PART 3 *** BOWIE’S CHARACTERS: The lines are often blurred between Bowie’s characters, some of whom included: Ziggy Stardust (1972 - 1973), Major Tom, Aladdin Sane, Halloween Jack, the Thin White Duke, and his very last character – the Blind Prophet. Bowie was totally immersed in the characters he created for his music: "OFFSTAGE I’M A ROBOT. ONSTAGE I ACHIEVE EMOTION. It's probably why I prefer dressing up as Ziggy to being David." With satisfaction came severe personal difficulties: acting the same role over an extended period, IT BECAME IMPOSSIBLE FOR HIM TO SEPARATE ZIGGY STARDUST - and later, the Thin White Duke - from his own character offstage. Bowie said ”ZIGGY "WOULDN’T LEAVE ME ALONE FOR YEARS. That was when it all started to go sour... My whole personality was affected. It became very dangerous. I really did have doubts about my sanity." ACTING AND MOVIES: Bowie appeared in over 30 films, television shows and theatrical productions. His first major film role was ‘The Man Who Fell to Earth.’ The actor's severe cocaine addiction at the time left him in such a fragile state of mind that he barely understood the film. In 1978, Bowie had a starring role in ‘Just A Gigolo.’ He also appeared in a slew of other movies, including the biopic ‘Basquiat’ as Andy Warhol (1996). COLLABORATIONS: Bowie has paired with a variety of singers, including Queen (‘Under Pressure,’ 1981), Mick Jagger (‘Dancing In The Street’), Annie Lennox, Alicia Keys, and Tina Turner. PHILANTHROPY: Bowie was involved in philanthropic and charitable efforts for HIV/AIDS research in Africa, as well as other humanitarian projects helping disadvantaged children and developing nations, ending poverty and hunger, promoting human rights, and providing education and health care to children affected by war. LEGACY AND INFLUENCE: Schinder and Schwartz credit Bowie and Marc Bolan as the founders of the glam rock genre. While Bowie inspired the innovators of the punk rock movement, Buckley wrote that in the punk era, "Bowie almost completely abandoned traditional rock instrumentation." RCA promoted Bowie with: "There's old wave, there's new wave, and there's David Bowie." His work with Tin Machine, though critically maligned, was later acknowledged as featuring grunge and alternative rock before those styles became popular. He was dubbed the "CHAMELEON OF ROCK" due to his constant reinvention. Perone credited Bowie with having "brought sophistication to rock music," and critical reviews frequently acknowledged the intellectual depth of his work and influence. The BBC's Arts Editor, Will Gompertz likened Bowie to Pablo Picasso, writing that he was "an innovative, visionary, restless artist who synthesised complex avant garde concepts into beautifully coherent works that touched the hearts and minds of millions." The Guardian wrote that Bowie was confirmed by 1980 to be "the most important and influential artist since the Beatles." Neil McCormick of The Daily Telegraph stated that Bowie had "one of the supreme careers in popular music, art and culture of the 20th century," and "he was TOO INVENTIVE, TOO MERCURIAL, TOO STRANGE FOR ALL BUT HIS MOST DEVOTED FANS TO KEEP UP WITH." Bowie’s record sales estimated at over 100 million records worldwide, and made him one of the best-selling musicians of all time. HE WASN’T A VISIONARY ARTIST — HE LITERALLY BECAME ART. Bowie's changeling ability confounded many, maybe even the man himself, but eventually he settled into his own skin - or so he thought. BOWIE’S BIOPIC AND FILM: The biopic 'Stardust' was announced on 31 January 2019, with musician and actor Johnny Flynn as Bowie. A film, 'Moonage Daydream,’ based on Bowie's musical journey throughout his career was announced on 23 May 2022. AWARDS AND ACHIEVEMENTS: Bowie won all five nominated awards at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards in 2017. They were Bowie's first Grammy wins in musical categories. Amongst a slew of other rewards were: Best-selling Vinyl Artist Of The 21st Century, 2022. He ranked 32nd on the 2023 Rolling Stone list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time. Bowie was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996, into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2005, and into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame in 2013. Days after Bowie's death, Rolling Stone proclaimed him The Greatest Rock Star Ever, and the 39th Greatest Songwriter Of All Time. Bowie was awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award on 8 February 2006. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on 12 February 1997. He was immortalized in Hollywood almost 20 years before his death. *** TO BE CONTD… SEE PART 4