Review: David Bowie Is Happening Now

David Bowie Is Happening Now
Cert: 12A / 99 mins / Dir. Hamish Hamilton



Part tour-guide, part retrospective, David Bowie is Happening Now was tonight's live-presentation from London's V&A Museum showcasing their fastest selling exhibition ever, and offering a small insight into the creative behemoth that is Bowie.

I say a small insight, because with the best will in the world, 99 minutes can barely scratch the surface. The presentation centres more around Bowie as a cultural icon than a musician, and features short talk-pieces from collaborators, peers and fans, with the two presenters taking time out to discuss various pieces from the museum including personal effects, stage costumes and hand-written lyrics and storyboards. Interspersed with archive interview and live performance footage, it's aimed squarely at existing-fans, and while it does its job well, I couldn't help but want more input from the man himself. Spoken-word excerpts from Bowie are frustratingly infrequent (considering the show is about him), and while they were largely unfamiliar to me, I don't know how many of them were in the public domain before this show.

So, it's not really ideal for newbies, and I suspect the more devoted followers will struggle to find much new; but it is absolutely fascinating if you're into art, music and performance at any level (even as a spectator). For the full experience, try and catch the exhibit itself, which is about to tour internationally. Sorry Londoners, you've had your chance.

Mick Jagger? Tin Machine? Not a peep. Oddly.

I… er… it's not really a trailer, is it?



I… er… next.



From a certain point of view, yes.



Well I doubt you'll have a lot of choice now, but if you're a Bowie fan you'll want to see it the next time it becomes available.



No.



Probably only if if surfaces on BBC4.



No. Surprisingly.

Is it just me that thinks DB's 'Diamond Dogs' era stuff sounds like the Stones?
Oh, it is.
Right.

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