Three months ago today, legendary musician/actor/producer David Bowie passed away after a lengthy battle with liver cancer. His passing came a mere two days after his 69th birthday as well as two days after the release of Blackstar, his 25th studio album. To say that his passing sent shockwaves throughout the world is an understatement. Many felt that Bowie was essentially invincible and immortal, destined to provide us with his unique music and his charming and accomplished acting abilities for years to come.
I personally find the thought of seeing Bowie as some kind of deity-like figure somewhat offensive to the memory of him. He was no god and, in many ways, he was no saint either. He was a human being, which meant he was flawed and he was vulnerable. And for me, that’s what made his creative work so special. That’s what made it stand out. By avoiding the starry gaze that many have for celebrities and the work they craft, I find that I’m more amazed and appreciative of their work because it comes with pain, fear, rage, sadness, joy, excitement, and every other gamut of emotion that one can think of. It’s what makes me able to relate to Bowie’s music, to let it really have an impact on my soul.
When a celebrity passes away, there is often a discussion on the legacy they left behind. We look at the movies they made, the art they painted, the music they wrote, the books they’ve written… Whatever their craft, we look at their output for solace and comfort, knowing that we’ll always have those works with us, even though their creator has moved on.
Bowie’s longtime collaborator and producer Tony Visconti wrote a poignant and touching statement after the star’s passing:
He always did what he wanted to do. And he wanted to do it his way and he wanted to do it the best way. His death was no different from his life – a work of Art. He made Blackstar for us, his parting gift. I knew for a year this was the way it would be. I wasn’t, however, prepared for it. He was an extraordinary man, full of love and life. He will always be with us. For now, it is appropriate to cry. [Source]
On January 10th, a small part of me died when I heard of Bowie’s passing. I grew up with Labyrinth, much like nearly everyone else of my generation, and had always enjoyed The Hunger and Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me. Additionally, his music was a staple at one of my neighborhood friend’s home, so I always heard his voice wafting through the rooms and down the hallways whenever I went over.
As I said earlier, I prefer to look at these celebrities as human beings. Yes, Bowie left behind a library of music that can be pored over for years without becoming repetitive. Yes, he starred in movies that are acclaimed and cherished by millions. And yes, he lived a life in a manner that is enviable, never seeming to care what people thought of him, allowing him to be himself. But I think he has a legacy that many are overlooking: his family.
Bowie left behind supermodel Iman, who is known for her charitable works with programs such as Keep a Child Alive, Enough Project, and Save the Children, amongst others. Her efforts in these endeavors have gained her much recognition, all of it well deserved. The couple also have a 15 year old daughter, Alexandria Zahra Jones. Many posts have spoken about how the strength Bowie had in his final months were due to his want to “…spend as much time as possible with Lexi. [Source]”
And then there’s Duncan “Zowie” Jones, David’s son from his previous marriage with Angie Bowie. Duncan has carved himself as one of the smartest directors in the movie industry, blowing people away with his 2009 feature length debut Moon. The film won 18 industry and festival awards, including the NBR Award for Best Directorial Debut, and was nominated for a further 17. Afterwards, Jones directed Source Code, a sci-fi/thriller that was almost universally acclaimed by critics but was ultimately a sleeper hit, one that fared better overseas than domestically.
But Jones’ biggest project is the upcoming Warcraft, the film adaptation of the wildly popular Blizzard video game series. Coming this summer, the movie tells the origins of the conflict between the humans and the orcs, using lore from the games as well as the novels. With a budget of $100 million, the movie is already generating huge amounts of buzz and could very well become the next fantasy film franchise.
Circling back to David Bowie, I spoke about the idea of leaving behind a “legacy”, leaving something that lives on beyond ourselves. Obviously, Bowie has his collection of music and his films that will be studied, appreciated, and loved for decades, perhaps longer, to come. However, I choose to believe that his legacy lives on not just in the music he shared or the films he created but also in the work and endeavors of his family. After all, what could make a father and husband more proud and feel like his life had meaning than to see his family succeed?