Duncan Jones Reflects On His 'Revolutionary' Father David Bowie

Mar 25, 2022 by apost team

David Bowie was a leading figure in the music industry with some of the most influential music and iconic performances to this day. Known for his eclectic nature and style and impressive musical sound, Bowie was a staple in the industry for over 50 years. As a singer, songwriter, and even an actor, Bowie was revolutionary.

Bowie has left a lasting legacy, with many current artists showing their inspiration from him in their own works. His staging and sound were unique and a world of their own, as Bowie was highly known and appreciated for his epic performances and trailblazing ways. He had even created his own persona and truly embodied what it means to be a real superstar.

At first, Bowie spent time playing in bands as he worked his way to the top, only to once again collaborate with others, but this time for some of the greatest hits like "Under Pressure" and "Dancing in the Street." Throughout his many years in the spotlight, Bowie received rave reviews from fans and critics alike, and was honored with numerous awards.

Living as a superstar meant much of Bowie's personal life was publicized, though he did try to keep parts of his life private. While he was famous for his marriage to supermodel Iman, Bowie had been married once before. His first marriage was to Mary Angela Barnett, and the two had one child together named Duncan Jones. Today, Jones is proving that he can carry on the Bowie family name well and is a star in his own right.

During his life, Bowie was married twice. His second marriage gained a lot of media attention as he tied the knot to Zara Mohamed Abdulmajid, better known by her stage name Iman – a fashion model who is known for being a muse to past and present designers such as Gianni Versace and Calvin Klein. Iman and Bowie were married in 1992 and went on to have one daughter together named Alexandria Zahra Jones, who was born in August 2000.

In an archived interview from CNN, Iman revealed that she and Bowie had been set up on a blind together with one another. They both had the same hairdresser, though they didn't know each other, so the hairdresser set them up together. Sparks flew, and the two fell in love, leading to a long-lasting relationship and marriage. 

Iman credited the fact that they were "private people" to their success as a couple in the public eye. "It's just knowing what your priorities are when you get married, I think that makes a big difference," she added. What really attested to their love was the fact that they loved each other for who they truly were. "I fell in love with David Jones. I did not fall in love with David Bowie," Iman said, as per the Guardian. Bowie and Iman stayed together until Bowie's death in 2016.

Before he was married to Iman, Bowie was married to Barnett – a model, actress and journalist who influenced glam rock culture and fashion, Barnett also helped conceptualize the aesthetic of Bowie's other persona, Ziggy Stardust.

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Bowie and Barnett's 10-year marriage was tumultuous but also resulted in the birth of Bowie's first and only son, Duncan Jones. Jones was born on May 30, 1971, in Kent, England. According to IMDB, Jones' birth inspired Bowie to write the song "Kooks" for his album "Hunky Dory," which was released the same year Jones was born. 

After Bowie and Barnett divorced, Bowie was granted full custody of Jones. According to IMDB, Jones still hasn't talked to his mother since, as she gave up custody of him for a $750,000 settlement deal when he was 13 years old.

In his adulthood, Jones was Bowie's best man at his wedding to Iman. Even after Bowie's death, Jones continued to show just how strong their relationship was. According to the Doncaster Free Press, Jones was also interested in learning more about Bowie's family from Doncaster, England, as he had previously been "digging into his family tree."

Today, Jones is famous for being a director and writer, best known for his work on films such as "Moon," Source Code" and "Mute." In his personal life, he has been married to actress Rodene Ronquillo since Nov. 6, 2012, according to IMDB. Together, they have two children.

As the son of such a creative mastermind, it's not surprising that Jones has learned a lot from Bowie. He said, "Creative arts can be painful. I remember my dad being beaten up numerous times by critics, only to have those same people come back five, 10 years later and say that in retrospect the work was ahead of its time. Was even revolutionary!" He added, "Be patient. Good work proves out in the end."

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