Spring Break
Singer 'capable of actually looking like' Bowie
JOHN BARRETT
Issue date: 2/5/09 Section: Out & About
"He adopted that identity because of how popular it was with the fans, and to a certain extent people were expecting him to do that," Conley said. "But Bowie is extremely smart with his craft and his business, so he ditched the persona afterward before it could become phony."
Bowie's strategy to market himself as an outrageous character can be viewed as a microcosm of his career at large - more specifically, his penchant for reinventing himself in unusual and sometimes controversial ways.
"He came out and said he was gay back when that was totally uncool, but I think that move was at least partly calculated; Bowie is sharp like that," Conley said. "He would hit people's taboos and use them to his advantage to gain more notoriety."
But what is it about "Ziggy Stardust" that makes it pertinent to Athens itself?
"I think there's a strong component of the Athens population that likes to dress up and get freaky, and the album is perfect for that: the dressing up, the androgyny, the glam and the fabulousness of it," Conley said, drawing on his experiences in the local scene.
Conley also said he is excited to have the opportunity to once again impersonate Bowie.
"In Abbey Road LIVE!, we really don't try to imitate The Beatles at all - it's not our personality and we don't look like them or anything," he said. "But Bowie is kind of a different story, because I'm capable of actually looking like him."
The local collective does not plan to confine itself to solely recreating the album "Ziggy Stardust." It will perform an additional set that comprises a variety of other Bowie hits from the '70s and '80s.
Bowie's strategy to market himself as an outrageous character can be viewed as a microcosm of his career at large - more specifically, his penchant for reinventing himself in unusual and sometimes controversial ways.
"He came out and said he was gay back when that was totally uncool, but I think that move was at least partly calculated; Bowie is sharp like that," Conley said. "He would hit people's taboos and use them to his advantage to gain more notoriety."
But what is it about "Ziggy Stardust" that makes it pertinent to Athens itself?
"I think there's a strong component of the Athens population that likes to dress up and get freaky, and the album is perfect for that: the dressing up, the androgyny, the glam and the fabulousness of it," Conley said, drawing on his experiences in the local scene.
Conley also said he is excited to have the opportunity to once again impersonate Bowie.
"In Abbey Road LIVE!, we really don't try to imitate The Beatles at all - it's not our personality and we don't look like them or anything," he said. "But Bowie is kind of a different story, because I'm capable of actually looking like him."
The local collective does not plan to confine itself to solely recreating the album "Ziggy Stardust." It will perform an additional set that comprises a variety of other Bowie hits from the '70s and '80s.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Joshua Harrison
posted 2/05/09 @ 10:20 AM EST
I'm Joshua Harrison, the drummer for Chris McKay and the Critical Darlings. I noticed that this article didn't mention that we are opening for Ziggy Stardust on Feb 5, 2009. (Continued…)
Joshua Harrison
posted 2/05/09 @ 10:22 AM EST
I'm Joshua Harrison, the drummer for Chris McKay and the Critical Darlings. I noticed that this article didn't mention that we are opening for Ziggy Stardust on Feb 5, 2009. (Continued…)
HotDogVendor
posted 2/05/09 @ 3:41 PM EST
Good lord, you know darn well that's not the "only" reason you bothered to complain. You're mad because your band didn't get mentioned. Admit it. it's OK. (Continued…)
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