meme

Before becoming a rock icon, 17-year-old David Bowie made his TV debut in 1964—on a BBC segment about an organization he founded: The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Long-Haired Men. The group protested against men being harassed for having long hair. While it started as a joke, Bowie’s deadpan delivery made it unforgettable.

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2. He Had a Near-Death Experience in the ’70s—Thanks to Cocaine and Paranoia

During his Thin White Duke era, Bowie lived in Los Angeles and developed a dangerous cocaine habit. He became so paranoid that he thought witches were stealing his semen to create a demonic child. He even had a friend, occult filmmaker Kenneth Anger, perform an exorcism in his home. This period nearly killed him, and he later credited his move to Berlin as saving his life.

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3. His Left Eye Wasn’t Naturally Different—It Was the Result of a Fight

Bowie’s iconic mismatched eyes were due to a teenage fight with his friend George Underwood over a girl. Underwood punched him so hard that it permanently damaged the muscles in his left eye, causing the pupil to stay dilated. Despite this, Bowie and Underwood remained lifelong friends, and Underwood even designed some of his early album covers.

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4. He Was Rejected by a Famous Rock Star for Not Being ‘Rock’ Enough

In the early ’70s, Bowie tried to give Suffragette City to Mott the Hoople, a band he admired. They rejected it, saying it didn’t fit their style. Bowie then wrote All the Young Dudes specifically for them, and it became their biggest hit. Bowie’s songwriting for others was a hidden strength, and he often helped fellow artists achieve success.

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5. He Once Shared an Apartment with Iggy Pop—And They Lived Like Broke Art Students

After his excessive Los Angeles years, Bowie moved to Berlin in 1976 to clean up his act. He shared a small apartment with Iggy Pop, where they lived modestly, rode bicycles, and immersed themselves in art and underground culture. This period produced Bowie’s Berlin Trilogy and Iggy’s The Idiot and Lust for Life, two albums Bowie helped create.

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6. He Was One of the First Major Artists to Embrace the Internet—Way Before It Was Cool

Bowie launched his own internet service, BowieNet, in 1998, offering exclusive content and artist forums. He even released an album (Hours…, 1999) as a digital download before its physical release—something unheard of at the time. Bowie saw the future of digital music long before most artists did.

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7. He Turned Down a Knighthood from the Queen

In 2000, Bowie was offered a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) honor, and in 2003, he was offered full knighthood—both of which he refused. He stated, “I seriously don’t know what it’s for. It’s not what I spent my life working for.” Unlike other rockers, Bowie never craved official recognition.

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8. He Was Almost in Lord of the Rings

Peter Jackson reportedly considered Bowie for the role of Elrond, the Elven leader in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. However, the role ultimately went to Hugo Weaving. Some say Bowie’s larger-than-life persona would have distracted from the film, but it’s fascinating to imagine him in Middle-earth.

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9. He Secretly Released His Final Album Knowing He Was Dying

Bowie’s 2016 album Blackstar was filled with cryptic lyrics and imagery hinting at his impending death. Few knew he had liver cancer, as he kept his illness private for 18 months. The album was released on his 69th birthday, and he passed away just two days later. His producer, Tony Visconti, called Blackstar his “parting gift to the world.”

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10. He Was Obsessed with UFOs—And Claimed to Have Seen One

Bowie was fascinated by extraterrestrials, often writing about space and aliens (Space Oddity, Starman, Ziggy Stardust). In interviews, he claimed to have seen a UFO in the 1960s and was so intrigued that he kept a detailed journal of reported sightings. His fascination with the cosmos shaped his music and persona.