I became a big fan of British rock in the early 90s when I could explore outside my dad`s music collection. I was obsessed with Radiohead and Oasis in my teenage years, but remember when I picked up David Bowie's 'Earthling' in 1997. There was something about the album cover with Bowie in a Union Jack coat and songs titled 'Dead Man Walking' and 'I'm Afraid of Americans'. My dad didn't listen to Bowie, so I didn't know Earthling was another album in a long catalogue of music, nor did I give it much thought at the time.
In my teens, I lived in my parent's basement and would get stereo gear my dad passed down to me. He`s a bit of an audiophile, so I count myself fortunate. I remember using this monster Dynaco 400 watt amp that he built with its own pre-amp. I had two humongous tower speakers with 15" woofers and horn tweeters. It was like a concert downstairs, every day, and I was always looking for something new to play. Earthling was fast, loud, and perfect for turning the volume up. I would put it on once and a while, in rotation with my other favourites.
When I first went to college in 1998, I met Kris. We were both in the Electronics program at SAIT and shared interests in music and culture. We both dabbled in various instruments and I remember going to a friend's basement with him for a jam session. The song Starman was playing when we walked in. It wasn't immediate who was singing, but I remember Kris saying "Bowie."
Mind blown.
I went to the record store soon after, looked in the Bowie section and discovered a gold mine that I never knew existed before Earthling. Bowie got another adoring fan, a couple decades after the release of my now favourites, Space Oddity, Five Years and the Man Who Sold the World.
Lately, I've been thinking to myself, I hope I'm half as cool when I'm 66.
