David Bowie: (October 16, 1980) “Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)” - Rolling Stone

Article Context & Main Highlights

David Bowie – Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) Album Advertisement

Publication: Rolling Stone Date: October 16, 1980 Theatrical full-page promotional advert for David Bowie’s landmark album Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps), published in Rolling Stone. The striking black-and-white design features dramatic, overlapping images of Bowie in elaborate makeup and costume, creating a powerful visual statement that perfectly captured the album’s dark, intense artistic direction.

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The advertisement announces the new album with the tagline “Ladies and Gentlemen, THE SHOW BEGINS…” and includes a special limited-edition offer for readers. The imagery emphasizes Bowie’s theatrical persona and the album’s themes of alienation, fame, and artistic reinvention.	This iconic advert appeared during the peak promotional period for Scary Monsters, widely regarded as one of Bowie’s greatest albums. It helped cement the record’s reputation as a major artistic statement following the commercial success of the late 1970s. The dramatic shadow play and crumpled paper backdrop added to the album’s unsettling, avant-garde aesthetic.

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