Dey Street Books

Like so many vital figures in British pop history, from Pete Townshend to Paul Weller, Bowie came from a blurry region of British society that encompasses the educated working class, the socially precarious petite bourgeoisie and what could be called the uncomfortably-off middle class, i.e. professional or office workers whose income didn’t quite match their aspirations.

English kids responded with a fervor that must have stunned even him—they started dressing up, acting out, walking the Ziggy walk

He and Mick Ronson added a little special something to the show; when Ronno played a solo, Bowie dropped to his knees and simulated oral sex on his guitar. For some reason, this made an impression on people