David Bowie (September 13, 1980) The Elephant Man Cometh – New Musical Express

A landmark New Musical Express cover story and interview with David Bowie, published during his run in the stage production The Elephant Man and the release of his album Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps).

Writer: Angus MacKinnon

Photographer: Anton Corbijn

Artist: David Bowie

Date: September 13, 1980

Length: 6 min read

The issue features Bowie on the front cover in a subdued portrait by Anton Corbijn, accompanied by the headline The Elephant Man Cometh and Other Monstrous Tales. Inside, Angus MacKinnon’s extensive interview explores Bowie’s reflections on loneliness, insecurity, myth, and the dangers of revisiting Major Tom. The article coincides with Bowie’s acclaimed performance in Bernard Pomerance’s The Elephant Man at Chicago’s Blackstone Theatre and the release of Scary Monsters, his most critically celebrated album of the decade.

PUBLICATION

Publication: New Musical Express

Date: September 13, 1980

Country: United Kingdom

Section / Pages: Cover Feature and Pages 30–31

Title: The Elephant Man Cometh and Other Monstrous Tales

FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS

Event: Bowie’s 1980 interview and stage performance coverage

Era: 1980 – Scary Monsters and The Elephant Man period

Tone: Reflective, analytical, and personal

Photography: Anton Corbijn portraits of Bowie in Chicago

Audience: NME readers and Bowie enthusiasts

The Future Isn’t What It Used To Be.

THE STORY BEHIND IT

By late 1980, Bowie was balancing two major creative worlds: his theatrical role as John Merrick in The Elephant Man and his musical reinvention through Scary Monsters. Angus MacKinnon’s interview captures Bowie’s introspection and self‑awareness, discussing fame, isolation, and artistic evolution. The feature’s title and imagery evoke transformation — from the physical distortion of Merrick to the psychological complexity of Bowie’s own personas. The accompanying RCA advertisement reinforces the album’s visual identity with the tagline Often Copied – Never Equalled.

WHAT THE CLIPPING SHOWS

Event: NME cover story and RCA album promotion

Era: 1980

Tone: Serious and introspective

Photography: Bowie portraits by Anton Corbijn

Audience: British music press readers and theatre followers

CONTEXT AND NOTES

This issue stands as one of Bowie’s most definitive press moments of the early 1980s. The combination of theatrical coverage and album promotion illustrates his dual mastery of stage and studio. The Elephant Man Cometh headline and the stark Corbijn photography convey Bowie’s transition from glam icon to mature artist, while the RCA advertisement on the following page cements Scary Monsters as a cultural milestone.

David Bowie talks about loneliness, insecurity, and myth – and the dangers of messing with Major Tom.

SOURCES

New Musical Express (September 13 1980)

Publication verified from archival issue records

Context cross‑checked with discography and press documentation

External anchors: Discogs / Wikipedia (where applicable)

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