ALLADIN SANE

WHAT?  Aladdin Sane: 50 Years Exhibition 

WHERE?  Spirit Level, Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX

WHEN?  Now until 28th May 

WHY GO? To relive glam rock. David Bowie fans rejoice. There’s a programme of Bowie tribute events down on the Southbank starting with this exhibition that celebrates the 50th anniversary of his iconic Aladdin Sane album which went straight to No1 when released in 1973 taking 100,000 advance orders.

Celebrity photographer Brian Duffy shot the famous cover portrait in one short sitting, as ‘just another job’,  never imagining it would spark a revolutionary new take on album cover imagery thereafter with endless imitations to follow. 

Referred to affectionately as the Mona Lisa of Pop, Duffy’s son Chris and the exhibition curator, reminds us that back then, minus photoshop and digital imaging, it was all down to his father’s creative talents and commercial processing know-how.

The famous lightning flash, created by make-up artist Pierre La Roche, was Bowie’s idea as he morphed from his Ziggy Stardust persona to Aladdin Sane, a pun on the words A lad insane referring to the insanity of war. 

And, yes the famous rock chameleon did sit in his underpants for the shoot!

IN THE KNOW Bowie’s relationship with the Southbank began in 1969 when he performed ‘Space Oddity’ at the recently opened Purcell Room when it cost just five shillings for a ticket! 

There’s an accompanying exhibition book by Chris Duffy, Aladdin Sane 50 Years, for serious fans to treasure. (Welbeck £40)