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📰 On the QE2 Voyage‑Article : Sept. 1972

  • Writer: David Bowie
    David Bowie
  • Sep 23, 1972
  • 2 min read

A breezy, gossip‑tilted one‑page Scrapbook report charting David Bowie’s transatlantic journey to New York aboard the QE2 — a trip shaped by his fear of flying, the rising heat of Ziggy‑mania, and the oddball music‑industry news orbiting him that week.


Scrapbook


Date: September 23, 1972

Format: One‑page article


A moment of ocean‑liner glamour, comic‑book crossovers and early‑’70s Bowie buzz.


đź“° Key Highlights

• Bowie arrives in New York by sea, avoiding air travel

• Column jokes about “the real Spider‑Man” being out — Buddah Records launching Marvel‑themed “rockomic” albums

• Notes on Bowie’s travel plans, venues and schedule

• Wider New York music‑scene updates woven around the Bowie item

• Snapshot of British acts gaining traction in the U.S.


đź“° Overview

This Scrapbook column uses Bowie’s QE2 arrival as its anchor, then spirals outward into a collage of New York music chatter. The tone is light, cheeky and very early‑’70s — treating Bowie as both rising star and cultural curiosity, while peppering the page with industry tidbits.


đź“° Source Details

Publication / Venue: Scrapbook

Date: September 23, 1972

Format: One‑page article

Provenance Notes: Based on the original New York–filed column referencing Bowie’s QE2 arrival.


đź“° The Story

The article highlights:


• **Bowie’s fear of flying**, prompting his ocean‑liner crossing

• **His arrival in New York**, timed with growing U.S. interest in Ziggy Stardust

• **A playful warning** that Marvel’s Spider‑Man is “out,” thanks to Buddah Records’ new superhero‑themed “rockomic” releases

• **Updates on New York venues**, including the Felt Forum’s potential as a major rock space

• **Music‑scene snapshots** — Bill Withers’ live album, ELP’s gold certification, Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway’s million‑seller

• **British success in America**, with Argent cited as a standout


The Bowie mention is brief but central — a sign of how quickly his presence had become newsworthy on both sides of the Atlantic.


đź“° Visual Archive

• Column layout with Bowie item at the top

• Mix of short news bites and industry notes

• Typical early‑’70s scrapbook‑style presentation


Bowie in late ’72 — crossing oceans, dodging planes and landing in America just as the legend takes hold.


đź“° Closing Notes

This Scrapbook entry captures Bowie on the cusp of U.S. breakthrough — a star travelling by ship while his fame travels at light speed.



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