logo
episode-header-image
Feb 2021
33m 22s

Bonus Episode: Mary Finnigan Reflects on...

iHeartPodcasts
About this episode

Our latest chapter followed David Bowie in the late ‘60s — a thrilling, colorful time when his creativity soared to new heights. After half a decade of near constant rejection from the mainstream music industry, David had started to rebel. Instead of chasing pop hits, he embraced the avant garde arts scene that was beginning to blossom in London. A key figure in David’s life was Mary Finnigan, his friend, lover and (somewhat unusually) his landlady. A journalist by day, Mary was deeply involved with the London underground scene, a vibrant community of artists and activists looking to shake the populace out of their spiritual complacency. Together, she and David formed a folk club at a local pub called the Three Tuns. Later known as the Beckenham Arts Lab, the venue became a crucial incubator for Bowie, giving him a supportive and enriching environment to find his musical voice. The songs that he wrote in this period would find their way onto breakthrough albums like Space Oddity, The Man Who Sold the World, and Hunky Dory. Mary recorded her electrifying period with Bowie in a 2016 memoir, Psychedelic Suburbia. She speaks to Jordan about Bowie the lodger, Bowie the Buddhist, Bowie the boyfriend — and much more.

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Up next
Apr 2021
'LABYRINTH' WEEK: Conceptual Designer Brian Froud on Creating the World of Goblin City — and Jareth's Notorious Pants
This week on 'Off the Record,' we're playing special tribute to Jim Henson's 1986 film 'Labyrinth,' the beloved cult classic that introduced David Bowie to generations of kids. We're kicking off the festivities with conceptual designer Brian Froud, the man who imagined world of ' ... Show More
57m 10s
Apr 2021
Bonus Episode: Thomas Dolby Recalls Backing David Bowie at Live Aid While a Billion People Watched
The climax of our last chapter is David Bowie’s set at Live Aid in the summer of 1985 . Our guest today was alongside him on the Live Aid stage – and in the helicopter on the nerve-wracking ride out to Wembley Stadium. His name is Thomas Dolby, and his time with Bowie is just one ... Show More
49m 6s
Apr 2021
Chapter Eleven: MTV Idol (1980-1985)
Today’s episode looks at David in the ‘80s, a time that saw him grow from a famous artist to a global superstar — a one-man brand bolstered by the fresh force of MTV. David embraced the exponential growth of mass media, and shamelessly courted mass popularity with the Nile Rodger ... Show More
1h 25m
Recommended Episodes
Feb 2021
'Off the Record: David Bowie' — Trailer
The series premiere of 'Off the Record' explores the life — or, rather, lives — of David Bowie by examining each of his iconic personas. Major Tom. Ziggy Stardust. Aladdin Sane. The Thin White Duke. Taken collectively, these faces form a portrait of a one-of-a-kind rock legend. F ... Show More
2m 26s
Feb 2016
David Bowie's Incredible Final Act; Rihanna
After a decade of quiet, Bowie embarked on a remarkable comeback in his final years, even as he struggled with illness; the inside story, featuring an interview with Bowie's longtime producer Tony Visconti. Also: Beck, Mick Jagger and Nile Rodgers remember Bowie; Rihanna's "Anti" ... Show More
38m 25s
Dec 2020
Once In A Lifetime
Stories from people about how ‘Once In A Lifetime’, Talking Heads' existential hit from 1980, touched their lives.Talking Heads emerged out of the post punk scene of the late 1970s. 'Once In A Lifetime' is the iconic single taken from their album Remain In Light. With its looped ... Show More
28m 17s
Jan 2017
Shirley Collins - Love, Death And The Lady
John Wilson returns with another edition of Mastertapes, the series in which he talks to leading performers and songwriters about the album that made them or changed them. Recorded in front of a live audience at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios. "Love, Death and the Lady" with ... Show More
49m 28s
Jun 2024
Neneh Cherry's songs of force
Back in 1989, Neneh Cherry released her debut album. Raw Like Sushi was a smash in the UK and here in Australia. This young Swede based in London caught all of our attention, and through the 90’s she’d release two more albums before taking a breather from music. But her creative ... Show More
32m 57s
Nov 2022
The music of David Byrne’s mind
David Byrne views life through many lenses. He’s a musician, author, filmmaker, curator, conservationist, digital music theorist, bicycle advocate, visual artist... the list goes on. But through his many trajectories – from co-founding the acclaimed band Talking Heads to his late ... Show More
39m 21s
Jun 2022
David Bowie’s The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (Part 2)
In the conclusion of this two-part episode, Jordan and Alex explain how the Starman took flight, blasting Bowie into the upper echelon of the music world and setting a benchmark for rock ’n’ roll theatricality, physicality, and pure imagination — not to mention pure rock ’n’ roll ... Show More
1h 1m
Jun 2022
David Bowie’s The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (Part 1)
As Bowie’s boundary-shattering breakthrough turns 50, Jordan and Alex dive deep into his alien alter-ego with their first two-part episode. To kick things off, they dissect the many influences that went into Ziggy, from eccentric reclusive rockstars to David’s history with his tr ... Show More
1h 20m
Aug 2020
Wartimes: David Byrne vs. The Other Talking Heads
At a time when most punk and new wave bands cranked their guitars and jacked up their song tempos, Talking Heads came out of NYC with a completely original and utterly funky sound. By the early '80s, they were one of the most popular and infectious bands on the planet. But inside ... Show More
53m 46s
Jan 2024
Boy George
Born George O'Dowd, Boy George shot to pop stardom in 1982 as frontman with the band Culture Club and later as a solo artist. With his soulful vocals and flamboyant, androgynous looks, he became a massive star around the world with hits such as Do You Really Want to Hurt Me? and ... Show More
44m 15s