There are surprisingly few good books about the late star – but, as a new collection of reminiscences by friends is published, we pick out the heroes of the BowieographyAlongside the supremely well-read Bob Dylan, David Bowie was probably popular music’s most bookish star. It’s a little strange, then, that whereas good books about Dylan and the Beatles extend into the distance, the range of decent texts about Bowie remains relatively small. Such coffee table works as Mick Rock’s The Rise of David Bowie, 1972-1973 (Taschen, 2016) handsomely showcase the visual aspects of his legend; if you want a forensic guide to his songs, dramatic roles, videos and more, you should start with the pretty authoritative A-Z dossier, The Complete David Bowie by Nicholas Pegg (Titan), first published in 2000 and most recently updated after its subject’s death. As a portrait of what Bowie was in Germany to escape from, his first wife Angie’s memoir, the infamous Backstage Passes: Life on the Wild Side with David Bowie (Cooper Square, 1993), takes some beating. The perfect role model for a teenager.”• To browse from the books featured in this article, visit bookshop.theguardian.com/david-bowie or call 0330 333 6846.

Source: The Guardian August 12, 2017 06:56 UTC