David Bowie (May 25, 1971) Lincolnshire Echo – Artist Profile

Publication: Lincolnshire Echo Date: Tuesday, 25 May 1971 Country: United Kingdom Section / Page: Page 3 – Records by Alan Jones Format: Music Feature / Artist Profile

Overview

This early 1971 provincial‑press feature captures David Bowie at a pivotal moment — ambitious, eccentric, and already thinking far beyond the boundaries of conventional pop. Published just over a year before the arrival of Ziggy Stardust, the article presents Bowie as a visionary figure working behind the scenes: producing for Dana Gillespie, developing The Arnold Corns project, and openly discussing his desire to “create stars” in the mould of Andy Warhol.

The piece offers a rare snapshot of Bowie’s pre‑Ziggy mindset: restless, experimental, and quietly preparing for his breakthrough.

Lincolnshire Echo – “David Has Stars In His Eyes”, May 25, 1971.

“Bowie was already dreaming in stardust long before the world caught up.”

What the Clipping Shows

A prominent headline — “David has stars in his eyes” — introduces a detailed profile of Bowie’s creative activities. The article discusses his reputation for being “outrageous,” his production work with Dana Gillespie, and his new project The Arnold Corns with singer Rudi Valentino. Two notable quotes stand out:

“She could be a female Elton John,” Bowie says of Dana Gillespie. “David is something of an odd ball as far as pop is concerned.”

A small review of a new single by The Move appears at the bottom of the column, typical of the mixed‑content layout of local newspaper music pages

The Story Behind It

In May 1971, Bowie was in a transitional phase — not yet a household name, but already shaping the ideas and aesthetics that would soon define Ziggy Stardust. He was producing material for Dana Gillespie, whose songwriting he praised enthusiastically, and experimenting with The Arnold Corns as a vehicle for his own compositions. The article highlights Bowie’s fascination with Warhol’s concept of manufactured stardom, portraying him as a creative outsider with a flair for the unconventional.

The piece captures Bowie as an ambitious, slightly eccentric visionary — a young artist with “stars in his eyes,” poised on the edge of transformation.

“He wasn’t just chasing fame — he was trying to manufacture it.”

Related Material

• Oh You Pretty Thing – Single (Apr. 1971)   Contemporary press coverage surrounding Bowie’s early‑1971 single release, marking a key step toward the Ziggy persona.

• Moonage Daydream – Single (Apr. 1971)   Material relating to the Arnold Corns version of “Moonage Daydream,” documenting Bowie’s experimental pre‑Ziggy songwriting.

• Burretti with Arnold Corns – Article (UK, Apr. 1971)   Coverage of Freddie Burretti and the Arnold Corns project, highlighting Bowie’s early attempts at creating stylised pop “stars.”

Source Details

Publication: Lincolnshire Echo Date: Tuesday, 25 May 1971 Format: Music Feature / Artist Profile Provenance Notes: Original 1971 newspaper clipping from archive collection.

© Copyright Notice — David Has Stars In His Eyes (May 25, 1971)

All original newspaper text, photographs, and layout elements remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This scrapbook entry is a transformative, non‑commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference.

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