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Lot #610
David Bowie

Rare letter discussing the 1982 divorce from his wife Angela, who “does not seem to have a proper base and has been seen around London night spots looking rather ‘unwell’”

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Rare letter discussing the 1982 divorce from his wife Angela, who “does not seem to have a proper base and has been seen around London night spots looking rather ‘unwell’”

TLS signed “David,” one page, 8.25 x 11.75, April 19, 1982. In a letter to Stan regarding breach of the divorce agreement between David and Angela Bowie, David Bowie writes, in full: “I am writing to fill you in on the details that have emerged from the press ‘campaign’ that Angela has been waging. I hope to be able to include the press clips which RCA has been promising for weeks with this letter. Otherwise those will follow under separate cover.

From what we can gather the book has been trying to see the light of day for some time and several distributors seem to think it has been out for a month. However according to the agent for the publisher a Mr. Ken Dickson it is finally officially published on April 27, 1982. However books have already been sent to stores and are available. W. H. Smith the largest chain in Britain has it on order though none as yet have reached their warehouses. It will sell at 1.50 pounds. It is a paperback.

With respect to Olivier’s letter of March 24, 1982: I do not see how anything from now could become ‘too much of an issue’ and I absolutely will not be giving in to any pressure to advance her any further monies from any source. I also would like your lad Olivier’s opinion on how I for a change can restrict her demands in view of this flagrant breach of the settlement agreement. In addition I would like to know how I can restrict visitations at this stage as she does not seem to have a proper base and has been seen around London night spots looking rather ‘unwell’. As far as the advance on the house deposit goes she will simply have to wait until I move. (If there was really something they could do about it it would already have happened).” Four horizontal mailing folds, scattered light creasing, two binder holes at the top edge along with a few tears, and a received date stamp, otherwise fine condition.

The David and Angela Bowie marriage in 1970 and subsequent divorce in 1980 was; indeed, a messy, scandalous affair, in the literal sense. With Angela needing a visa to remain in the U. K., the relationship was a pragmatic pairing from the outset. In fact, on the eve of their wedding, the couple, both acknowledged bisexuals, had a threesome with an actress; David later asking “Can you deal with the fact that I’m not in love with you?” and Angela declaring “Free love was natural and simply what one did.” Soon after the birth of their son Zowie in 1971, Angela fled to Italy for a fling with a girlfriend. “I don’t know if David ever forgave me.” “I was wild and David needed me to help him be wild. I chopped off his hair and dyed it and put him in a dress. I gave him notoriety. He gave me fame,” she declared. After Bowie’s alter-ego persona as Ziggy Stardust elevated him to even greater rock stardom, his insatiable cocaine habit escalated. While David flaunted his mistresses and groupies, much to Angela’s annoyance, He came to regard her with contempt, remarking that “she had as much insight into the human condition as a walnut and a self-interest that would make Narcissus green with envy.” As the decade came to a close, the couple separated, David being granted full custody of their child by Angela when she was apprised of the fact that he had photos of her having sex with another woman. She received a $300,000 payment and signed a non-disclosure agreement, that being the crux of the matter being discussed in Bowie’s April 1982 letter regarding Angela’s book, presumably ‘Free Spirit,” published in September 1983.



Pre-certified Roger Epperson/REAL and RR Auction COA.

Auction Info

  • Auction Title: Modern Music
  • Dates: #382 - Ended January 26, 2012





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