David Bowie Bromley Technical High School
Bromley Technical High School is one of the most crucial locations in the early life of David Bowie.
It was here that Bowie began shaping his artistic identity, forming key friendships and discovering the creative direction that would define his future.
- Location: Bromley, Kent (now Greater London)
- Years attended: c. 1958–1963
- Bowie connection: Secondary school
- Notable friends: George Underwood, Geoff MacCormack
School years and identity
At Bromley Technical High School, David Jones began to stand out as a creative and unconventional student.
He showed strong interest in art, music and performance, often leaning more toward creative expression than traditional academic work.
Friendships that shaped Bowie
One of the most important people Bowie met at school was George Underwood, who would remain a lifelong friend and later design artwork for several Bowie albums.
Another key figure was Geoff MacCormack, a close school friend who would later travel with Bowie during his early career and remain part of his inner circle.
The eye incident
After an argument at school, Bowie was punched in his left eye by childhood friend George Underwood. The damage was permanent: after several operations, his pupil remained permanently dilated. This caused the illusion that he had two different eye colours, becoming a defining part of his look and mystique.
Music and early influences
During his time at school, Bowie became increasingly influenced by American rock ’n’ roll, jazz and rhythm & blues.
He also began learning saxophone, encouraged by his half-brother Terry Burns, whose influence was crucial in Bowie’s early musical development.
Why this location matters
Bromley Technical High School represents the moment where David Jones began to evolve into David Bowie.
It is here that friendships, identity, music and individuality all started to come together — forming the foundation of one of the most transformative artists in modern music history.