Bowie Five Years On

BBC Sounds has collated a series of radio shows to celebrate the life and career of David Bowie. ‘Bowie Five Years On’ features 18 episodes of audio content, spanning radio concerts, interviews and present-day reflections to mark the fifth anniversary of the musician’s death from cancer on January 10th, 2016.

Central to the anthology is ‘Bowie: Dancing Out In Space.’ Hosted by Stuart Maconie, this new production was broadcast simultaneously on BBC Radio 4 and 6 Music at the beginning of this week and features commentary from leading figures in the worlds of music, dance, literature and technology. Among them are producer and long-time collaborator Tony Visconti, contemporary musician Christine & The Queens, Turner Prize-winning artist Grayson Perry and comedian Ricky Gervais.

Other highlights include ‘Soul Music: Life On Mars?’, an exploration of the impact of Bowie’s cryptic 1971 single; ‘Low’, a comic drama inspired by Bowie’s life in Berlin, and ‘Bowie at the Beeb’, a collection of radio performances recorded between 1969 and 1972. The travelogue ‘Bowie and Beyond: A Music Fans Guide To Berlin’ traces Bowie and Iggy Pop’s footsteps through the German capital, while episode ‘Now Playing’ features cover versions by artists ranging from Beck to Seu Jorge. 

Listen to ‘Bowie Five Years On’ via the BBC Sounds website, or on the app.