Rating: 
Summary: Trashy, biased
Review: Of the many David Bowie biographies out there, this has got to be one of the worst [though there are others that are competing for the title--ie. Alias David Bowie by the Gillmans]. In it his ex-wife--a horror through most of his life--simply bitterly airs all his dirty laundry while inserting many lies inside the mix to produce a very trashy, vulgar product. This work slanders without having any redemptive value. If you read other biographies, you will not only get info into this dark period of his life, but also on his coming out of it and moving on. I cannot stress how low this book has fallen, and have to recommend that it stays on the shelf.
Rating: 
Summary: Angie Takes You Back Stage Again
Review: Okay, if the book doesn't satisfy you, then this won't. I both liked the book and hated it (that's why I gave it three stars), but it's not excellent. It's quite stupid, but it's funny. I should've said this on the review for the book that Angie has a very high strung sense of humour and some of the things she says on the book and the audio cassette are rediculous if you really think about it. It's funny to listen to her talk and kind of make a fool out of herself, though, but I still don't believe half of the crap she talks about in here. Even if the whole thing was true, I wouldn't really care. It's all gossip, that's all. She has cutted out a few parts from the book when she did the audio. A very odd book, too. Also, as for the both the book and the audio, DO NOT let the kiddies read or listen to this, because the language is dirty (but it's more dirtier in the book rather than the audio). Of course, anyone could expect that from the former wife of a legendary rocker! Gossip lovers and music lovers, have fun when you listen and read this!
Rating:
Summary: Pass by "Backstage"
Review: The tell-all autobiographies of disgruntled ex-spouses/paramours are among the most annoying books on the rock world. Angela Bowie's "Backstage Passes: Life on the Wild Side With David Bowie" aspires to be witty and caustic, but ends up merely sounding bitter, without revealing anything really worth knowing.Bowie describes how she arrived on the music scene of the 1960s and met the budding singer David Bowie. After a very unconventional relationship, they married (he proposed by asking if she could deal with the fact that "I don't love you"?) into an open, bisexual union. A child, several albums and a drug addiction later, they split. A gag order was part of the divorce settlement between Angela Bowie and her ex husband; this book was published once the order ran out. Alas, there really isn't anything to justify the order. She is bitter -- nobody could mistake that. But aside from intimate rashes and lack of sexual prowess, she really has nothing too grubby to say about David Bowie. Bowie apparently contents herself with acid-flecked comments whenever she can manage it. There are jilted ladies of the rock world (Marianne Faithfull, Bebe Buell) who handle themselves with decorum, but apparently Bowie doesn't want to. The problem with Angela Bowie is that, like many paramours of rock stars, she assumes that she's a lot more interesting than she actually is. Her life is detailed, but not terribly interesting. What's worse, there's little contact with the intriguing people in the rock world. There's a spattering of stars like Mick Jagger who make real appearances (okay, we know Mick is a "billy goat" -- next shocking revelation!) and Michael Jackson, and others like Marianne Faithfull and John Lennon are mentioned but never really shown. Even Bowie's own ex-husband (the whole reason people read the book) is a nebulous presence. Bowie's writing wobbles dangerously, with plenty of rants and flash-forwards, as well as her opinions on the music industry. There's a lot of sex and drugs, but not much rock'n'roll. If you want to hear about the various people who wanted to sleep with both Bowies, Angela will tell you gladly. Same with the gender-bending clothes. Unfortunately, you won't be told nearly so much about his music. Readers may put down "Backstage Passes: Life on the Wild Side With David Bowie" wondering why the famed rock star bothered to put a gag order on Angel Bowie. The shock value is ultimately low, and the embittered, self-centered focus gets annoying. Not recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Pass by "Backstage"
Review: The tell-all autobiographies of disgruntled ex-spouses/paramours are among the most annoying books on the rock world. Angela Bowie's "Backstage Passes: Life on the Wild Side With David Bowie" aspires to be witty and caustic, but ends up merely sounding bitter, without revealing anything really worth knowing. Bowie describes how she arrived on the music scene of the 1960s and met the budding singer David Bowie. After a very unconventional relationship, they married (he proposed by asking if she could deal with the fact that "I don't love you"?) into an open, bisexual union. A child, several albums and a drug addiction later, they split. A gag order was part of the divorce settlement between Angela Bowie and her ex husband; this book was published once the order ran out. Alas, there really isn't anything to justify the order. She is bitter -- nobody could mistake that. But aside from intimate rashes and lack of sexual prowess, she really has nothing too grubby to say about David Bowie. Bowie apparently contents herself with acid-flecked comments whenever she can manage it. There are jilted ladies of the rock world (Marianne Faithfull, Bebe Buell) who handle themselves with decorum, but apparently Bowie doesn't want to. The problem with Angela Bowie is that, like many paramours of rock stars, she assumes that she's a lot more interesting than she actually is. Her life is detailed, but not terribly interesting. What's worse, there's little contact with the intriguing people in the rock world. There's a spattering of stars like Mick Jagger who make real appearances (okay, we know Mick is a "billy goat" -- next shocking revelation!) and Michael Jackson, and others like Marianne Faithfull and John Lennon are mentioned but never really shown. Even Bowie's own ex-husband (the whole reason people read the book) is a nebulous presence. Bowie's writing wobbles dangerously, with plenty of rants and flash-forwards, as well as her opinions on the music industry. There's a lot of sex and drugs, but not much rock'n'roll. If you want to hear about the various people who wanted to sleep with both Bowies, Angela will tell you gladly. Same with the gender-bending clothes. Unfortunately, you won't be told nearly so much about his music. Readers may put down "Backstage Passes: Life on the Wild Side With David Bowie" wondering why the famed rock star bothered to put a gag order on Angel Bowie. The shock value is ultimately low, and the embittered, self-centered focus gets annoying. Not recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: Steamy!!!!!
Review: This book is so much fun to read. Angela is definitely a little bitter about the lack of credit she received for helping to establish the Ziggy persona, but the factual information dealing with Bowie's rise to the top is accurate!
Rating:
Summary: Steamy!!!!!
Review: This book is so much fun to read. Angela is definitely a little bitter about the lack of credit she received for helping to establish the Ziggy persona, but the factual information dealing with Bowie's rise to the top is accurate!
Rating: 
Summary: The BEST book on Bowie!
Review: This is the best book on David Bowie I've read, and I've read them all! It is also valuable for being the only firsthand account. Filled with lots of details and ancedotes (not gossip!) about Bowie, it is a very honest portrait of a marriage, a hilarious if often disturbing look into the Bowies' life at home and on the road. There's very little that seems to be put in the book merely to "shock." Rather it offers candid views of Iggy, Keith, Rod, Marianne, and yes, David and Mick. Angela unabashedly tells you what it was like to be in the middle of Swinging London and the 1970s British Glam-rock scene. She provides a vivid and highly credible portrayal of a loose and decadent time. Angela is surprisingly modest throughout, since she clearly respects the talent she keeps company with. She never credits herself with David's accomplishments, but does state the obvious in noting she was often his biggest creative spark and contributed significantly to the launching of his career. Ignore the other reader's comments, the one who doubts Angie's extraordinary life. "There are more things in heaven and earth...." Besides, how can you trust a reader who uses phrases like "more dirtier?" Buy Backstage Passes and decide for yourself. You won't find a better or more unsparing perspective than Angela Bowie's.
Rating:
Summary: Entertaining (no pun intended)
Review: This was a fun look into the wacky world of the 70's entertainer. Angela Bowie "tells it all" without being tacky and selling her soul. She deserves credit for helping to create his image and his lifestyle, and I hope she had a lot of fun along the way. I love David's music, but I gotta say after reading this book I think he's kind of creepy - why anyone would make it a point to completely ignore the mother of his child forever is beyond me, but so much for the hippie idealism of love - I guess that went out the door with the platform boots. The description of the coke binges made my head swim, and the "surprise at the bottom of the swimming pool" was truly creepy. A good tell-all told while retaining some dignity. Well done.
Rating:
Summary: Entertaining (no pun intended)
Review: This was a fun look into the wacky world of the 70's entertainer. Angela Bowie "tells it all" without being tacky and selling her soul. She deserves credit for helping to create his image and his lifestyle, and I hope she had a lot of fun along the way. I love David's music, but I gotta say after reading this book I think he's kind of creepy - why anyone would make it a point to completely ignore the mother of his child forever is beyond me, but so much for the hippie idealism of love - I guess that went out the door with the platform boots. The description of the coke binges made my head swim, and the "surprise at the bottom of the swimming pool" was truly creepy. A good tell-all told while retaining some dignity. Well done.
Rating:
Summary: Funny and fun to read
Review: Ya know, you have to take this book with a grain of salt. She is his ex-wife after all. But aside from the occasional "And did I mention this embarrasing sexual problem David has" and the long list of "But look at all the people who wanted to sleep with me!", this was a highly entertaining book. It was well written and witty. Who knows how many of the stories are true, although I have read other Bowie biographies and can confirm from other sources that a good many of them are. Also, it's nice to get the point of view of someone who was so close to it all. Go ahead and read this book. I recommend reading it in conjunction with a very thoroughly researched "Alias David Bowie" or some other such biography in addition. But this really was an enjoyable book. I intend to make several of my friends read it, just for pleasure although they have no particular interest in Bowie. It's just a fun read.
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