David Bowie -You're Not Alone. Lightroom London

Want to see David Bowie?  David Bowie portrayed like you have never seen him before – in a lightroom?  You’re Not Alone opens this week.  Using iconic performance footage, rarely heard interviews and never-before-seen material selected from thousands of hours of film in the vaults of the David Bowie Archive.

I was doubly lucky as I was invited to the preview and my friend had bought me tickets so I got to experience You’re Not Alone twice in one week.  Just like seeing Bowie live, however many times you go to experience this will never be enough.  It may not be quite the same as seeing Bowie live, but this lightbox is an amazing immersive experience that I can only say left me in a state of elation.  The pure ecstasy of Bowie surrounding me with his words and music is absolute bliss.

It’s a huge 360 room full of Bowie on all sides.  We experience his suburban upbringing, we experience his ch-ch-ch-changes, his inventions of each character.  We see the key moments in his career.  Space Oddity.  Starman.  Heroes.  Let’s Dance.  They use clips from multiple gigs synced to the one song across the huge walls.  You are absorbed by Bowie.  It’s like someone has picked me up as a tiny mouse and dropped me into a maze box for an experiment.  Well as a Bowie fan, I reacted as you would expect.  I laughed.  I shouted at Russell Harty.  I cried.  I sang.  I danced.  I loved it.  Bowie stands tall, very very tall.  He surrounds you and envelopes you.  He talks to you.  All the narration is Bowie himself.  I have not had an experience like this before and so glad my first time was with Bowie. 

I was delighted to hear Rock N Roll Suicide, not only because that is where You’re Not Alone lyric comes from but also the following line in the song is tattooed on my wrist. ‘cause you’re wonderful is such an important lyric to me.  It could be saying I think he is wonderful; He could be saying I am wonderful or just a positive affirmation.  After all, like millions worldwide, Bowie saved me.  He was there for my darkest moments.  He raised me up.  He gave me hope.  He taught me to be my authentic self and he gave me joy.  So, when he is singing Rock N Roll Suicide, I am up on my feet singing it back at him.  Giving him my hands, my arms, my heart.

The interviews demonstrate his genius.  In his second interview with Russell Harty, Bowie gives Harty enough rope to hang himself with his stupid questions on earrings and fans.  There was no media training in those days so Bowie’s reactions are so impressive.  In an interview with Jeremy Paxman in 1999, Bowie predicts the power of the internet saying ‘I think the potential of what the internet is going to do to society both good and bad is unimaginable.  I think we’re on the cusp of something exhilarating and terrifying.’.  It’s astounding how he knows this.  He could see the future.  In another conversation, he talks about not playing to the gallery… ‘I think it's terribly dangerous for an artist to fulfill other people's expectations.  I think they generally produce their worst work when they do that’.  He is so knowledgeable, that attending lightroom is wisdom you can use in life.  Let him be your guru, your guide to life.  After all he is a Starman.  And there is no doubt in my mind he picked on me.

 

If you have seen Brett Morgens’ Moonage Daydream – this is a level up on that.  In fact, this is the most exciting thing I have experienced since seeing him live.  The magic of You’re Not Alone show is that this is something you will want to see again and again.  My only criticism is it doesn’t feel long enough.  It’s about an hour in length and continues on a loop so if you come in half way through you can catch it all. But as a die-hard fan, I wanted the full Five Years – a little more of everything.  But of course, I am being greedy.  There is plenty for the die hards that those who only know greatest hits may not completely comprehend, but its always hard to strike the right balance.  I believe You’re Not Alone has hit on the perfect formula.

This show is a celebration of Bowie.  Its his wisdom; his boldness;  His music.  Let’s be honest – I struggle to name another artist that has had such an impact on cultures, fashions and music.  David Bowie stands above them all.  Literally.  If you love Bowie, don’t miss this – its iconic.

You're Not Alone is at Lightroom London until October 2026.

NB: And if you really want to treat yourself, there are special Bowie nights.