David Bowie & The Lower Third (1965–1966)

Origins of the band

The Lower Third were originally formed in Margate in 1963 and relocated to London in early 1965. Soon after the move, David Jones successfully auditioned as the band’s singer. This marked a new phase for Bowie, who had already passed through The King Bees and The Manish Boys but was still searching for a stable musical identity.

Band members

The best-documented Bowie-era line-up of The Lower Third consisted of:

David Jones / David Bowie – lead vocals
Denis “Tea-Cup” Taylor – guitar
Graham Rivens – bass guitar
Phil Lancaster – drums

Some accounts also note additional support in specific contexts, but this four-man line-up is the one most consistently associated with the group’s recordings and live work with Bowie.

Musical direction

With The Lower Third, Bowie moved away from straight rhythm and blues toward a more current, aggressive mod sound. The records made with the band clearly reflect the influence of The Who and The Kinks, and this direction was reinforced by producer Shel Talmy, who had worked with both groups and had also previously produced Bowie with The Manish Boys.

First single with the band

The first Lower Third single was “You’ve Got a Habit of Leaving” backed with “Baby Loves That Way”, released in August 1965. Although The Lower Third played on the record, the single was billed simply to Davy Jones, with no mention of the band.

From David Jones to David Bowie

During 1965 Bowie was still using variations of his birth name, including David Jones, Davy Jones and Davie Jones. In early 1966, the follow-up single “Can’t Help Thinking About Me” became the first record to appear under the billing David Bowie with the Lower Third. It was released on 14 January 1966, making it the first official use of the name David Bowie on a commercial release.

The reason for the change is usually explained as avoiding confusion with other performers named Davy Jones. Bowie later said he chose “Bowie” after the American frontiersman Jim Bowie. The often-repeated link to Monkees member Davy Jones is chronologically misleading, since the Monkees did not become widely known until later in 1966.

BBC audition – 2 November 1965

On 2 November 1965, David Jones and The Lower Third auditioned for the BBC Light Entertainment committee, hoping to secure radio work. Their set included “Chim Chim Cher-ee”, “Baby That’s A Promise” and “Out of Sight”. The group was rejected, and the surviving comments from the panel were notoriously dismissive, describing Bowie as “amateur sounding,” “devoid of personality,” and unlikely to improve with more rehearsal.

“Can’t Help Thinking About Me”

The second Lower Third single, “Can’t Help Thinking About Me” backed with “And I Say to Myself”, was recorded in December 1965 and released in January 1966. It was produced by Tony Hatch and is widely regarded as one of Bowie’s first recordings to reveal a more personal songwriting voice beneath the strong mod-rock influence.

Break-up of the band

Shortly after the release of “Can’t Help Thinking About Me”, The Lower Third split following a dispute over money with management. Feeling that Bowie was not backing their position, the other members left. The break-up ended one of Bowie’s most important early groups and pushed him toward the next phase of his career.

Why The Lower Third matter

The Lower Third are historically significant because they stand at the exact point where David Jones became David Bowie in public. They were the band on his final Davy Jones records, the group that accompanied him at the famous failed BBC audition, and the musicians heard on the first single released under the name David Bowie.

Watch – Early Bowie & The Lower Third

Video: Baby Loves That Way

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  Video: Baby Loves That Way

  Baby Loves That Way · Davy Jones (And The Lower Third) Bowie 1965!

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Although no complete BBC television performance survives from this period, this material reflects the sound and atmosphere of Bowie’s work with The Lower Third.

Historical Overview – Bowie’s Early Bands

At The Birth of Bowie

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  At The Birth of Bowie

  Phil Lancaster, ex-drummer with David Bowie & The Lower Third, with rare vinyl - original copies of Bowie singles 'You've Got A Habit Of Leaving' and 'Can't Help Thinking About Me', plus he reveals a copy of the Lower Third drumhead as originally designed and painted by his old friend, artist Roger Seamark. As fully documented in the new John Blake book, 'At The Birth Of Bowie'.

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A documentary-style overview of Bowie’s formative group years, including The Lower Third and the period surrounding the change from Davy Jones to David Bowie.