I’ve spent 11 hours today editing my new book whilst listening to constant features dedicated to and music from David Bowie in BBC 5Live.

I remember the first time I came across David Bowie, I was about 3 years old in 1977 and I was going through my mother’s record collection st my grandparents. Already being a sci-fi nut, my attention was caught by Life on Mars and a certain musicians’ then curious appearance, at least for a 3-year-old of that time.

It must be said, I never liked all of his music but perhaps that was part of the point. David Bowie was not a mere musician or even a Rock God, here was an artist who lived and breathed his art. And art is open to interpretation, to make people think, sometimes you like it and sometimes you don’t but either opinion is valid and neither invalidates the art or artist itself.

I’ve always liked having David Bowie in my life. To have such a towering figure in modern British culture; a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma. To have someone whose position in culture and life to be simply creative for its own sake and to make us question everything, even if we don’t always understand what it is we are being asked to question!

It’s sad that there really isn’t anyone like David Bowie, no individual able, willing and talented enough to be so different, or a music industry that would never allow a modern day enigma the chance to shine and I will miss that one person who wS just a little bit different and who was always true to himself.

I really really admire anyone and everyone who tries to be different. The obsession with money and banal, safe products drives me mad in every single field. Thank you, David Bowie, not just for a lifetime of entertainment but also above all to being an artist above all else. I’d much rather have someone who tries and fails or someone who is opinionated but in disagreement to me than boring mediocre X-Factor style manufactured music and consumerist society or someone who never votes but blames everyone but themselves.

I was already going down this path but I realised today that I really want my books to be about creativity and integrity, not mass-market mainstream banality. It might not make millions but it’s true to me. If just 1% of this is due to listening to yo someone’s music then I’d say that is a pretty big impact to make.

I love that already I have such an eclectic portfolio of books with everything from history to adventure, romance to horror, tortures to poetry and soon pulp noir and run my own little business. It’s not really in anyway comparable to Mr. Bowie but in a small way, I hope it is. I honestly can’t find another blogger or new author with such a diverse work in so little time. As David Bowie said, I’m not sure what the future holds but I know it won’t be boring.

Don’t be safe, be controversial. Don’t just exist, live. Don’t just put up with or even complain about life, do something about it.

I’m sure a certain Rock God and artist would agree but for now, here is one very unique musical tribute by the organist of my local Cathedral at St. Albans, someone here definitely dared to be different.

And here is the first ever music video shot in space, another great tribute.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-3393470/David-Bowie-dies-18-month-battle-cancer.html