Bowie unseen

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

16

17

“ 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

16

17

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19

“ He was an A student.

He fell in love with the bohemianism of my world. �

Lindsay Kemp

36

37

“ He was an A student.

He fell in love with the bohemianism of my world. �

Lindsay Kemp

36

37

58

59

58

59

66

67

66

67

“ I still have the hat,

after all these years. ” Gerald Fearnley

78

79

“ I still have the hat,

after all these years. ” Gerald Fearnley

78

79

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Bowie Unseen Portraits of an Artist as a Young Man

by Gerald Fearnley

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