David Bowie’s legacy will live forever in his songs, music videos and movies (check him out in Tony Scott’s way underrated erotic horror film, The Hunger). Now, Okayplayer TV has given us another way to remember the late great Ziggy Stardust, with a documentary film directed by Rafe Scobey-Thal. Featuring behind-the-scenes interviews with Michael Stipe (who did a breathtaking cover of “Man Who Sold The World“), Esperanza Spalding, Cat Power, the Flaming Lips‘ Wayne Coyne, Blondie’s Debbie Harry, Jane’s Addiction’s Perry Farrell and many more, the short film was recorded backstage during rehearsals for a pair of sold-out tribute shows at Carnegie Hall and Radio City. The “Thin White” shadow that Bowie cast over pop culture is evident as the artists candidly reveal their favorite songs, their favorite memories and how his music, style, artistry and bravery influenced them.
Longtime collaborator, Tony Visconti, who worked with Bowie from his first hit single “The Man Who Sold the World” way back in 1970 all the way to his final album, Blackstar (which the music producer described as a “parting gift” to Bowie’s fans), described him perfectly. “He never limited himself. This can be a lesson to everyone. You aren’t your style. You have a true self, but you can make things up, and make them real and express them. You’re not your clothes, you’re not your hair. You can do this. He was the person who showed the world how to do that.”