David Bowie (October 16, 1980) – “Scary Monsters” Album Advert – Rolling Stone.
A striking full-page RCA Records advertisement promotes David Bowie's newly released album Scary Monsters. Using dramatic imagery and the slogan “Ladies and Gentlemen, The Show Begins…”, the advert presents the album as Bowie's latest artistic statement at the beginning of a new decade.
Publication: Rolling Stone
Date: October 16, 1980
Country: United States
This full-page RCA Records advertisement promotes David Bowie's album Scary Monsters. The design is dominated by a theatrical black-and-white image of Bowie posed against a stark studio backdrop, reinforcing the album's dramatic visual identity.
At the top of the page appears the promotional slogan:
“Ladies and Gentlemen, The Show Begins…”
Beneath it the advert prominently features the album title Scary Monsters together with the description:
“The New Album”
The advertisement also promotes a special offer tied to the release, stating that purchasers would receive a limited-edition colour poster while stocks lasted.
The page concludes with ordering information and RCA Records branding, creating a clean, visually powerful campaign centred entirely on Bowie and the album artwork.
CONTEXT AND NOTES
Published shortly after the release of Scary Monsters, the advertisement captures the marketing campaign surrounding one of David Bowie's most acclaimed albums.
The advert's theatrical presentation reflects themes of performance, identity and spectacle that had long been associated with Bowie's work. Rather than relying on reviews, track listings or critical endorsements, the campaign focuses on powerful imagery and the artist's established reputation.
The minimalist approach allows the visual concept of Scary Monsters to dominate the page, making the advertisement immediately recognisable as part of the album's overall presentation.
FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS
Event: Promotion of Scary Monsters
Era: 1980 – Scary Monsters Era
Tone: Dramatic and theatrical
Photography: Full-page black-and-white studio image of David Bowie used as promotional artwork
WHAT THE CLIPPING SHOWS
• Full-page RCA Records advertisement
• Promotion for the album Scary Monsters
• Slogan: “Ladies and Gentlemen, The Show Begins…”
• Special colour poster offer
• Prominent album artwork and Bowie imagery
• RCA Records branding and ordering information
All magazine scans, photographs, and original text excerpts referenced in this entry remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This Chronicle entry is a transformative, non-commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference. No ownership of the original material is claimed or implied.
Comments