Since he himself has said that he's heterosexual, most people would say that David Bowie is straight. I disagree -I have my reasons. But that's not what this thread is about anyway.

I recently picked up a Bowie biography at a second hand store called "David Bowie: Living on the Brink" by George Tremlett. So far I'm about halfway through the book. Nothing outstanding -pretty standard biographical fare.

Now, (finally!) here's why I created the thread:

The author has stated several times that Bowie is straight. Saying things like, "Bowie always seemed heterosexual to me", "He was known as quite the hetero stud amongst his friends." I didn't think much of this until the author starts telling stories and naming names about men who Bowie apparently did have relationships with.

So, I'm left wondering why Tremlett finds it necessary to repeatedly state -sometimes at strange and unnecessary points in the narrative -that Bowie is straight. Could it be because the book was published in 1996 -after Bowie had "come out" as straight?

Has anyone read this book? Maybe provide some insight or information I might've missed so far?

bowie did an interview that i read not too terribly long ago - it might have been a rolling stone interview circa "heathen" but i'm not sure on that - where he talked about his bisexuality and said that at the time he was coming into a bit of fame and doing the ziggy thing, he "played sexual tourist" and explored all kinds of different experiences, and that eventually he realized that he was more attracted to gay sensibilities than he was in same-sex attraction.

when he was asked what he thought of "velvet goldmine", he said he thought it was a horrible movie, but he "really liked the sex scenes".

so, if this makes sense, i think it's fair to say that bowie isn't gay, but he's probably very queer.

Anxiety said:

that is exactly the kinda stuff that confuses people. I'm not even sure what he means. But that's what makes him an enigma, too, so I appreciate it.

I've heard him say before that he "had to do the gay thing, although it was very painful," but that what he really digs is "black chicks". I'm sure his preferences are quite fluid and subject to change, but what he consistently has come back to are long-term relationships with women.

Personally, I think Bowie's full of shit and he really is bi. But whatever....


But so far as I've read I've definitely gotten the impression that the author is putting his own slant or bias on the sexuality issue. He seems just as confused as everyone else about what David really is.

GangstaFam said:

Painful?

meow85 said:

I don't think he meant the physical act of having sex with a man. I've read many times that he said the biggest mistake he made in his career was coming out as gay or bi or whatever. He definitely looked and acted the part, but I don't know how naturally it came to him. He may very well be bisexual, but I don't feel like he's hiding anything or denying a part of himself by being in a committed relationship with a woman. That's just how it worked out.

i just always thought he never had a specific, he was just attracted to whomever whenever.

GangstaFam said:

Only Bowie knows for sure....

In the 70s,he once said that he was "try-sexual"---meaning he would try anything,with a male or female

Anxiety said:

I didn't read the interview, but I've always heard that Bowie just experiemented with bisexuality.

I already know what Bowie says he is, and what everyone else says he is. Who doesn't?


I'm just confused by the stance the author of this bio is taking. He'll tell a story about Bowie and some guy, then not two pages later will bring up Bowie's heterosexuality at a completely random -and often innapropriate -point in the narrative.

For example, at one point he's talking about some of the business dealings surrounding one of the albums (it may have been Hunky Dory, but don't quote me on that -I don't have the book handy right now) and he says something to the effect of "If there was a bisexual period in his life, it may have started now. But I've always found him to be very much heterosexual..."

I mean, what the fuck? Couldn't the guy at least have waited until a new paragraph to bring it up -even though he'd already said he thinks Bowie is straight multiple times before? The business goings-on of an album have nothing to do with DB's sexual preference.
[Edited 10/29/04 21:25pm]

meow85 said:

He's probably a closeted homophobe and afraid of his own feelings about David Bowie.

Sexual preferences can change with age and do. Not just the level of your activeness, but your orientation as well. And I would argue the more "active" you are the more willing you are to travel across the fence as well. So, young Bowie was gay, the old one is (apparently) straight. Simple as that.

I personally don't buy any of that "you're born a homosexual, you don't become one" -thesis even many gay people seem to promote. That's like saying I was born to become very aroused by watching lesbian porn. Which I do - was that in the genetics as well then?

GangstaFam said:

GangstaFam said: