David Bowie (September 20, 1980) Scary Monsters Tamed at Boots – New Musical Express

A full‑page advertisement from New Musical Express promoting David Bowie’s album Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) as Boots’ “Disc Deal Album of the Month,” offered at a special price of £3.99.

Writer: Boots Records Department Advertisement

Artist: David Bowie

Date: September 20, 1980

Length: 3 min read

The advertisement features a stylised monochrome illustration of Bowie’s face and upper torso, drawn with expressive linework and signed “Bowie” in the lower corner. The headline reads “Scary Monsters tamed at Boots £3.99,” linking Bowie’s latest release to the retailer’s monthly promotion. The text explains that Boots selects one top‑selling album each month and offers it at a reduced price, highlighting Bowie’s new record and its hit single “Ashes to Ashes.” The design combines artistic portraiture with commercial typography typical of early‑1980s print advertising.

PUBLICATION

Publication: New Musical Express

Date: September 20, 1980

Country: United Kingdom

Section / Pages: Page 29

Title: Scary Monsters Tamed at Boots

FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS

Event: Boots promotion for Bowie’s Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)

Era: 1980 – Post‑Berlin period

Tone: Promotional and stylish

Photography: Illustrated portrait of Bowie

Audience: UK music readers and retail buyers

Scary Monsters tamed at Boots £3.99.

THE STORY BEHIND IT

By autumn 1980, David Bowie’s Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) marked a creative culmination of his experimental 1970s work. Boots, then a major British retailer of records and tapes, featured the album as its “Disc Deal Album of the Month.” The advertisement emphasised accessibility and affordability, positioning Bowie’s avant‑garde artistry within mainstream reach. The campaign coincided with the chart success of “Ashes to Ashes,” reinforcing Bowie’s renewed commercial and critical prominence.

WHAT THE CLIPPING SHOWS

Event: Retail promotion for Bowie’s Scary Monsters album

Era: 1980

Tone: Artistic and commercial

Photography: Stylised illustration of Bowie

Audience: NME readers and Boots customers

CONTEXT AND NOTES

This advertisement captures the intersection of art and commerce in Bowie’s career. The hand‑drawn portrait evokes the album’s visual aesthetic, while the Boots branding situates Bowie within everyday British retail culture. The £3.99 offer reflects the era’s record‑shop pricing and the growing partnership between music journalism and high‑street promotion.

Boots Disc Deal Album of the Month – Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps).

---

SOURCES

New Musical Express (September 20 1980)

Publication verified from archival issue records

Context cross‑checked with discography and press documentation

External anchors: Discogs / Wikipedia (where applicable)

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

All magazine scans, photographs, and original text excerpts remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This Chronicle entry is a transformative, non‑commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference. No ownership of the original material is claimed or implied.

---