BBC to Screen Feature-Length David Bowie Doc

LONDON: A BBC documentary: David Bowie - Five Years ( working title) will focus on five critical years of the singer’s career - 1971, 1975, 1977, 1980 and 1983 before bringing the legend up to date with his latest album “Where We Are Now.”

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The film will feature unseen archive footage of Bowie and include interviews with some of his collaborators, including the six musicians who played on the latest album.

The film will complement the major David Bowie exhibition at London’s V&A, sharing unprecedented access to the David Bowie Archive. In addition the BBC has unearthed unseen footage of Bowie in the studio, Bowie on tour, Bowie behind the scenes, and previously untransmitted interviews.

Janice Hadlow, Controller of BBC Two, said: “I’m thrilled to be bringing this film to BBC Two; David Bowie - Five Years promises to be a revealing look at the life and career of one of the modern era’s most influential and innovative performers.”

Jan Younghusband, Commissioning Editor, Music & Events, said: “David Bowie is one of the most important international music stars of the past fifty years. His impact on the music industry around the globe is exceptional. The never-before-seen footage in this program will provide a fascinating insight into the world of this very private person.”

Francis Whately, director, said: “This is a project that has been in development for more than a decade, in fact since Bowie and I worked together in 2001 on a film for the BBC Omnibus strand. This year, 2013, is shaping up to be the year of David Bowie, and now is the perfect moment for this feature length film devoted to this extraordinary artist.”

Fifty years ago, Bowie released his first demo. Thirty years ago he released his biggest selling album of all time. Ten years ago, he released his 23rd studio album. A year later, while touring the album in Germany, he suffered a heart attack backstage and was taken for emergency angioplasty. The remainder of the tour was canceled. Bowie has never toured again.

Bowie is recognized as one of the most daring and innovative performers of the modern era, selling an estimated 140 million albums.