Roger Ferris (The Konrads)
Photo: Unknown photographer / private archive / editorial use
Roger Ferris was a vocalist in The Konrads, the first band formed by David Bowie (then known as David Jones) in the early 1960s.
As part of the group’s rotating line-up, Ferris participated in Bowie’s earliest live performances, contributing to the formative phase of Bowie’s development as a frontman.
- Name: Roger Ferris
- Born: Unknown (date not documented)
- Died: Unknown
- Role: Vocalist
- Band: The Konrads
- With Bowie: c. 1962–1963
The Konrads: Bowie’s first band
The Konrads were formed in 1962 and played guitar-based rock and roll at youth clubs, community events, and local functions.
The band’s fluid line-up reflected the informal nature of early teenage beat groups on the London scene.
Roger Ferris’ role
Ferris joined The Konrads as a vocalist during this early phase, sharing front-of-stage duties as the band experimented with presentation and repertoire.
Multiple vocalists were common in early beat groups, allowing members to trade songs and develop stage confidence.
David Bowie’s emergence as frontman
During The Konrads era, Bowie was still learning how to command attention as a singer and performer.
Performing alongside other vocalists such as Ferris helped Bowie refine projection, timing, and audience engagement.
Musical limitations and ambition
The Konrads’ repertoire remained conservative, focused on straightforward rock and roll.
Bowie soon became frustrated by these limitations and sought greater creative control.
The end of The Konrads
Bowie eventually left The Konrads following disagreements over musical direction, ending his collaboration with Ferris.
This decision marked Bowie’s first decisive step toward artistic independence.
Surviving footage
Very little visual or audio documentation of The Konrads survives, making any existing footage especially valuable to Bowie historians.
Place within Bowie’s universe
Within David Bowie’s extended creative universe, Roger Ferris represents the very first chapter — the grassroots environment in which Bowie learned the fundamentals of live performance.
Though brief and largely undocumented, this early collaboration forms part of the essential groundwork beneath Bowie’s later innovations.