The Dark Side of David Bowie and 1970s Group Culture – 376

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Bowie fans have long found ways to make peace with some of the more unsavoury aspects of his character and behaviour during that decade. His Thin White Duke persona highlights what, by his own admission, were “the darkest days” of his life. And while he was quick to distance himself from that character as he grew older, its influence on certain members of the British far right certainly left a mark.

Yet there is a much darker period of his life than this. It is now a matter of record that he was in sexual relationships with both Lori Maddox and Sable Starr — perhaps the two most infamous “baby groupies” of the early ’70s — when they were just 13 and 15 years old, respectively. Grim stuff all round.

We’ll be exploring both of these aspects of his life in this week’s episode, as well as the wider “baby groupie” culture of the era. This episode raises questions about separating the art from the artist, the role of 1970s rock culture, and the personal responsibility of fans. Join us as we navigate the challenging waters of moral grandstanding and personal hypocrisy, questioning if, and how, we can reconcile admiration for Bowie’s art with the transgressions of the man himself.

Highlights
00:00 Introduction

00:38 Unfinished Business with David Bowie

02:26 Trigger Warnings

04:05 David Bowie's Complex Legacy

13:57 Fascism and Controversial Statements

38:50 Sexual Misdeeds and Allegations

41:05 Introduction to Statutory Rape in Rock Culture

41:30 The Story of Dana Gillespie and David Bowie

42:34 Lori Maddox and the Baby Groupies

43:29 Sable Starr and the Rock Scene

45:05 The Culture of Underage Groupies

47:24 Laurie Maddox's Relationship with David Bowie

56:51 Jimmy Page and Laurie Maddox

01:00:06 The Wider Problem in Rock Culture

01:07:45 Modern Reflections on Past Actions

01:14:58 Conclusion and Final Thoughts