Neville Wills
Photo: Unknown photographer / Wikimedia Commons / Unknown — Unknown Wikimedia file page
Neville Wills was a British guitarist best known for his role in The Konrads, the first band formed by David Bowie (then performing under his birth name David Jones).
As one of the original members of The Konrads in the early 1960s, Wills participated directly in Bowie’s earliest live performances, marking the very beginning of Bowie’s journey as a performing musician.
- Role: Guitarist
- Band: The Konrads
- Active with Bowie: 1962–1963
- Bowie connection: Member of Bowie’s first band
The Konrads (1962–1963)
The Konrads were formed in 1962 by David Jones at the age of fifteen. The band focused on guitar-based rock and roll, performing at local youth events, community gatherings and weddings.
Neville Wills joined the group as a guitarist during this formative period, contributing to the band’s raw, early rock sound.
Early band lineup
The Konrads featured a fluctuating lineup of young musicians drawn from Bowie’s local circle. Alongside Bowie and Wills, members included George Underwood, drummer Dave Crook and others who would rotate in and out of the group.
As guitarist, Wills was part of the band’s instrumental foundation, supporting Bowie’s early attempts at fronting a group and shaping a public identity.
Musical direction and limitations
The Konrads played straightforward rock and roll, reflecting the tastes and technical limits of teenage musicians at the time.
Bowie soon grew frustrated with the group’s musical conservatism, seeking broader stylistic possibilities beyond basic guitar rock.
Bowie’s departure and transition
Bowie left The Konrads following disagreements over musical direction, bringing his association with Neville Wills to an end.
This departure marked Bowie’s first decisive break from a band context, setting him on a path toward experimentation and continual reinvention.
Historical significance
While The Konrads never achieved commercial recognition, their importance lies in their position at the very start of Bowie’s career.
Neville Wills’ role as guitarist places him among the earliest collaborators in Bowie’s long and evolving creative universe.
Place within Bowie’s universe
Within David Bowie’s extended creative universe, Neville Wills represents the point of origin — the earliest phase where Bowie transitioned from aspiring musician to active performer.
His contribution belongs to the foundation of Bowie’s career, a reminder that even the most transformative artists begin in small, local bands.