David Bowie : Man Who Sold the World era : Curious Magazine #19 May 1970 'gender bending' cover!

Curious issue #19 – May 1970 – a “sex education magazine for men and women”.

Early Bowie rarity with a price tag that matches  its scarcity (copies have sold recently for £400+).

This relates to Bowie’s brief, post  Space Oddity, Arnold Corns project. He spotted  &  approached  (should that read  talent scouted & cruised?) Freddie  Buretti at El Sombrero club, a disco near Victoria Station in London. He fashioned Arnold Corns,  a vehicle for pop-stardom, for Freddie ne  Rudi Valentino that was bounded to fail. Only one  single  was  released at the time: Moonage Daydream/ Hang Onto Yourself , both penned and produced by Bowie. Although more allegedly radio material & /outtakes/demos exist (with Bowie, not Freddie, singing most of the material).  Listen to the complete Arnold Corns demos here

Both of these songs  reappeared on Bowie’s  breakthrough LP Ziggy Stardust & the Spiders From  Mars…as would Buretti, but not in a musical capacity.  Instead, he created  Bowie’s most outrageous stage outfits of  the period- combining elements Kubrick’s interpretation of Burgess’ A Clockwork Orange with Burroughs Wild Boys.

Instead of  modelling one of Buretti’s creations for the cover of Curious,  Bowie wore his infamous Mr Fish  “man-dress” that he   sported on the ( UK  only)  cover of  The Man  Who Sold The World LP . At the time,  this was refereed to as “gender bending”,  a term so brilliantly out-dated, that it needs repeating without apology. Fish opened his  boutique in  1966 – 17 Clifford Street, Mayfair with the  byline : “Peculiar to Mr. Fish”.  Mick Jagger also wore a Mr Fish ‘man-dress’ for The Rolling Stones’ Brian Jones memorial concert at Hyde Park on 5th July 1969.

Despite being openly gay, Buretti’s and his muse/girlfriend Daniella Parmar,  provided “The Bowies”, both Angela and David with a blue print (androgyny, peroxide hair, shock  value) for David’s next incarnation – Ziggy.  Interesting times and  even more interesting people. There’s been a  documentary made about Buretti, but good luck finding a screening…

Condition : VG++ Complete :no cuttings,  no rips, no tears, no weakening at staples. Minor handling, no major creases ( one very, very  minor crease  on back cover corner). Rare and impossible to find and nowadays expensive …. POA

To order: please click the enquiry button or email info@pleasuresofpasttimes.com and state your location and preferred payment method* I will respond within less than 24hours with a bespoke postage and packing quote (at near cost as possible).

*My preferred payment method is via online banking and I send a request based on your location. This is known as ACH in the USA (and is free to use – unlike a wire). This means I can offer P&P at cost. It’s cheaper for you and cheaper for me 🙂

Alternatively, I can send a Paypal request. Please specify whether you wish to use your Debit or Credit card (no account necessary) – or you wish to use your Paypal account. Paypal payments are subject to their fees (added), unless you wish to pay via the Family & Friends option.

Description

Curious issue #19 – May 1970 – a “sex education magazine for men and women”.

Early Bowie rarity with a price tag that matches  its scarcity (copies have sold recently for £400+).

This relates to Bowie’s brief, post  Space Oddity, Arnold Corns project. He spotted  &  approached  (should that read  talent scouted & cruised?) Freddie  Buretti at El Sombrero club, a disco near Victoria Station in London. He fashioned Arnold Corns,  a vehicle for pop-stardom, for Freddie ne  Rudi Valentino that was bounded to fail. Only one  single  was  released at the time: Moonage Daydream/ Hang Onto Yourself , both penned and produced by Bowie. Although more allegedly radio material & /outtakes/demos exist (with Bowie, not Freddie, singing most of the material).  Listen to the complete Arnold Corns demos here

Both of these songs  reappeared on Bowie’s  breakthrough LP Ziggy Stardust & the Spiders From  Mars…as would Buretti, but not in a musical capacity.  Instead, he created  Bowie’s most outrageous stage outfits of  the period- combining elements Kubrick’s interpretation of Burgess’ A Clockwork Orange with Burroughs Wild Boys.

Instead of  modelling one of Buretti’s creations for the cover of Curious,  Bowie wore his infamous Mr Fish  “man-dress” that he   sported on the ( UK  only)  cover of  The Man  Who Sold The World LP . At the time,  this was refereed to as “gender bending”,  a term so brilliantly out-dated, that it needs repeating without apology. Fish opened his  boutique in  1966 – 17 Clifford Street, Mayfair with the  byline : “Peculiar to Mr. Fish”.  Mick Jagger also wore a Mr Fish ‘man-dress’ for The Rolling Stones’ Brian Jones memorial concert at Hyde Park on 5th July 1969.

Despite being openly gay, Buretti’s and his muse/girlfriend Daniella Parmar,  provided “The Bowies”, both Angela and David with a blue print (androgyny, peroxide hair, shock  value) for David’s next incarnation – Ziggy.  Interesting times and  even more interesting people. There’s been a  documentary made about Buretti, but good luck finding a screening…

Condition : VG++ Complete :no cuttings,  no rips, no tears, no weakening at staples. Minor handling, no major creases ( one very, very  minor crease  on back cover corner). Rare and impossible to find and nowadays expensive …. POA

To order: please click the enquiry button or email info@pleasuresofpasttimes.com and state your location and preferred payment method* I will respond within less than 24hours with a bespoke postage and packing quote (at near cost as possible).

*My preferred payment method is via online banking and I send a request based on your location. This is known as ACH in the USA (and is free to use – unlike a wire). This means I can offer P&P at cost. It’s cheaper for you and cheaper for me 🙂

Alternatively, I can send a Paypal request. Please specify whether you wish to use your Debit or Credit card (no account necessary) – or you wish to use your Paypal account. Paypal payments are subject to their fees (added), unless you wish to pay via the Family & Friends option.