Backstage Passes - Angela Bowie

 

After reading the latest tomes that I've found on Bowie and Iggy, I remembered this book, which I assume I picked up a number of years ago since I apparently never blogged about it. Considering that it had been long enough that I don't remember much of it, I decided to give it another go.

Of course, the main topic of this book is Angie's time with David, so it's no surprise that she opens with her introduction to the man and how their relationship grew quickly, despite the fact that David was living in a house with another woman and was having copious sex with whomever he fancied. He was also working on his folk-singer/hippie persona, which was nowhere near as stylish as his many other personas, but Angie still saw something there that she thought could become something special.

It's well known that Angie helped to hone David's image and his career in general and their agreement was that once David was established, then they would work on Angie's career in theater, music or some such combination. Of course, once he was a star, David kinda conveniently "forgot" about that pledge and left Angie to fend for herself. But, at the beginning, they worked together to fine tune a look'n'sound'n'persona that would capture'n'captivate the masses - while Angie also helped with numerous other chores, from procuring management to housing to whatever else was needed.

She talks about sex a lot and funnily, she says that, unlike many others, David was not a great lover, despite his physical attributes, and it wasn't until years later that a man was able to fulfill her like female lovers had. But, that didn't keep her from staying with Bowie for a number of years, as they had an open arrangement that they both took advantage of. There is a heavy emphasis on the sex that they were both having, which at my age, gets a little tiresome, but I'm sure it helped to sell the book.

She doesn't pull any punches in her criticisms of her ex, but she also goes to great lengths to explain that she did indeed think that he was gorgeous and talented and deserved his fame, although she also makes it clear that her help was needed to tip him over the edge.

There are lots of escapades, plenty of tales of David's drug-induced paranoias, copious drug abuse all around (including friends and acquaintances dying from overdoses), witches, bitches, sad stories and much more - overall, their relationship was not a happy time for either of them. Angie ends the tale when they get divorced and while she is a survivor, it sounds like there have been more than too many sad times since then, as well.

In any case, don't expect a story of David's music, or even much about his career in general - this is really a kiss'n'tell book, which, again, I suppose was its selling point. Angie comes off reasonably well, although, of course, it IS her book, and while most of us would do things differently (as least we tell ourselves we would), she is sympathetic.

I hope that she's found her way and found some happiness. A strange tale indeed...