Sunday 8 January 2017 would have been David Bowie’s 70th birthday.
To mark the occasion Gary Oldman, a close friend of the singer, will be joined in London by former Bowie band members Mike Garson, Earl Slick, Adrian Belew, Mark Plati, Gerry Leonard, Gail Ann Dorsey, Sterling Campbell, Zachary Alford, Holly Palmer and Catherine Russell for a special show. ‘Celebrating David Bowie’ will take place at the O2 Academy in Brixton.
This is part of a worldwide series of concerts that features a number of special guests. Proceeds from the show will benefit Children & the Arts.
David Bowie and Brixton
David Robert Jones was born on 8th January 1947 in the family home at number 40 Stansfield Road, Brixton, London, SW9 9RZ. David lived in Brixton with his parents until he was six years old, when they moved to Bromley. He attended Stockwell Infants School until 1953.
In 2013, an Aladdin Sane-inspired mural was painted by James Cochran to coincide with the V&A’s “David Bowie Is…” exhibition and the parallel “Many Faces of David Bowie” show at the Opera Gallery. James Cochran, or Jimmy C, chose Aladdin Sane as it lent itself to his “aerosol pointillism” style – large pictures created using small dots of spray paint.
When Bowie died in January 2016, fans flocked to the mural and laid a sea of tributes to the star. Lambeth Council later confirmed that the mural, located in Tunstall Place, would be listed to ensure its protection.
Murals and street art in Brixton
In addition to the Aladdin Sane-inspired mural, there are a number of other murals in the Brixton area. Treasure Hunts in London has produced a treasure hunt that helps you to discover commissioned street art as well as works by known graffiti artists.
Discover art on the streets of Brixton as you unravel cryptic clues on this adventure. Download the app and play your first ClueKeeper hunt by Treasure Hunts In London. Some of the artwork you will find is by international street artists, while other artwork has been created by community groups.
Discover London Street Art is available as a self-guided hunt at £12.99 per team.
