DAVID BOWIE VOTED THE MOST INFLUENTIAL MUSICIAN OF THE PAST 30 YEARS BY FELLOW MUSICIANS AND CRITICS

DATE: OCTOBER 9, 1998

FROM: TRESA REDBURN/MITCH SCHNEIDER

DAVID BOWIE
VOTED THE MOST INFLUENTIAL MUSICIAN
OF THE PAST 30 YEARS
BY FELLOW MUSICIANS
AND CRITICS

DAVID BOWIE, the ultimate chameleon of rock'n'roll whose career has evolved over three decades, has been voted the most influential musician of the past 30 years by fellow musicians and critics.

BOWIE edged ahead of The Beatles and Bob Marley, who were in second and third places respectively. Other musical luminaries in the top 10 included Jimi Hendrix, James Brown and Marvin Gaye and fellow collaborator Iggy Pop.

The survey was compiled by the London magazine Time Out (U.K.) to celebrate its 30th birthday and contributors to the survey included Boy George, Mick Hucknall and Johnny Marr.

BOWIE, whose career has encompassed the realms of music, art, film and the Internet, has continually reinvented himself. He set visual standards with his exotic outfits whilst at the forefront of glam rock, Seventies soul, Eighties funk and the New Romantic era. His influence has been felt throughout the `90's through his own music and such BOWIE-influenced artists as Nirvana, Marilyn Manson and Nine Inch Nails, with whom he collaborated on the electronically rooted "I'm Afraid of Americans" remix EP. The video for one of the versions of the song earned two nominations this year including MTV, where he was nominated in the category of "Best Male Video" and Canada's Much Music, where BOWIE won the "EyePopper" award (Smashing Pumpkins' Billy Corgan was there to accept in Bowie's stead). He is also a successful painter having had many European shows, including two major London exhibitions; has appeared in over 20 films; and has been a key collaborator with Iggy Pop, Lou Reed and Mott The Hoople.

Time Out critic Gary Mulholland stated, "The Brixton boy re-invented pop in his own androgynous, arty, theatrical and ever-mutating image…DAVID BOWIE irrevocably altered our culture."

BOWIE also made an impressive showing in another major U.K. poll–in the "Virgin Top 1,000 Albums Of All Time," where he and the Beatles were the only artists in the Top 20 with more than one album. BOWIE was also the only solo artist in the Top 20 with more than one entry.

BOWIE is currently at the forefront of the Information technology industry by being the first artist to launch his own Internet Service Provider, BowieNet, which provides a high speed Internet service throughout North America and, by the end of the year, throughout the world. BOWIE has also just finished filming three projects, including a spaghetti western entitled IL Mio West (My West) with Harvey Keitel, Exhuming Mr. Rice and Everybody Loves Sunshine with Goldie. He is currently working on a new CD, which is due for release next year.