More than 800 unseen images of David Bowie will be unveiled to the public for the first time, a decade on from the Heroes singer's death. The iconic rock star passed away in January 2016 at the age of 69. Unbeknownst to fans, the music legend was diagnosed with liver cancer months before he passed away but kept his illness a secret, with only a close circle of friends and family knowing.
New documentary reveals rare images
A new documentary titled Bowie: Unseen | Unheard will reveal rare and never-before-seen images that span over two decades of Bowie's extraordinary life and career in the 1970s and 1980s. It's told through the lens of Bowie's official photographer Denis O'Regan, who narrates and stars in the project, and has also photographed bands like the Rolling Stones, Queen, Pink Floyd and Duran Duran.
The film is set to premiere next month at the Venice Film Festival, which takes place from September 2 to 12. The images capture intimate, behind-the-scenes moments of Bowie alongside the music icon's own music and compositions from Mike Garson, Bowie's longest-serving band member, making it an immersive audio-visual experience that will delight Bowie fans around the world.
Photographer's vision
Speaking about the special project, photographer Denis says: "Rather than illustrating the images, the sound design forms a parallel narrative."
"Complemented by David Bowie's own music and original compositions by Mike Garson, Bowie's longest-serving band member, each scene is meticulously crafted to evoke the emotion, energy and atmosphere surrounding every photograph."
"Audiences are not simply observing history, they become immersed within it, hearing the anticipation before Bowie walks on stage, the scale of an arena, the intimacy of backstage conversations, and the atmosphere of a fleeting, unrepeatable moment."
New album of unreleased tracks
Next month fans can also buy or download previously unreleased tracks by Bowie recorded with legendary Sixties producer Shel Talmy, best known for his groundbreaking hits with The Who and The Kinks. Recorded before Bowie's rise to fame with his breakthrough 1969 hit Space Oddity, David Bowie: The Shel Talmy Recordings, is the most complete collection of tracks from early in his career.
The album features 10 previously unheard tracks on CD and digital, and six songs on LP, with contributions from Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page - then a guitar slinger for hire - and Nicky Hopkins, celebrated piano player for The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, The Who and Jeff Beck.
Speaking about Bowie in 2017, Shel - who passed away in 2024 - said: "I thought he absolutely was going to make it. The only unfortunate thing is that he and I were about six years ahead of the market."
