David Bowie Through the Years

In 1969, Bowie began immersing himself into the space-y glam folk that made him famous. He released his second self-titled album that year, which included his first of many iconic singles, "Space Oddity."

In 1971, Bowie moved to RCA and released Hunky Dory, a glam folk LP that has songs dedicated to Andy Warhol, Bob Dylan and Bowie's older brother Terry.

Bowie debuted Ziggy Stardust and his Spiders from Mars in 1971. On concept album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust, Bowie's Stardust is sent to warn humans that there are only five years left on earth. He becomes a rock icon who is destroyed by his own vices and fans.

Bowie released two albums in 1972: Aladdin Sane and the covers LP Pin-Ups. Between the pair of releases, he began prepping Diamond Dogs, his 1974 concept album based on George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four. 

Bowie began to wrap up his Ziggy Stardust era in 1973. 

Model Twiggy joined Bowie on the cover of Pin Ups, an album of covers featuring Bowie's takes on songs by artists like Pink Floyd and the Kinks. 

Bowie's visits to America had a huge effect on the music he released in the Seventies, with the artist describing Aladdin Sane as "Ziggy goes to America." Bowie eventually settled in NYC where he lived with his wife Iman and their daughter. 

Bowie's personae came alive fully in his colorful stage performances that pulled were as theatrical as they were rock & roll.

Bowie toured in support of The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust extensively.

David Bowie ended his Ziggy Stardust era at Hammersmith Odeon on July 3rd, 1973.

Legendary guitarist Mick Ronson toured with Bowie as one of his Spiders from Mars.

Marianne Faithfull joined David Bowie onstage for a live taping of The Midnight Special at the Marquee Club in London in 1973.

Bowie released Diamond Dogs in 1974. He also moved to NYC, becoming entrenched in the soul and funk scenes occurring in America at the time. The sounds would influence his 1975 album, Young Americans.

Though he wasn't nominated — and was not nominated until 1984 for Let's Dance — Bowie joined Art Garfunkel, Paul Simon, Yoko Ono and John Lennon at the 17th Annual Grammy Awards on March 1st, 1975.

Bowie and Pop lived together in Berlin for some time, sharing a small apartment while working on each other's albums. 

"Rebel Rebel" Bowie of the Diamond Dogs era took on a glam pirate persona. 

In 1983, Bowie toured in support of the album Let's Dance on the Serious Moonlight Tour.

Bowie appeared alongside his frequent collaborator Iggy Pop during a 1978 concert in San Francisco.

Violinist Simon House worked with Bowie on two albums: 1978's Stage and 1979's Lodger. 

In support of Live Aid and famine relief, Bowie and his hero-turned-peer Mick Jagger remade Martha and Vandellas upbeat hit, "Dancing in the Street." The eccentric video won Best Overall Performance in a Video at the MTV Video Music Awards

Jagger and Bowie performed as part of an all-star band at the Prince's Trust Concert at Wembley Stadium in 1986. 

Bowie originally recored "Under Pressure" with Queen's Freddie Mercury. Following Mercury's tragic death in 1991, Bowie reprised the duet with some help from Annie Lennox.

In 1997, Bowie celebrated his 50th birthday extravagantly by hosting a concert at Madison Square Garden. He was joined on-stage by Lou Reed for performances of "Queen Bitch," "Dirty Blvd," "White Light/White Heat," and "I'm Waiting for the Man." The Cure's Robert Smith, Foo Fighters, Trent Reznor and Sonic Youth were among the other artists to join Bowie in ringing in his 50th year.

Like his friends Lou Reed and Iggy Pop, Bowie supported Tibet House. He performed at the Tibet House Benefit Concert at Carnegie Hall in 2001. 

Bowie and Moby performed together at California's "Area2" Festival in 2002. 

During his 2002 tour in support of Heathen, Bowie made a stop at the oceanfront New York venue, Jones Beach Theater.

Bowie's 2003-2004 tour in support of Reality was his final tour. 

Bowie gave fans an intimate preview of his Reality tour at the Chance Nightclub in Poughkeepsie, NY in August 2003. 

The performer remained secluded following his Reality tour but returned to the public eye in 2005 when he joined Arcade Fire at Conde Nast's Fashion Rocks Show in New York City.

David Bowie's final live performance occurred in 2006 at a charity event where he sang "Changes" with Alicia Keys.

David Bowie's public appearances in the last decade of his life were sparse, but he did show up for charity galas. In 2007, he rubbed shoulders with Bill Clinton at the Food Bank of New York's Can-Do Awards.

In 2010, he joined wife Iman at the CFDA Fashion Awards at NYC's Lincoln Center.

Iman and Bowie supported DKMS' 5th Annual Gala: Linked Against Leukemia, which honored Rihanna and Michael Clinton.

After a private, 18 month battle with liver cancer, Bowie passed away at the age of 69. His death arrived two days after his birthday and release of 25th and final album Blackstar.