Bowie unplugged

As a film critic with a penchant for the unconventional and a soft spot for musical legends, I found myself captivated by Francis Whately’s latest radio production, “Bowie in Berlin.” Having delved into Bowie’s life through three acclaimed documentaries, Whately now offers a fresh perspective on a pivotal period in the icon’s life.

Bowie in Berlin is on Saturday at 8pm on Radio 4. Add it to your collection.

There’s still a lot to discuss about David Bowie, according to Francis Whately, who after producing three highly-regarded TV documentaries on him (Five Years, Finding Fame, The Last Five Years), now delivers a radio broadcast diving into Bowie’s life and creative endeavors in Berlin from 1976 to 1978.

The documentary titled “Bowie in Berlin” utilizes rare archive audio and shares personal accounts from three women – artist Clare Shenstone, nightclub owner Romy Haag, and journalist Sarah-Rena Hine – for the first time, revealing aspects of David Bowie’s life they had never discussed before.

Whately aims to delve beyond the ordinary narratives of David Bowie’s life. “Since his passing in 2016, there has been a significant amount of mythologizing. He appears more remote than during his lifetime, transforming into an idol that I believe he would find unsettling. It seems as though he is no longer human – and yet, he was profoundly human! Exploring a phase in his life where he truly shed everything to rediscover himself is a powerful declaration.

In 1976, after being addicted to cocaine and facing severe psychological distress, David Bowie departed from Los Angeles following the recording of “Station to Station” under the persona of the Thin White Duke. He then ventured back to Europe, creating “Low” in the vicinity of Paris before relocating to Berlin, a city he had always been intrigued by. As Whately explains, Bowie had read Christopher Isherwood’s “Goodbye to Berlin” as a teenager in Bromley and even met Isherwood prior to leaving Los Angeles. Isherwood informed him that the Berlin portrayed in his books was more myth than reality. In essence, Bowie was seeking a place that was already steeped in legend, hoping to find it, and in some ways, he did succeed.

In his narrative, Hine describes how Iggy Pop lived with Bowie in a modest, top-floor apartment at Hauptstraße 155, located in the less fashionable Schöneberg district. Most of the time, the duo were seen wearing only shorts. Bowie would often ride a bicycle to parks, explore art galleries, shop at KaDeWe department store, frequent bars and nightclubs, manage his drug intake, and strive for an average lifestyle. According to Whately, Bowie arrived in Berlin as a distressed individual but departed having made a remarkable recovery. Essentially, Berlin served as a sanctuary for him.

Securing the participation of three of David Bowie’s dearest female companions was quite a significant achievement. Shenstone, who is an artist, model, actor, and muse for Francis Bacon, attended his wedding to Angie in 1970 and continued to be a trusted confidante for many years. In the documentary, she shares a touching story about the day she and Bowie spent together in Berlin, which provides fresh insight into the iconic song “Heroes“.

He came as a casualty and left as a recovered man

According to Whately, Clare returns without a doubt. Given her private nature, earning her trust took many years, just as it did for Hine and Haag. They were not significant figures in the Bowie narrative, but Whately wanted to speak with them because they were artists themselves and had valuable insights into his art. In Berlin, Bowie adopted a modest look, wearing work shirts, flat caps, jeans, and a mustache that made him appear slightly sheepish. As Whately points out, Bowie had an unusual talent for concealing himself. He enjoyed donning costumes, so it’s not surprising that he attempted to blend in by adopting the appearance of a German working-class individual.

Whately acknowledges that certain parts of this era are somewhat vague. Not all of Bowie’s supposed “Berlin trilogy” albums were actually recorded in the city – only “Heroes” was. He spent as much time away from Berlin as he did there, and his time there wasn’t necessarily spent in seclusion. Instead, Berlin served more as a base for him, a place to return to regularly, and he often stripped things down to the essentials when working there.

By 1978, he had departed. According to Whately, Romy Haag claimed that he drained Berlin’s vitality. It was his habit, she said, to do the same with the music he cared about, cities, nations, and people. He would immerse himself in them, experience their life, then leave them behind.

Whately plans to create a visually engaging documentary focusing on this particular phase of his subject’s life. This period, being a turning point in his career, offers a unique perspective that could make for a fascinating film. Additionally, the scarcity of existing footage might work to our advantage, as it allows us to imaginatively recreate the Berlin that he experienced.

2024-09-11 19:03

Read More