David Bowie (September 9, 1978) consumer’s Guide to David Bowie Part Two: TVC15” Feature – New Musical Express
This New Musical Express feature from September 9 1978 continues the publication’s in‑depth retrospective on David Bowie’s career, subtitled “Part Two: TVC15.” Written by Charles Shaar Murray and Roy Carr, it offers a detailed critical overview of Bowie’s mid‑1970s output, examining his evolution from glam icon to avant‑garde innovator.
Publication: New Musical Express Date: September 9, 1978 Country: United KingdomThe article forms part of NME’s multi‑page “Consumer’s Guide to David Bowie,” analysing his albums from Pin Ups through TVC15 with commentary on songwriting, production, and artistic direction. The writers dissect Bowie’s stylistic transitions — from the covers collection Pin Ups to the experimental textures of Station to Station — and his cinematic persona in The Man Who Fell to Earth. A large monochrome photograph dominates the layout, showing Bowie as Thomas Jerome Newton, lighting a cigarette while wearing a wide‑brimmed hat and check jacket. The caption reads:
“Thomas Jerome Newton pulls on a cigarette and a trigger in Nicholas Roeg’s film ‘The Man Who Fell to Earth.’”
A smaller inset image depicts Bowie performing live, reinforcing the duality between his film and stage personas. The text lists tracks from Pin Ups — including “Here Comes the Night,” “See Emily Play,” “Sorrow,” and “Shapes of Things” — before moving into analytical essays on later works. The tone is scholarly yet vivid, typical of NME’s late‑1970s critical style.
CONTEXT AND NOTES
By 1978, Bowie’s catalogue had become a touchstone for serious rock criticism. This feature situates his work within the broader cultural shifts of the decade, bridging glam, soul, and electronic experimentation. The “Consumer’s Guide” series helped define Bowie’s legacy for a generation of readers discovering his music anew after Low and “Heroes.”
FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS
Event: NME Consumer’s Guide to David Bowie – Part Two
Era: 1978 – Post‑Berlin Period Retrospective Analysis
Tone: Analytical, archival, and critical Photography: Bowie as Thomas Jerome Newton plus live performance inset
WHAT THE CLIPPING SHOWS
Full‑page NME feature analysing Bowie’s mid‑1970s albums
Large portrait from The Man Who Fell to Earth
Tracklist and commentary from Pin Ups through TVC15
Authorship credited to Charles Shaar Murray and Roy Carr
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