Liam Mayclem Reflects On David Bowie
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) – David Bowie, born David Robert Jones in Brixton, London in 1947 was so many things: Actor, artist, brilliant mind, businessman, comedian (he was bloody funny), dad, gender bender, gentleman, genius, fashion icon, husband, musician, tech wiz, visionary.
He was taken from us two days after his 69th birthday. Taken too soon, robbed of his GOLDEN YEARS after an 18 month battle with cancer. "He fought like a lion until the end" said a family friend.
David Bowie left us with the gift of his music and on his birthday last week, a parting gift his last album "Black Star".
I had the joy of interviewing the THIN WHITE DUKE twice and meeting him on another occasion. He left a massive impression.
I was flown to New York by ZDTV in 1999 to watch him record a song "What's Really Happening", part of a cyber song contest.
When he met the song contest winner Bowie said to him "you smell good. What are you wearing"? The kid froze and then the music icon laughed. All were then at ease.
It was a non-stop "goosebump moment" watching Bowie, one of my musical heroes up close, a genius at work. He did many takes until he got the song right. He chuckled and smoked his way through the session. He cracked jokes in between every take. He was funny, bloody funny.
Then came the interview. This could be the biggest screw up of my career or the highlight of my career and it was the latter - luckily because David Bowie made it so. He was gentle, kind, quick and funny. He also puffed and chuckled throughout our chat.
Liam: "Talk me through a typical day and how you interact with technology"?
DB: "I get up and check my email and we if I have been spammed. Don't SPAM me okay.
I then check the web and have an "internap nap". It used to be a disco nap. Now it's an Internet nap.
As fans around the world mourn this sudden loss, I want to share a Bowie quote posted at a South London tube station (thanks Nick Carpenter).
"I don't know where I am going from here but I promise it won't be boring"!!
THANK YOU for the music and your life's work of art.
THANK YOU also for letting us know it's okay to be different.
#RIPDavidBowie
1947 - 2016
*Note: Liam Mayclem covered music & technology at ZDTV & TECH TV (1998-2002)
