David Bowie honoured on Camden’s Music Walk of Fame

The unveiling ceremony gathers musical collaborators, friends and fans of the iconic glam rocker.

Postponed due to the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, the unveiling takes place on 22 September, a week after the release of Moonage Daydream, Brett Morgen’s documentary celebrating the life of the glam rock legend. Just a stone’s throw from the tube, the ceremony on Camden High Street is split by the busy road, with fans and onlookers standing on one side and accredited guests on the other.

One of those who worked with Bowie is The Spiders From Mars’ drummer Michael “Woody” Woodmansey. Before unveiling the stone, Woodmansey, who played on Bowie’s four early 70s albums, underlines his role in the history of popular music: “Rock ‘n’ roll had become stale and he wanted to shake it up, he said that rock ‘n’ roll was supposed to be rebellious, controversial and exciting”. The drummer is joined by other collaborators, guitarist Kevin Armstrong and pianist Clifford Slapper – the three uncover the stone.

Coloured in turquoise and black, the newly revealed stone will unlikely remain unnoticed by passersby of busy Camden. The founder of The Music Walk of Fame Lee Bennett confirms that the same design will apply to other memorials along the Walk of Fame. “We’ve changed the aesthetics of the stone that you will notice when you walk by – we’ll be replacing all of them”.

Talking about his connection to Bowie and other artists honoured on Camden’s Music Walk, Bennett says: “It’s not so much about me – I love music, I have personal relationships after thirty-five years in the industry. I’ve met many people, David I’ve never met but I did cut my hair like him in the 70s by mistake when I cut my fringe off and I had long ginger hair… So I was a boy Ziggy, that’s my affiliation with Bowie”.

David Bowie is the fifth artist, celebrated with a memorial stone on The Music Walk of Fame, featuring The Who, Amy Winehouse, Madness and Soul II Soul. More names, including The Damned and The Cure, will appear by the end of the year. Stay tuned.