Radio 2 Celebrates David Bowie

Life on Mars?' is one of David Bowie's most astonishing songs, prompting some observers to describe it as Bowie's own 'My Way.' The irony is, it very nearly was: in 1968, Bowie wrote an early lyric (A Fool Learns to Love) to French singer Claude Francois' ‘Comme D'Habitude' which was rejected - Paul Anka's lyrics weren't & the song eventually became Sinatra's ‘My Way'. Three years later when ‘Life on Mars?' was released on the Hunky Dory album ‘Inspired by Frankie' is written in David Bowie's handwriting on the back cover.

We tell the story of how the song came about and we learn what it was like working in the studio with Bowie. Bowie described it as being ‘a young girl's reaction to the media'; the lyrics best described as being ‘painting-like', impressionistic. Contemporary singer/songwriter Marc Almond examines the lyrics and uncovers the origins of inspiration for the song. We speak to Sophia Anne Caruso, the 15 year old actor who worked with Bowie on his musical Lazarus and is now singing ‘Life on Mars?' in the London production.

We speak to Bob Grace who was Bowie's music publisher, record producer Ken Scott, studio engineer Ray Staff, and we hear from Mike Garson, who played the piano in Bowie's live performances, and he played the song over 200 times live. We also hear from Mick Rock who filmed the video for the song, from singer Dana Gillespie, Friend of Bowie -Wendy Kirkby, Music Publisher Geoff Heath, Bowie biographer Kevin Cann & author Nicholas Pegg.

Presenter: Martin Kemp, Presenter/Writer & Co-producer: Tris Penna. This is a Sue Clark Production for BBC Radio 2.

To celebrate Bowie's genius, Martin Kemp & Tris Penna explore his epic song Life on Mars?

Music, interviews and live performances to mark what would've been Bowie's 75th birthday.

Life on Mars?' is one of David Bowie's most astonishing songs, prompting some observers to describe it as Bowie's own 'My Way.' The irony is, it very nearly was: in 1968, Bowie wrote an early lyric (A Fool Learns to Love) to French singer Claude Francois' ‘Comme D'Habitude' which was rejected – Paul Anka's lyrics weren't & the song eventually became Sinatra's ‘My Way'. Three years later when ‘Life on Mars?' was released on the Hunky Dory album ‘Inspired by Frankie' is written in David Bowie's handwriting on the back cover.

We tell the story of how the song came about and we learn what it was like working in the studio with Bowie. Bowie described it as being ‘a young girl's reaction to the media'; the lyrics best described as being ‘painting-like', impressionistic. Contemporary singer/songwriter Marc Almond examines the lyrics and uncovers the origins of inspiration for the song. We speak to Sophia Anne Caruso, the 15 year old actor who worked with Bowie on his musical Lazarus and is now singing ‘Life on Mars?' in the London production.

We speak to Bob Grace who was Bowie's music publisher, record producer Ken Scott, studio engineer Ray Staff, and we hear from Mike Garson, who played the piano in Bowie's live performances, and he played the song over 200 times live. We also hear from Mick Rock who filmed the video for the song, from singer Dana Gillespie, Friend of Bowie -Wendy Kirkby, Music Publisher Geoff Heath, Bowie biographer Kevin Cann & author Nicholas Pegg.

Presenter: Martin Kemp, Presenter/Writer & Co-producer: Tris Penna. This is a Sue Clark Production for BBC Radio 2.

To celebrate Bowie's genius, Martin Kemp & Tris Penna explore his epic song Life on Mars?

Music, interviews and live performances to mark what would've been Bowie's 75th birthday.

Ken Bruce presents a special compilation celebrating David Bowie's musical legacy.

Music, interviews and live performances to mark what would've been Bowie's 75th birthday.

A biography of David Bowie drawn entirely from BBC archive interviews and sessions.

Music, interviews and live performances to mark what would've been Bowie's 75th birthday.

Music, interviews and live performances to mark what would've been Bowie's 75th birthday.

Music, interviews and live performances to mark what would've been Bowie's 75th birthday.

We look at why on the back of 9 flop singles and many unreleased attempts at fame - Space Oddity was written, and examine the influences with new interviews with his duet partner of the time John Hutchinson and an ex girlfriend Dana Gillespie. We hear in full, exclusively to this programme, for the very first time, the earliest known demo of Space Oddity - performed as a duo with Hutch, but with different lyrics and arrangements. We have previously unheard archive interview of Bowie's manager at the time, Ken Pitt, talking about the unshown TV special 'Love You Till Tuesday' for which the song was written and we hear a previously unheard studio outtake of the song from February 1969. We hear about his multi-media trio Feathers - which was the starting point for the song - plus other influences such as Kubrick's 2001 A Space Odyssey. We learn how Bowie admits that 'Gee I am Major Tom' and how the creation of the Major Tom character would be the first of many in his career. We reveal how Tony Visconti hated the song - so gave it to Gus Dudgeon to record, and how Elton John was so blown away by Space Oddity that he just had to have Gus Dudgeon as his producer. Bassist Herbie Flowers who played on the track tells us about the original session plus playing the song with David on his 1974 tour. We also hear from Philips Records executive Olav Wyper on how he helped make the record - against all odds - a hit. We hear how David won an Ivor Novello award for best original song. We discover how David Bowie's first UK number one single was a re-issue of Space Oddity in 1975 and hear the 1979 Lennonesque remake. We hear from video director David Mallet - who made the startling video for Space Oddity 1979 which presaged the award winning video for Ashes To Ashes the song of course prominently features 'Major Tom' who is now a junky - We have exclusive archive of Bowie talking about Ashes to Ashes and the continuing story of Major Tom. We also explore other versions of the song, including a reggae version by Rudy Grant and hear German singer Peter Schilling who had a worldwide hit with the song ‘Major Tom' in 1982. In a brand new interview Pet Shop Boy Neil Tennant tells us how PSBs came to remix ‘Hello Spaceboy' - and how it was his idea to 'cut up' the original Space Oddity lyrics and sing them with Bowie on the hit.

We also hear some rare audio of the very last time Bowie performed the song in 2002 in Denmark. Space Oddity has by now become such a part of popular culture that it was no surprise when Chris Hadfield performed Space Oddity live from the Space Station. And in an exclusive interview superstar film director Johan Renck tells us about the creative process of working with Bowie on the Blackstar video - the video that sees Major Tom finally laid to rest, made only months before Bowie's untimely death. The programme is presented by Tris Penna, who as a record executive and producer knew and worked with David Bowie.

Marking the 50th anniversary of the release of Bowie's Space Oddity - his first ever hit.

Music, interviews and live performances to mark what would've been Bowie's 75th birthday.

July 2019 is the 50th anniversary not only of the Apollo moon landing but of the original release of David Bowie's 'Space Oddity' single, which was his first ever hit. 'One Giant Step' examines the origins and legacy of 'Space Oddity' - arguably Bowie's best known song, and its importance as a shadowy presence throughout his whole career cannot be underestimated. With new interviews from those who were there - including musicians, record company personnel and friends - as well as archive and unbroadcast interviews with David and producer Gus Dudgeon - we track 'Major Tom' from 'Space Oddity', through 'Ashes to Ashes' 'Hello Spaceboy' to 'Blackstar' with unheard studio outtakes and live performances. Contributors include: Pet Shop Boys, Dana Gillespie, Kevin Cann, and Olav Wyper.

We look at why on the back of 9 flop singles and many unreleased attempts at fame - Space Oddity was written, and examine the influences with new interviews with his duet partner of the time John Hutchinson and an ex girlfriend Dana Gillespie. We hear in full, exclusively to this programme, for the very first time, the earliest known demo of Space Oddity - performed as a duo with Hutch, but with different lyrics and arrangements. We have previously unheard archive interview of Bowie's manager at the time, Ken Pitt, talking about the unshown TV special 'Love You Till Tuesday' for which the song was written and we hear a previously unheard studio outtake of the song from February 1969. We hear about his multi-media trio Feathers - which was the starting point for the song - plus other influences such as Kubrick's 2001 A Space Odyssey. We learn how Bowie admits that 'Gee I am Major Tom' and how the creation of the Major Tom character would be the first of many in his career. We reveal how Tony Visconti hated the song - so gave it to Gus Dudgeon to record, and how Elton John was so blown away by Space Oddity that he just had to have Gus Dudgeon as his producer. Bassist Herbie Flowers who played on the track tells us about the original session plus playing the song with David on his 1974 tour. We also hear from Philips Records executive Olav Wyper on how he helped make the record - against all odds - a hit. We hear how David won an Ivor Novello award for best original song. We discover how David Bowie's first UK number one single was a re-issue of Space Oddity in 1975 and hear the 1979 Lennonesque remake. We hear from video director David Mallet - who made the startling video for Space Oddity 1979 which presaged the award winning video for Ashes To Ashes the song of course prominently features 'Major Tom' who is now a junky - We have exclusive archive of Bowie talking about Ashes to Ashes and the continuing story of Major Tom. We also explore other versions of the song, including a reggae version by Rudy Grant and hear German singer Peter Schilling who had a worldwide hit with the song ‘Major Tom' in 1982. In a brand new interview Pet Shop Boy Neil Tennant tells us how PSBs came to remix ‘Hello Spaceboy' - and how it was his idea to 'cut up' the original Space Oddity lyrics and sing them with Bowie on the hit.

We also hear some rare audio of the very last time Bowie performed the song in 2002 in Denmark. Space Oddity has by now become such a part of popular culture that it was no surprise when Chris Hadfield performed Space Oddity live from the Space Station. And in an exclusive interview superstar film director Johan Renck tells us about the creative process of working with Bowie on the Blackstar video - the video that sees Major Tom finally laid to rest, made only months before Bowie's untimely death. The programme is presented by Tris Penna, who as a record executive and producer knew and worked with David Bowie.

Marking the 50th anniversary of the release of Bowie's Space Oddity - his first ever hit.

Music, interviews and live performances to mark what would've been Bowie's 75th birthday.

Florence will feature archive of the late David Bowie explaining why he chose to live and work in Berlin and the impact the city's history had on the masterpiece he created. She'll also meet the album's producer Tony Visconti to get an insight to the unique recording techniques he employed to interpret Bowie's creative vision and how the characteristics of the famous Hansa Studios, which are situated in a huge former chamber music concert hall, contributed to the album's influential sounds. Iggy Pop, who was living with Bowie in Berlin during the recording of the album, recalls how a battle with drug addiction, bankruptcy and a dispute with his ex wife for access to his son all provided inspiration for the album's lyrics and Brian Eno, who collaborated with David throughout the LP's recording, explains the unique musical structures he and David employed to compose the innovative songs.

Berlin's radical cultural diversity had always fascinated Bowie and Florence will explain how the opportunity to live and work in the city during the turbulent political period prior to the fall of `the Wall' provided the perfect austere environment for David and his collaborators to experiment with music inspired by several German techno bands of the 70's, including Neu!, Kraftwerk and Can.

Florence Welch explores the influence of David Bowie's seminal 'Heroes' album.

Music, interviews and live performances to mark what would've been Bowie's 75th birthday.

Florence will feature archive of the late David Bowie explaining why he chose to live and work in Berlin and the impact the city's history had on the masterpiece he created. She'll also meet the album's producer Tony Visconti to get an insight to the unique recording techniques he employed to interpret Bowie's creative vision and how the characteristics of the famous Hansa Studios, which are situated in a huge former chamber music concert hall, contributed to the album's influential sounds. Iggy Pop, who was living with Bowie in Berlin during the recording of the album, recalls how a battle with drug addiction, bankruptcy and a dispute with his ex wife for access to his son all provided inspiration for the album's lyrics and Brian Eno, who collaborated with David throughout the LP's recording, explains the unique musical structures he and David employed to compose the innovative songs.

Berlin's radical cultural diversity had always fascinated Bowie and Florence will explain how the opportunity to live and work in the city during the turbulent political period prior to the fall of `the Wall' provided the perfect austere environment for David and his collaborators to experiment with music inspired by several German techno bands of the 70's, including Neu!, Kraftwerk and Can.

Florence Welch explores the influence of David Bowie's seminal 'Heroes' album.

Music, interviews and live performances to mark what would've been Bowie's 75th birthday.