📍 New York City, 🇺🇸 USA
🏛️ Private Residence

🎸 Event: 38th Birthday in Manhattan
🗒️ Note: David celebrates his 38th birthday privately in New York. This is a quiet period in which he mentally prepares for a year that will be entirely dedicated to film projects in London.

📍 New York City, 🇺🇸 USA
🏛️ Isolar Office

🎸 Event: Labyrinth: Final Song Selection
🗒️ Note: David finalizes the selection of the five songs he will write for the ‘Labyrinth’ soundtrack. He is in close consultation with Jim Henson regarding the integration of the music into the pop-fantasy film.

📍 New York City, 🇺🇸 USA
🏛️ Recording Studio

🎸 Event: Recording: Absolute Beginners Demo
🗒️ Note: David works on the early demo version of the title track for ‘Absolute Beginners’. He strives for a grand, romantic arrangement intended to capture the atmosphere of London in the late 1950s.

📍 Worldwide 🌍
🏛️ EMI America / Virgin

🎸 Event: Single Release: ‘This Is Not America’
🗒️ Note: The collaboration with the Pat Metheny Group is released worldwide for the film ‘The Falcon and the Snowman’. The song is praised by critics for its atmospheric production and Bowie’s understated vocal style.

📍 New York City, 🇺🇸 USA
🏛️ Isolar Office

🎸 Event: Final London Relocation Logistics
🗒️ Note: David and his team put the final touches on the logistics for his long-term stay in London. The coming months will be completely dedicated to the filming of ‘Absolute Beginners’ and ‘Labyrinth’.

📍 London, 🇬🇧 UK
🏛️ Shepperton Studios

🎸 Event: Principal Photography: Absolute Beginners
🗒️ Note: David begins filming the musical ‘Absolute Beginners’. He plays the role of the slick advertising maven Vendice Partners and is closely involved in shaping the cynical nature of his character.

📍 London, 🇬🇧 UK
🏛️ Shepperton Studios

🎸 Event: Choreography Rehearsals: ‘That’s Motivation’
🗒️ Note: David begins intensive dance rehearsals for his major musical number. The complex scene, involving him dancing on a giant typewriter, required significant physical preparation.

📍 London, 🇬🇧 UK
🏛️ Abbey Road Studios

🎸 Event: Recording: ‘Absolute Beginners’ Title Track
🗒️ Note: During a break from filming, David records the definitive version of the title track. With its rich saxophone parts and 50s aesthetic, the song is considered one of his strongest vocal performances of the 1980s.

📍 Los Angeles / London
🏛️ 27th Annual Grammy Awards

🎸 Event: Grammy Win: Best Video, Short Form
🗒️ Note: David wins his first Grammy Award for the short film ‘Jazzin’ for Blue Jean’. Although he is not present at the ceremony in LA, the award validates his artistic move into short-form cinema.

📍 London, 🇬🇧 UK
🏛️ Claridge’s Hotel

🎸 Event: Chart Success: This Is Not America
🗒️ Note: The collaboration with Pat Metheny reaches the Top 15 in the UK charts. David is pleased that this more experimental track resonates with a wide audience while he is busy on the film set.

📍 London, UK 🇬🇧
🏛️ Shepperton Studios

🎸 Event: Filming: ‘That’s Motivation’
🎤 Artist: David Bowie
🗒️ Notes: David begins filming his central musical number for ‘Absolute Beginners’. The spectacular scene, featuring him dancing on a giant typewriter and a globe, is described by Nicholas Pegg as a technical masterpiece that perfectly utilizes David’s background in mime and physical theater.

📍 London, UK 🇬🇧
🏛️ Abbey Road Studios

🎸 Event: Recording: ‘Volare’
🎤 Artist: David Bowie
🗒️ Notes: David records an energetic version of the Italian classic ‘Volare’ for the ‘Absolute Beginners’ soundtrack. According to The Bowie Bible, he personally selected this song to enhance the 1950s London atmosphere.

📍 London, UK 🇬🇧
🏛️ Abbey Road Studios

🎸 Event: Collaboration with Gil Evans
🎤 Artist: David Bowie
🗒️ Notes: David works in the studio with legendary jazz arranger Gil Evans. They finalize the brass arrangements for the film score. Kevin Cann emphasizes that this collaboration allowed David to work with one of his personal musical heroes.

📍 Birmingham, England 🇬🇧
🏛️ National Exhibition Centre (NEC)

🎸 Event: Private Dancer Tour (Guest Appearance)
🎤 Artist: David Bowie & Tina Turner
🗒️ Notes: Unexpected guest appearance during Tina Turner’s show. Performance of “Tonight” and “Let’s Dance”. Recordings later released on the live video ‘Tina Live’.

📍 London, UK 🇬🇧
🏛️ Shepperton Studios

🎸 Event: Wrap: Absolute Beginners Filming
🎤 Artist: David Bowie
🗒️ Notes: David completes his scenes as the corrupt adman Vendice Partners. Julien Temple praises David’s professionalism and comedic timing on set. Chris O’Leary notes that David immediately transitions into pre-production for his next film project: ‘Labyrinth’.

📍 London, UK 🇬🇧
🏛️ Westbury Hotel

🎸 Event: Labyrinth Concept Meeting
🎤 Artist: David Bowie
🗒️ Notes: David meets Jim Henson and Brian Froud to discuss the visual direction of Jareth the Goblin King. They review the first puppets and sets for the filming at Elstree Studios, set to begin later this spring.

📍 London, 🇬🇧 UK
🏛️ Elstree Studios

🎸 Event: Labyrinth: Principal Photography Begins
🗒️ Note: Filming for ‘Labyrinth’ officially begins under the direction of Jim Henson. David begins his transformation into Jareth the Goblin King. He was closely involved in the design of the iconic wig and the form-fitting costumes.

📍 London, 🇬🇧 UK
🏛️ Elstree Studios

🎸 Event: Filming: Crystal Ball Manipulation
🗒️ Note: David begins filming the scenes where Jareth juggles crystal balls. Professional juggler Michael Moschen is hidden behind David to perform the complex contact juggling movements.

📍 London, 🇬🇧 UK
🏛️ Various Locations

🎸 Event: Filming: ‘Loving The Alien’ Music Video
🗒️ Note: David films the surreal music video for his new single. Director David Mallet uses heavy religious symbolism and the iconic blue-painted face sequence. This is considered one of the most artistic videos from the ‘Tonight’ period.

📍 London, 🇬🇧 UK
🏛️ Abbey Road Studios

🎸 Event: Soundtrack Session: ‘As The World Falls Down’
🗒️ Note: David records the definitive vocals for the dreamy ballad ‘As The World Falls Down’. He strives for an ethereal, romantic sound that fits the ballroom masquerade scene in the film.

📍 London, 🇬🇧 UK
🏛️ Elstree Studios

🎸 Event: Filming: The Throne Room
🗒️ Note: David films scenes in the throne room of the Goblin City, surrounded by dozens of puppeteers from the Jim Henson Company. He adapts his acting to the mechanical movements of the puppets with great precision.

📍 Worldwide 🌍
🏛️ EMI America

🎸 Event: Single Release: ‘Loving The Alien’
🗒️ Note: David’s most artistic single from the ‘Tonight’ album is officially released. He considered this track the intellectual heart of the record, exploring his fascination with religious history.

📍 London, 🇬🇧 UK
🏛️ BBC / Television Outlets

🎸 Event: TV Premiere: ‘Loving The Alien’ Video
🗒️ Note: The music video directed by David Mallet premieres. The use of religious symbolism and David’s blue-painted face causes immediate discussion in the media, and it remains one of his most ambitious videos of the 1980s.

📍 London, 🇬🇧 UK
🏛️ Claridge’s Hotel

🎸 Event: Meeting: Bob Geldof & Live Aid Pledge
🗒️ Note: David meets with Bob Geldof to discuss his participation in Live Aid. After seeing footage of the famine in Ethiopia, he immediately commits to the concert at Wembley Stadium, marking his return to the live stage after his tour stop in 1984.

📍 London, 🇬🇧 UK
🏛️ Elstree Studios

🎸 Event: Filming: The Escher Staircase
🗒️ Note: David films the visually complex climax of ‘Labyrinth’. He must navigate a set based on M.C. Escher’s ‘Relativity’ while singing the song ‘Within You’, requiring intensive stunt work with harnesses to create the illusion of shifted gravity.

📍 London, 🇬🇧 UK
🏛️ Elstree Studios

🎸 Event: Filming: The Masked Ballroom
🗒️ Note: David films the dreamy masked ball scene with Jennifer Connelly. Accompanied by the ballad ‘As The World Falls Down’, he dances through the fairytale world created by Jim Henson, showcasing a romantic, almost classical look.

📍 London, 🇬🇧 UK
🏛️ Elstree Studios

🎸 Event: Labyrinth: Principal Photography Wrap
🗒️ Note: David completes his major scenes as Jareth the Goblin King. He says goodbye to Jim Henson and the puppeteers, marking the end of an intensive filming period, after which he immediately shifts his focus to the Live Aid project.

📍 London, 🇬🇧 UK
🏛️ Abbey Road Studios

🎸 Event: Recording: ‘Dancing In The Street’
🗒️ Note: In a spontaneous session starting at 10:00 PM, David and Mick Jagger record their duet for Live Aid. The entire track was recorded in just four hours, driven by the raw energy between the two stars.

📍 London, 🇬🇧 UK
🏛️ Spitalfields Market / Docklands

🎸 Event: Filming: ‘Dancing In The Street’ Video
🗒️ Note: Immediately after the studio session, David and Mick drive to the London Docks. Under the direction of David Mallet, they film the iconic, energetic music video in the early morning hours, perfectly capturing the spontaneous and friendly atmosphere of the project.

📍 London, 🇬🇧 UK
🏛️ Private Rehearsal Space

🎸 Event: Live Aid: Band Assembly & First Rehearsal
🗒️ Note: David assembles his band for Live Aid, including Kevin Armstrong, Matthew Seligman, and Neil Conti. They begin the first rehearsals for the Wembley set, with David choosing a powerful, compact line-up to deliver the hits.

📍 London, 🇬🇧 UK
🏛️ Abbey Road Studios

🎸 Event: Mixing: Absolute Beginners (Final Cues)
🗒️ Note: David finalizes the last musical fragments for the ‘Absolute Beginners’ soundtrack. Despite the hectic schedule surrounding Live Aid, he remains closely involved in the post-production of Julien Temple’s film.

📍 London, 🇬🇧 UK
🏛️ Nomis Studios

🎸 Event: Intensive Live Aid Rehearsals
🗒️ Note: David begins the final week of rehearsals with his band. He is determined to deliver one of the most professional sets of the day, despite the limited 18-minute time slot.

📍 London, 🇬🇧 UK
🏛️ Wembley Stadium

🎸 Event: Live Aid Performance
🗒️ Note: At 7:22 PM, David takes the stage. He performs ‘TVC15’, ‘Rebel Rebel’, ‘Modern Love’, and a legendary version of ‘”Heroes”‘. This performance is regarded as an absolute highlight of the day.

📍 London, 🇬🇧 UK
🏛️ Wembley Stadium

🎸 Event: The Selfless Choice: CBC Famine Footage
🗒️ Note: David makes the conscious decision to cut the planned song ‘Five Years’ from his set. This creates time to screen the shocking famine footage from Ethiopia, introduced by Bob Geldof, which leads to a massive surge in donations.

📍 London, 🇬🇧 UK
🏛️ Wembley Stadium

🎸 Event: Global Premiere: ‘Dancing In The Street’
🗒️ Note: The music video for the duet with Mick Jagger is broadcast worldwide between sets in London and Philadelphia. The song immediately becomes the unofficial anthem of Live Aid.

📍 Worldwide 🌍
🏛️ EMI America / Virgin

🎸 Event: Single Release: ‘Dancing In The Street’
🗒️ Note: The benefit single is officially released. It immediately shoots to the number one position in charts across the UK and the US, marking David’s first UK number one hit since ‘Ashes To Ashes’.

📍 London, 🇬🇧 UK
🏛️ Abbey Road Studios

🎸 Event: Labyrinth Soundtrack: Final Vocal Sessions
🗒️ Note: Following the euphoria of Live Aid, David returns to the studio. He records the final vocals for ‘Underground’ and ‘Magic Dance’. His voice sounds particularly powerful during this period due to the recent stage experience.

📍 London, 🇬🇧 UK
🏛️ EMI Records / Global Charts

🎸 Event: Global Chart Domination: ‘Dancing In The Street’
🗒️ Note: The duet with Mick Jagger reaches the number one position in the British charts and tops charts worldwide. It becomes one of the fastest-selling singles of the decade, with all proceeds going to the Band Aid Trust.

📍 London, 🇬🇧 UK
🏛️ Shepperton Studios

🎸 Event: Principal Photography: ‘Absolute Beginners’
🗒️ Note: David begins filming for Julien Temple’s large-scale musical film. He plays the role of the slick, manipulative advertising maven Vendice Partners. David thoroughly enjoys this character, whom he describes as a ‘human shark’.

📍 London, 🇬🇧 UK
🏛️ Abbey Road Studios

🎸 Event: Recording: ‘Absolute Beginners’ Title Track
🗒️ Note: David puts the finishing touches on the definitive version of the film’s title track. With its rich 50s aesthetic and baritone vocals, the song is immediately considered a classic in his repertoire.

📍 London, 🇬🇧 UK
🏛️ Elstree Studios

🎸 Event: Labyrinth: Dubbing & ADR Sessions
🗒️ Note: Between film shoots, David returns to Elstree for the initial ADR (dubbing) sessions for ‘Labyrinth’. He works on the voice of Jareth the Goblin King to find the perfect balance between menace and seduction.

📍 London, 🇬🇧 UK
🏛️ Abbey Road Studios

🎸 Event: Mixing: ‘That’s Motivation’
🗒️ Note: David oversees the mixing of his spectacular musical number for the ‘Absolute Beginners’ soundtrack. The production, led by Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley, perfectly captures the theatrical energy of the film set.

📍 London, 🇬🇧 UK
🏛️ UK Single Charts

🎸 Event: Chart Success: ‘Dancing In The Street’ hits No. 1
🗒️ Note: The duet with Mick Jagger reaches the top spot on the British charts. This is David’s first number one hit since ‘Let’s Dance’ (1983), with all proceeds continuing to benefit Live Aid.

📍 Borehamwood, 🇬🇧 UK
🏛️ Elstree Studios

🎸 Event: Principal Photography: Labyrinth (Weeks 1-4)
🗒️ Note: David spent the entire month on set for his role as Jareth the Goblin King. This period focuses heavily on the interaction with the Jim Henson Creature Shop puppets.

📍 New York City, 🇺🇸 USA
🏛️ Radio City Music Hall / MTV VMAs

🎸 Event: MTV Video Music Awards: ‘Blue Jean’ Win
🗒️ Note: At the second annual MTV VMAs, ‘Blue Jean’ wins the award for Best Overall Performance. David is not present in New York due to his strict filming commitments for Labyrinth in the UK.

📍 New York City, 🇺🇸 USA
🏛️ US Billboard Charts

🎸 Event: US Release: ‘Dancing In The Street’ Billboard Entry
🗒️ Note: The single is officially released in the US. The accompanying video, filmed in a single take after Live Aid rehearsals, was essential for the song’s rapid rise into the American top 10.

📍 London, 🇬🇧 UK
🏛️ Elstree Studios / Mobile Recording Unit

🎸 Event: Songwriting: Labyrinth Soundtrack Development
🗒️ Note: In the evenings after filming, David works on early versions of ‘Underground’ and ‘As The World Falls Down’, seeking a balance between pop sensibility and film score requirements.

📍 London, 🇬🇧 UK
🏛️ Music Press Announcement

🎸 Event: Press Release: ‘When The Wind Blows’ Project
🗒️ Note: The British music press announces that David will provide the title song for the animated film about a nuclear attack. David was deeply moved by the script written by Raymond Briggs.

📍 London, 🇬🇧 UK
🏛️ Elstree Studios

🎸 Event: Month-End Review: Jareth Production Wrap
🗒️ Note: David concludes September by completing his major scenes with Jennifer Connelly. He remained largely secluded this month to maintain his focus on his cinematic role.

📍 Gstaad, 🇨🇭 Switzerland
🏛️ Clos des Mésanges

🎸 Event: Return to Swiss Seclusion
🗒️ Note: Following the intense filming schedule for ‘Labyrinth’, David retreats to his home in Switzerland. This period of isolation was essential for him to begin writing new material after the global impact of Live Aid.

📍 Gstaad, 🇨🇭 Switzerland
🏛️ Home Studio

🎸 Event: Collaboration: Planning ‘Blah-Blah-Blah’ with Iggy Pop
🗒️ Note: David begins outlining plans to produce Iggy Pop’s next studio album. This marked the start of the creative sessions that would eventually lead to Iggy’s most commercially successful era.

📍 London / Gstaad
🏛️ EMI Records

🎸 Event: Video Release: ‘Dancing In The Street’ EP
🗒️ Note: A special video single is released to meet the immense public demand for the Live Aid collaboration. The footage of David and Mick Jagger became a defining visual of the 1985 charity efforts.

📍 London, 🇬🇧 UK
🏛️ Abbey Road Studios (Post-Production)

🎸 Event: Finalizing ‘Labyrinth’ Soundtrack Mixes
🗒️ Note: While David remains in Switzerland, final mixes for ‘Underground’ and ‘As The World Falls Down’ are prepared for the 1986 film release. David stayed closely involved in the audio finishing via telephone and courier.

📍 Gstaad, 🇨🇭 Switzerland
🏛️ Clos des Mésanges

🎸 Event: Month-End Review: Songwriting Transition
🗒️ Note: David concludes October with a collection of demos that will form the foundation of his 1986 projects. This month marked a clear transition from the ‘Cinema Year’ back to pure music production.

📍 Gstaad, 🇨🇭 Switzerland
🏛️ Clos des Mésanges

🎸 Event: Songwriting: ‘Blah-Blah-Blah’ sessions with Iggy Pop
🗒️ Note: David and Iggy Pop spend the first half of the month at David’s Swiss home writing material for Iggy’s upcoming album. Tracks like ‘Shades’ and ‘Isolation’ were conceived during these intimate sessions, aimed at revitalizing Iggy’s commercial career.

📍 London, 🇬🇧 UK
🏛️ Abbey Road Studios

🎸 Event: Recording: ‘When The Wind Blows’
🗒️ Note: David records the title track for the animated film adaptation of Raymond Briggs’ nuclear fable. The session featured the ‘Kizmet’ production team and resulted in one of David’s most underrated mid-80s vocal performances.

🗒️ Note: David was deeply moved by the film’s anti-nuclear message, which influenced the somber tone of the recording.

📍 London, 🇬🇧 UK
🏛️ West End

🎸 Event: Absolute Beginners: Soundtrack Mastering
🗒️ Note: Final mastering sessions take place for the ‘Absolute Beginners’ soundtrack. David attended to ensure the sound quality of his title track was perfect for its early 1986 release.

📍 Gstaad, 🇨🇭 Switzerland
🏛️ Home Studio

🎸 Event: Month-End Review: Collaborative Success
🗒️ Note: David concludes November having balanced his own soundtrack work with the creative rebirth of Iggy Pop. This period of behind-the-scenes work was a precursor to the 1986 studio sessions for ‘Never Let Me Down’.

📍 Montreux, 🇨🇭 Switzerland
🏛️ Mountain Studios

🎸 Event: Recording: ‘Blah-Blah-Blah’ sessions with Iggy Pop
🗒️ Note: David and Iggy Pop move from Gstaad to Montreux to begin official recording at Mountain Studios. David takes the lead as producer and co-writer. David aimed to provide Iggy with a more polished, contemporary sound to ensure commercial success in the mid-80s market.

📍 Montreux, 🇨🇭 Switzerland
🏛️ Mountain Studios

🎸 Event: Collaboration: Erdal Kizilcay joins sessions
🗒️ Note: Multi-instrumentalist Erdal Kizilcay becomes a key collaborator during the Montreux sessions. The highlights that Kizilcay’s technical proficiency allowed David to experiment with complex synthesizer arrangements and digital textures for Iggy’s tracks.

📍 London / Montreux
🏛️ EMI Records / Virgin Records

🎸 Event: Promotional Planning: ‘Absolute Beginners’ Launch
🗒️ Note: David reviews the marketing strategy for his upcoming single and film. The release was strategically planned for early 1986 to capitalize on David’s high visibility following the Live Aid success of the previous summer.

📍 Gstaad, 🇨🇭 Switzerland
🏛️ Clos des Mésanges

🎸 Event: Holiday Break: Swiss Seclusion
🗒️ Note: David pauses the studio work for a private holiday break in Gstaad. Despite the break, David remained focused on the upcoming “Cinema Year,” having successfully balanced film roles and music production throughout 1985.

📍 Gstaad, 🇨🇭 Switzerland
🏛️ Clos des Mésanges

🎸 Event: Year-End Review: 1985 Accomplishments
🗒️ Note: David concludes 1985, a year defined by his humanitarian effort with ‘Dancing In The Street’ and his transition back to major film acting. The foundations for his 1986 successes—including the ‘Labyrinth’ and ‘Absolute Beginners’ soundtracks—were firmly established by the year’s end.