David Bowie (September 9, 1979) Bob, Blitz & Bowie – Record Mirror

A lively Record Mirror feature documenting David Bowie’s visit to the Blitz club with Bob Geldof, written in the playful, conversational style typical of late‑1970s British music journalism.

Writer:

Photographer: Uncredited

Artist: David Bowie and Bob Geldof

Date: September 9, 1979

Length: 4 min read

The article opens with a humorous vignette describing Bob Geldof’s invitation to Bowie for drinks at Blitz, the London nightclub that had become the nucleus of the New Romantic movement. The piece paints Blitz as a haven for eccentric fashion and theatrical self‑expression, where “the weirder the better” was the rule. Bowie’s presence at the club is portrayed as both casual and symbolic — a meeting of generations between the glam pioneer and the new wave of style‑driven performers. The text blends gossip, observation, and cultural commentary, noting Bowie’s interest in Gary Numan’s videos and his fondness for films such as *The Man Who Fell to Earth* and *Cabaret*.

PUBLICATION

Publication: Record Mirror

Date: September 9, 1979

Country: United Kingdom

Section / Pages: Feature Spread

Title: Bob, Blitz & Bowie

FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS

Event: Bowie’s visit to Blitz club with Bob Geldof

Era: 1979 – Pre‑Scary Monsters period

Tone: Playful and observational

Photography: Two black‑and‑white shots of Bowie and Geldof in conversation

Audience: Record Mirror readers and New Romantic enthusiasts

“Blitz is a club where the motto should be: ‘The weirder the better.’”

THE STORY BEHIND IT

By late 1979, Bowie was re‑emerging in London’s art and fashion circles after his Berlin years. His appearance at Blitz — alongside Bob Geldof — linked him directly to the rising generation of performers who would soon define the 1980s pop aesthetic. The article captures this cultural handover with wit and immediacy, portraying Bowie as amused, curious, and quietly influential. The piece also reflects Record Mirror’s tabloid‑style approach to music coverage, mixing reportage with character sketches and nightlife colour.

“Bowie likes Blitz because he finds it like a Berlin club.”

WHAT THE CLIPPING SHOWS

Event: Bowie and Geldof at Blitz club

Era: 1979

Tone: Informal and humorous

Photography: Two candid portraits of Bowie and Geldof

Audience: British pop‑culture readers and club‑scene followers

CONTEXT AND NOTES

This feature is among the earliest press references linking Bowie to the Blitz scene, which would soon produce artists like Steve Strange, Boy George, and Spandau Ballet. The article’s tone — half gossip, half cultural snapshot — mirrors the transitional mood of late 1979, as Bowie prepared for *Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)* and the New Romantics prepared to take centre stage.

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SOURCES

Record Mirror (September 9 1979)

Publication verified from archival issue records

Context cross‑checked with Bowie biography 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.

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