Bowie as Mod

David Bowie in 1965 photographed by Cyrus Andrews.

Before Thin White Duke, before Alladin Sane, before Ziggy Stardust , David Bowie was one of the 'faces' of the London Mod scene. At the time, between 1965 and 1966, he released few singles for Pye Records. And even though the singles "I Dig Everything" and "I Can't Help Thinking About Me" did not make it to the charts, they definitely put young Bowie on a map and gave him a fair amount of press attention as a rising young talent.

Article from 1966

The feature on Bowie in Fabulous magazine (30.09.1967) right next to an article about Twiggy. The two would pose together six years later for a cover of Bowie's album Pin-Ups.  

1965

Bowie's style from 1965-1967 was absolutely immaculate - one of the finest examples of 1960's Mod look. Three-button suits, white button-down shirts and inch-wide ties - it was minimal, simple, and yet sharp and cool as an ice cube.

David Bowie and model Jeanette De Souza photographed by Fiona Adams, London, 1965.

1966

1966

A recent CD anthology of Bowie's 1966 Pye singles.

Bowie always felt warmly about his Mod period. In 1973, he paid homage to his Mod roots by releasing Pin-Ups - an album on which he covered songs by bands such as The Who, The Kinks, The Pretty Things or Them (it has to be said - he completely butchered "Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere" and Kinks' "Where Have All The Good Times Gone?". His version of Easybeats' "Friday On My Mind" was pretty good, though).

circa 1967

 1966

Bowie musical output from 1965-1966 period is relatively obscure, but it is still worth attention. It is probably better than his Syd Barrett-influenced, self-titled debut album ("Laughing Gnome", anyone?).

Finally, I bet you did not know this: In 1964, Bowie started a Society Of Prevention Of Cruelty To Men With Long Hair, and he appeared on BBC Tonight.