📰 George Underwood: The Artist Behind Bowie’s Iconic Eyes

From a teenage punch that changed rock history to creating the surreal, airbrushed magic of Ziggy Stardust, Hunky Dory, and T.Rex covers – a look at the visionary illustrator who shaped glam rock’s visual world.

George Underwood (born 5 February 1947 in Bromley, Kent, England) British artist, illustrator, and musician best known for his iconic album cover artwork in the 1970s, especially his long-term collaborations with childhood friend David Bowie and T.Rex (Marc Bolan).

Early Life & Connection to Bowie

Underwood attended Bromley Technical High School (now Ravens Wood School) alongside David Bowie (then David Jones) and Peter Frampton.

At age 15 (around 1962), Underwood and Bowie got into a fight over a girl. Underwood punched Bowie in the left eye, accidentally scratching the pupil with his fingernail. This caused anisocoria (permanently dilated pupil) and faulty depth perception in Bowie's left eye, creating the illusion of different-coloured eyes (anisocoria + flash photography often made one eye appear darker or mismatched). Despite this, the two remained lifelong friends.

Bowie later said he thanked Underwood for the injury, as it became part of his iconic look (especially as Ziggy Stardust and Aladdin Sane).

Music Career (Brief)

Underwood played in early bands with Bowie, including George and the Dragons and The King Bees.

He also drummed for the psychedelic band Hapshash and the Coloured Coat in the late 1960s.

Underwood eventually shifted focus to visual art, becoming a freelance illustrator.

Artwork & Collaborations

Underwood established himself as a leading illustrator of album covers in the 1970s, often using airbrush, collage, surrealism, and mythical/fantasy imagery. His style was distinctive and perfectly suited to glam rock's theatricality.

Major collaborations with David Bowie:

David Bowie (aka Space Oddity, 1969) – Mercury release (US title Man of Words/Man of Music)

Hunky Dory (1971) – iconic cover with Bowie's face in a soft, almost feminine pose

The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972) – the legendary cover with Bowie as Ziggy in front of a London street, photographed by Brian Ward but with Underwood's distinctive airbrushed, otherworldly touch

Other notable artwork:

T.Rex – My People Were Fair and Had Sky in Their Hair... But Now They're Content to Wear Stars on Their Brows (1968) – his first major album cover for Bolan

T.Rex – Futuristic Dragon (1976)

Mott the Hoople – All the Young Dudes (1972) – the iconic cover a track-and-field scene

Procol Harum – Shine On Brightly (1968)

The Fixx – several 1980s albums (Phantoms, Reach the Beach, Calm Animals, Beautiful Friction)

Numerous book covers, advertisements, portraits, and drawings throughout the 1970s–1990s

Later Career & Legacy

Underwood continued working as an illustrator and fine artist, producing surreal, mythical, and fantasy-inspired paintings.

He has exhibited his work in galleries and remains active in art circles.

His friendship with Bowie endured for life; Underwood was part of the inner circle and contributed to Bowie's visual identity during his most iconic period.

His art is instantly recognisable for its airbrushed, dreamlike quality and has become a cornerstone of 1970s rock visual culture.

Links to His Artwork

Official website: www.georgeunderwood.com – showcases his paintings, prints, and limited editions.

Instagram: @georgeunderwoodartist – regular posts of his work, including Bowie-related pieces.

Discogs / album cover galleries: Search "George Underwood" on Discogs for a full list of his credited covers (T.Rex, Bowie, Mott the Hoople, etc.).

Wikipedia: George Underwood (artist) – good overview with links to images.

BBC article (2024): "David Bowie: The man who left the Starman with mismatched eyes" – Underwood discusses the eye incident and their friendship.

Art prints & originals: Available through galleries like The Red Dot Gallery or his own site.

Underwood's art helped define glam rock's visual aesthetic – bold, surreal, and theatrical. His lifelong friendship with Bowie and early work with Bolan make him one of the most important behind-the-scenes figures in the genre. 🎨✨