Bowie Unseen Portraits of an Artist as a Young Man by Gerald Fearnley
Fo re w o rd
Gerald Fearnley “My brother, Derek, known as ‘Dek’, was a
a working musician, needed a place to sleep,
musician. He always had his bass guitar with
write or rehearse, it was to his brother’s
him and played gigs up until he passed away
doorstep that the young musician would turn.
in 2008. But in the 1960s, we were all just starting out with our lives. And by 1966, I had
“You never knew who he was going to bring
a small home, a wife and three small kids.
back with him,” laughs Gerald. “My house
Dek would often use my place to stay before
became a bit of a stop for him and it wasn’t
or after gigs. He would often bring by a fellow
unusual when he showed up at the door with
musician into our home. No one knew that
his fellow musicians. If they were playing
one of the musicians would turn out to be
near by, they’d wind up all sleeping in the
David Bowie.”
living room. I’d wake up and sometimes never know who was sleeping on the couch. But
Gerald Fearnley was born in 1932. After serving
they were a good bunch of lads. David,
as an RAF photographer, he started a career
especially, seemed very serious about what
as a still life photographer specialising in
he was doing, he seemed trustworthy. He
objects for advertising and commercial use.
and my brother would often be in the
As his career grew, he married and started
kitchen writing. He used to play with the
a family. Coming from a large family himself,
children, games of Monopoly or teaching
Gerald was one of twelve children, he was
them how to play the penny whistle. David
used to a house filled with voices. So when
was great with the kids, very pleasant,
his brother, who had ambitions to become
always polite.”
David Bowie in Gerald Fearnley’s studio, 1967 4
5
Fo re w o rd
Gerald Fearnley “My brother, Derek, known as ‘Dek’, was a
a working musician, needed a place to sleep,
musician. He always had his bass guitar with
write or rehearse, it was to his brother’s
him and played gigs up until he passed away
doorstep that the young musician would turn.
in 2008. But in the 1960s, we were all just starting out with our lives. And by 1966, I had
“You never knew who he was going to bring
a small home, a wife and three small kids.
back with him,” laughs Gerald. “My house
Dek would often use my place to stay before
became a bit of a stop for him and it wasn’t
or after gigs. He would often bring by a fellow
unusual when he showed up at the door with
musician into our home. No one knew that
his fellow musicians. If they were playing
one of the musicians would turn out to be
near by, they’d wind up all sleeping in the
David Bowie.”
living room. I’d wake up and sometimes never know who was sleeping on the couch. But
Gerald Fearnley was born in 1932. After serving
they were a good bunch of lads. David,
as an RAF photographer, he started a career
especially, seemed very serious about what
as a still life photographer specialising in
he was doing, he seemed trustworthy. He
objects for advertising and commercial use.
and my brother would often be in the
As his career grew, he married and started
kitchen writing. He used to play with the
a family. Coming from a large family himself,
children, games of Monopoly or teaching
Gerald was one of twelve children, he was
them how to play the penny whistle. David
used to a house filled with voices. So when
was great with the kids, very pleasant,
his brother, who had ambitions to become
always polite.”
David Bowie in Gerald Fearnley’s studio, 1967 4
5
“ I got more interested in theatre and mime. Mime is limited when you start, but I think it’s a marvellous medium which requires a lot of concentration on the part of the audience. � David Bowie in an interview with Chris Welch for Melody Maker, 1969
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“ I got more interested in theatre and mime. Mime is limited when you start, but I think it’s a marvellous medium which requires a lot of concentration on the part of the audience. � David Bowie in an interview with Chris Welch for Melody Maker, 1969
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“ He was an A student. He fell in love with the bohemianism of my world. � Lindsay Kemp
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“ He was an A student. He fell in love with the bohemianism of my world. � Lindsay Kemp
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“ I still have the hat,
after all these years. ” Gerald Fearnley
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“ I still have the hat,
after all these years. ” Gerald Fearnley
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Bowie Unseen Portraits of an Artist as a Young Man by Gerald Fearnley
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