David Bowie was a failure

Yes, he failed. A lot.

Especially in his early days.

Did you know the following about David Bowie?

— In the 1960s he released nine singles which failed to chart before Space Oddity made it into the top five in the UK.

— Those singles were with 3 different bands and he sang with several others during this time.

— In 1965 his band, The Lower Third, auditioned for the BBC. They received the following scathing feedback:

“Routine beat group. Strange choice of material. Amateur sounding vocalist who sings wrong notes and out of tune. Group has nothing to recommend it. I don’t think the group will get better with more rehearsal. The singer is a cockney type but not outstanding enough. Singer is devoid of personality.”

— Even after Space Oddity his next six singles didn’t hit the charts. Changes was one of these, despite it later becoming one of his best-known songs.

— Even though Space Oddity was his break through single the album the album initially flopped. His previous and first album, David Bowie, also failed to chart.

— His next two albums after Space Oddity (The Man Who Sold The World and Hunky Dory) sold badly on release.