JANUARY

8 Bowie celebrates his thirtieth birthday with Iggy and Romy Haag and friends in a Berlin nightclub.

Bowie spends time in Berlin art galleries.

11 Sound and Vision / A New Career In A New Town single released from Low. The single was a substantial hit with extensive radio and TV airing.

Rehearsals for Iggy Pop tour at UFA Studios, Berlin.

Letter to Melody Maker:

I would like to correct the misconception that Iggy Pop is managed by myself. Iggy looks after his own business affairs. I would appreciate a printed correction. - Bowie, Berlin

Bowie Now - published in Circus magazine

Rock et Folk interview by Phillip Manoeuvre and Jonathon Farren in Paris:

PM: You seem to be fascinated by cities like Berlin...

DB: Berlin, because of the friction. I've written songs in all the Western capitals, and I've always got to the stage where there isn't any friction between a city and me. That became nostalgic, vaguely decadent, and I left for another city. At the moment I'm incapable of composing in Los Angeles, New York or in London or Paris. There's something missing. Berlin has the strange ability to make you write only the important things - anything else you don't mention, you remain silent, and write nothing ... and in the end you produce Low.

Later, in Bolan's room at the Manchester Post House, Bowie and Bolan demo a few tracks on cassette, the main one being Madman, a track that was later properly pieced together and issued by Cuddly Toys.

This was Bolan's last TV show before his death.

Bowie takes the train from Manchester to Euston, sharing a carriage with Eddie and The Hot Rods, who also recorded for the Bolan show and reporter Tim Lott, whose exclusive interview was published in Record Mirror.

11 Bowie performs on Bing Crosby's Merrie Olde Christmas TV show, singing Heroes [including some mime] and a duet with Bing, Peace On Earth/The Little Drummer Boy.

16 Marc Bolan killed in Barnes, southwest London when his Mini, driven by girlfriend Gloria Jones, runs off the road into a tree.

20 Bowie attends Marc Bolan funeral at The Chapel, Golders Green, London.

23 International releases of "Heroes" single by RCA:

Heroes - in English

Helden - in German

Héros - in French

6:03 mixes of Heroes/Helden and Heroes/Héros released on a special 12" single.

1 Bowie visits Rome to promote "Heroes".

Makes two television appearances: a short interview for L'altra Domenica ("A Different Sunday") and Odeon, a longer feature including performances of Heroes and Sense of Doubt with Bowie on piano.

Throughout this interesting conversation Bowie appears affable and open about his confused personality and the complexities of Ziggy.

He also speaks about Berlin allowing him a simple life, and holidaying with his son in Kenya.

Beauty and the Beast / Sense of Doubt single released in the US.

A 12-inch radio promo-only copy of this single was also issued in the States and backed with Fame (RCA).

Bowie travels from Kenya to New York to continue LP promotion there.

While in New York Bowie was best man for bodyguard Tony Mascia (who played Arthur, Bowie's driver in The Man Who Fell to Earth). Mascia later said of Bowie: “David's a cool kid to work for, I got offered twice the money to work for Rod Stewart, but I turned it down. David's a brilliant guy, the painting, the writing. He's a very generous kid, very shy, but with me he can be himself. I'm like his father.”

The wedding, which was held on Hudson Street, was also attended by Iggy Pop.

Bowie records an appearance for the Superstars Radio Network, interviewed by Sonny Fox. Later released as An Evening With David Bowie.

Records the narration of Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf, the traditional children's story. The music was supplied by the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra and conducted by Eugene Ormandy.

1 Interview with Bowie broadcast by John Tobler (Manchester-Piccadilly Radio).

3 NME's Eno interview published. Eno asked about the general recording work with Bowie.