Music > OPINION

Grieving Bowie Fans Receive Peer Support

Members of the International David Bowie Fanclub have received messages of support and encouragement from peers around the world – including Paul McCartney and INXS fan club members – after the shock of his dire comeback single.

The decidedly uninspired middle-of-the-road comeback track from the music legend has prompted a range of emotions from hardcore Bowie fans around the world, whose initial jubilation morphed into confusion before descending into fear and, finally, anger.

After hearing the track Where Are We Now, members of the fanclub – which has headquarters in 43 countries – took to the street and walked around in a daze of unbelief for days. Not responding to other human beings or even acknowledging the world around them, many are still to be accounted for.

The group's vice president, Alfie, told SPA Confidential that she couldn't comment on the track until he had fully comprehended just how bland it was. “I feel like I have to re-evaluate my life choices,” was all he could offer. “It's just, it's just… bland.”

Amid fear for members' metal health collectively, other organisations have stepped in to offer their support and encouragement. Todd, a senior member of the Paul McCartney Appreciation Society said that he'd seen this all before. “I know what it's like,” he said. “We were subjected to the press shots on Paul's Memory Almost Full even before we heard the songs – and just when we'd spent years recovering from that shock to the system there was the album title Kisses On The Bottom.

“Thankfully, I also know that there were a few tracks on Kisses that didn't fucking suck so I know there is light at the end of the tunnel.”

Todd said that members of his group had taken upon themselves to implement a 'buddy' system for grieving Bowie fans, whereby each members calls one of the distraught fanclub members every hour to check up on them and offer some words of support.

“We just want them to know that as hard as the situation is – and Christ, that new Bowie song is dribble – there are still things to enjoy in life.”

In Australia there has been a similar response from members of the INXS Fanciers organisation, who are still scarred from INXS's reality TV show search for a lead singer and subsequent performances with whoever it was that won.

“We've been organising support nights at community halls,” the organisation's secretary Brenda said. “We play games and do finger-painting exercises to take their mind off it all.”

She warned that the healing process could be a long one.

“We're in it for the long-haul,” she said. “We know how long this process takes, we won't be surprised if it takes years for people to get over this one. We just hope none of them dig out Bowie's Laughing Gnome – it could have fatal consequences.”

Comments