David Bowie: Black Tie/White Noise

Hello All,

Yes, now. I know. Heck of a time to shop. Something nice, unusual, neat (for Bowie), with some handwriting too, and on something interesting - not a magazine clipping or scrap or unknown 2nd gen photo. No bank breaking either. I came up with this ticket and the 1993 promotional flat for the album he'd just finished to go with it for display. It is right smack in the middle of his career - no more characters, finding himself, after the genius of the 70's, the awful flops of the later 80's and right as he is starting work on Outside with Eno and all that would came after in the 90's and beyond. He had just married Iman, and on this album Bowie worked with Mick Ronson of the Spiders for perhaps the last time, Reeves Gabrels for the first time, and Mike Garson (also of the Spiders) who played with him until 2006 (as well as with the Pumpkins). This album debuted at No. 1 and was his last such debut until 2013. The video EP Black Tie/White Noise was shot 2 days earlier, on May 8th.

This Tonight Show performance was May 10th, 1993 and there is a clip of the song Bowie performed that you can see here: Bowie on The Tonight Show May 10, 1993 performing Nite Flights

David Bowie signed "best wishes Bowie'93" Tonight Show ticket May 10, 1993 paired with an original Black Tie/White Noise 1993 promotional 12" flat. Shown to scale.

Eric

1976 & 2016 - Interesting costume for Lazarus...

2 members like this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Paul on January 23, 2016 at 6:17pm

I've been thinking about how many stories over time, where people find out the autographs aren't signed by the artist.
Your one of them Eric.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on January 23, 2016 at 6:24pm

Yes, it is a new experience for me and I hope that remains so! First was that Gleason that seemed to get into many collections. Still selling too. But that led to my little Gleason Secretarial article so perhaps not all bad. Same with the Heston signatures - got into many collections. I hope I have recovered...gracefully ;) As I said, I'd rather be "had" by a secretarial than a forgery. With what there was out there that I could see 12 years ago - I believed that index card authentic. No idea I was correlating to a secretary. Now I am seeing them in the last 2 weeks.

Eric

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Paul on January 23, 2016 at 6:27pm

Psa dna authentication as well.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on January 23, 2016 at 6:43pm

Well Paul, at least I had a 50's secretarial. I knew the 70's were secretarial in origin but not the 50's photo cards. Those were said by some to be the only things he did sign. Not so...

Eric

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Joe W. on January 23, 2016 at 6:19pm

I am a sucker for the unique signed items like this ticket. It has the historical tie-ins I think adds flavor to the signature. Much better than a signed photo or album. So spontaneous.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on January 23, 2016 at 6:28pm

Thanks Joe - me too! Glad you like it.

It is just hard to find a photo that is not a copy print but legit that bears a good signature in the right place in an ink color you like and with a bit of writing...I don't mind dedications though. And then, if you do all that, everyone else has...a signed photo. I did not even mention condition! Another wrench to throw in that equation. Thankfully, this ticket is mint.

Eric

PS - LOL "tie-ins" indeed for this piece!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Joe W. on January 23, 2016 at 6:32pm

I guess I am not in the majority but I like items that look handled and aged properly. Kind of like the patina on an antique. It adds character to the item. I just get tired of seeing this newer items so pre-arranged and managed.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on January 23, 2016 at 6:36pm

Oh I agree - none of my 1939 New York World's Fair collection of memorabilia is "mint" - looks ridiculous. It just seems at times when you find the right combination of qualities I mentioned above, condition is often the weak player. Of course, with the right item, condition can/should be secondary and sometimes hardly an issue at all.

Eric

Edit to add: To me this is very recent. Is this "vintage"?