An image of David Bowie used for a poster put out by RCA Japan in 1980. Bowie was in Japan filming a television ad for Takara Shochu “Jun” Sake. The image was later recycled for the sleeve for the 1980 Japan exclusive instrumental single “Crystal Japan.”
I recently came across some pretty amazing images of David Bowie that were taken for various promotional endeavors in the 70s and 80s. Some were a part of press kits assembled for various films featuring The Thin White Duke, some from his record marketing collateral as well as some incredibly rare posters that were only released in Japan and the UK. Some of the scarce items showcased in this post include promotional “mobile displays.” Here’s the thing about mobile displays, since they were made in super small quantities and most ended up getting carried off or ruined by wear and tear, they are incredibly difficult to come by. Especially if it happens to involve David Bowie. They also tend to be expensive when you do find them/
A few of the photographs and other ephemera I’ve posted below are actually for sale at collectibles site Rock Explosion though some contain the requirement that you inquire as to their cost—and you know what that means. If you have to ask, you probably can’t afford it. So in light of that, I suggest that you kick back and enjoy looking at our dearly departed David below.
BBC publicity photo of Bowie from the production of Bertolt Brecht’s ‘Baal’ taken in 1981.
An almost unrecognizable Bowie in a promotional poster for the EP release of ‘Baal,’ his last with RCA, 1981.
A cardboard standup display of Bowie holding a glass of milk for ‘Young Americans’ 1975.
Keeping with the milk theme (apparently, Bowie was fond of putting white stuff in his body, who knew?) here’s a candid image from behind the scenes of ‘The Man Who Fell To Earth;’ 1975.
A cardboard standup display based on the artwork created by Guy Peellaert of Bowie as a terrifying human/dog hybrid for the 1974 album ‘Diamond Dogs.’
This shot was a press still used by RCA and is the product of a shoot with long-time Bowie photographer Masayoshi Sukita in 1977 in Japan.
A British poster for ‘Station to Station.’ This striking color image was originally going to be the album’s cover but they went with black and white instead.
An RCA press still of Bowie sporting what were said to be his best loved pair of green Kicker boots, 1978.
A Japanese promo poster for ‘The Man Who Fell To Earth’ 1976.
A mobile display this time for Bowie’s 1979 album ‘Lodger.’
An amazing hanging mobile display for ‘Scary Monsters’ from 1980.
Previously on Dangerous Minds:
‘She asked for my love and I gave her a dangerous mind’: Goodbye David Bowie from Dangerous Minds
Beautiful images from David Bowie’s least favorite film role, 1978’s ‘Just a Gigolo’
Behind-the-scenes footage of David Bowie & Amanda Lear from ‘The 1980 Floor Show’
Intimate photos of David Bowie, Jennifer Connelly & more from the set of ‘Labyrinth’