On January 10th, the anniversary of the death of global rock star David Bowie, who passed away in 2016 at the age of 69, it has been announced that WOWOW will broadcast and stream a special program titled "David Bowie Selections in Commemoration of the 1/10th Anniversary of His Death." The program will consist of three programs, including non-fiction and documentary works about Bowie, all produced by WOWOW.
As a rock revolutionary, Bowie had a profound influence on various cultures, including art, literature, and fashion. While he produced a string of masterpieces that expanded the boundaries of rock, including "Ziggy Stardust," he also had a successful career as an actor, appearing in films such as "Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence." WOWOW's special program delves into the appeal of Bowie, who opened up new horizons in rock with his innovative style.
The special program will begin on WOWOW Live and WOWOW On Demand at 4:15 PM on the 10th. The first program will be "Nonfiction W: The Kyoto That David Bowie Loved." While Bowie's 1977 masterpiece "Heroes," which inspired people toward the fall of the Berlin Wall, is known as a monumental achievement, the program will focus on the instrumental "Moss Garden," which is included on the album of the same name.
It's widely known that at the time of the film's production, Bowie, who had risen to stardom, fled to Berlin to escape the hustle and bustle of his drug-addled daily life and begin to reconstruct his music. However, little was known about his repeated secret trips to Kyoto, Japan, where he rediscovered himself by experiencing Eastern beauty and its spiritual essence. The program obtains valuable testimony from those who interacted with Bowie in Kyoto. It reveals his true face, never before revealed in public, and his life as an artist who diligently sought the source of his creativity. This non-fiction program, based on exclusive interviews by WOWOW, explores the origins of Bowie's creativity from a new perspective.
The second program, "David Bowie: The Final Five Years," will be broadcast and streamed from 5:25 PM. Bowie fell ill during a tour in 2004 and remained silent for roughly 10 years before suddenly releasing new songs and the album "The Next Day" in 2013. He passed away from liver cancer two days after the release of what would ultimately become his final album, "Blackstar." This documentary program looks back on the artist's final five years. It follows the behind-the-scenes production of his comeback album, "The Next Day," and the surprising casting of a new generation of jazz musicians in "Blackstar." It also delves into the musical "Lazarus," for which he himself planned and wrote the music, revealing the true nature of this artistic genius.
The third program will be "Western Musicism: David Bowie," which will be broadcast and streamed from 7 p.m. "Western Musicism" is a regular WOWOW program that focuses on the international music scene, including live broadcasts of major international artists and the Grammy Awards. This time, Bowie will be featured. The host will be Tomorowo Taguchi.
