Heroes and Zeros

Heroes and Zeros

As David Bowie turns 65, historians know that it is also around 600 years since the birth date of Joan Of Arc. And the connection is? Well, I am still fascinated by both – but I guess I have always drawn inspiration from larger than life characters who challenged convention. Other connections? Joan heard the voice of God, while David has a voice that God might even envy.

Meanwhile, although Joan was horrifically burned at the stake, could it really be that with no new music or performances over the last eight years that DB is also feeling burnt out? I hope not, however with a legacy that will endure beyond, if it is that retirement has been chosen over future years of touring and recording, then who could begrudge Bowie his rest? After all, the impact of his music is of a magnitude that it has correctly been implied how difficult it would be to imagine what pop music would be like should David Bowie never have come into being.

Compliments donĀ“t come much higher than that but it is with merit. In any case, Happy Birthday David Bowie, wish you well and the very best of health!

And on the subject of drawing inspiration from larger than life characters who defied the odds as they challenged convention, my heart hurt as I read the following article in the Glasgow Herald.

Surely Nelson Mandela and all the others who sacrificed so much, to challenge and defeat the shame of apartheid, envisioned a future for their country that would be so much different from this.

Jim Kerr

Herald Article on South Africa