Peter Ormerod
@bowiegod.bsky.social
Author of David Bowie and the Search for Life, Death and God, out on January 15 2026 and published by Bloomsbury. Also entertainments editor for NationalWorld. Also a bit too keen on porridge, toast, Swindon, Noel Edmonds etc
Pinned
Peter Ormerod
@bowiegod.bsky.social
· Oct 14
Pretty thrilled to announce that my book will be published on January 15! It's called David Bowie and the Search for Life, Death and God. It’s published by @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social and tells the story of Bowie's spiritual explorations - and why they were fundamental to his work
My mother, a simply extraordinary woman named Priscilla, died on Wednesday night. She had a rare and priceless gift of being able to see beauty in anything, while being ferociously discerning. A fierce wit, an enchanted disposition, wild, magical, deeply and unsentimentally loving
January 17, 2026 at 2:59 PM
My mother, a simply extraordinary woman named Priscilla, died on Wednesday night. She had a rare and priceless gift of being able to see beauty in anything, while being ferociously discerning. A fierce wit, an enchanted disposition, wild, magical, deeply and unsentimentally loving
Pleased to see a piece about my book in la Repubblica. I've had a fondness for Italian newspapers since the early 1990s
d.repubblica.it/culture/inte...
d.repubblica.it/culture/inte...
January 14, 2026 at 9:24 PM
Pleased to see a piece about my book in la Repubblica. I've had a fondness for Italian newspapers since the early 1990s
d.repubblica.it/culture/inte...
d.repubblica.it/culture/inte...
A pleasant surprise! I've only just found out my book has received a starred review from Booklist (@ala-booklist.bsky.social), the influential American publication. Starred reviews indicate an 'outstanding title of a particular genre' and not many books get them, so that's nice
January 14, 2026 at 9:48 AM
A pleasant surprise! I've only just found out my book has received a starred review from Booklist (@ala-booklist.bsky.social), the influential American publication. Starred reviews indicate an 'outstanding title of a particular genre' and not many books get them, so that's nice
My book is published today in the USA! Blimey
If any American readers are baffled by the book's references to Floella Benjamin, Paul Daniels and Zig & Zag, I apologise - just get in touch and I'll explain everything
(And it's on the front page of @barnesandnoble.com's site!)
If any American readers are baffled by the book's references to Floella Benjamin, Paul Daniels and Zig & Zag, I apologise - just get in touch and I'll explain everything
(And it's on the front page of @barnesandnoble.com's site!)
January 13, 2026 at 12:29 PM
My book is published today in the USA! Blimey
If any American readers are baffled by the book's references to Floella Benjamin, Paul Daniels and Zig & Zag, I apologise - just get in touch and I'll explain everything
(And it's on the front page of @barnesandnoble.com's site!)
If any American readers are baffled by the book's references to Floella Benjamin, Paul Daniels and Zig & Zag, I apologise - just get in touch and I'll explain everything
(And it's on the front page of @barnesandnoble.com's site!)
This was such an enjoyable afternoon - it was a pleasure to meet so many lovely people (inc @jondennis.bsky.social and @helenbarrett.bsky.social) and a privilege to join the panel at the end. Thanks to everyone involved!
Great Bowie day at @foylesforbooks.bsky.social with Suzi Ronson, Leah Kardos, @alexlarman.bsky.social, Paul Gorman et al and hosted by @improbableatlas.bsky.social. Great to meet @bowiegod.bsky.social !
January 10, 2026 at 9:43 PM
This was such an enjoyable afternoon - it was a pleasure to meet so many lovely people (inc @jondennis.bsky.social and @helenbarrett.bsky.social) and a privilege to join the panel at the end. Thanks to everyone involved!
Reposted by Peter Ormerod
The core argument of this piece, that Bowie isn't "keeping up" with his peers in streams & income, elides the fact that Bowie was never a "Forbes fixture". he had one mega-platinum success w Let's Dance. otherwise he was always 2nd tier, sales wise! www.theguardian.com/music/2026/j...
Ten years after his death, is David Bowie’s musical legacy at risk of fading from view?
From the V&A to the Stranger Things finale, the pop icon still looms large – but with lower streaming figures than his peers, how many new listeners are discovering his music?
www.theguardian.com
January 9, 2026 at 1:32 PM
The core argument of this piece, that Bowie isn't "keeping up" with his peers in streams & income, elides the fact that Bowie was never a "Forbes fixture". he had one mega-platinum success w Let's Dance. otherwise he was always 2nd tier, sales wise! www.theguardian.com/music/2026/j...
Really grateful for the chance to write about David Bowie in the Church Times, a paper that was always on the kitchen table first thing on a Friday morning while I was growing up and whose excellent journalism deserves widespread recognition
www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/202...
www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/202...
How spiritual was David Bowie?
From his childhood experiences of Anglicanism onwards, faith and spirituality informed David Bowie’s work, says Peter Ormerod
www.churchtimes.co.uk
January 9, 2026 at 2:55 PM
Really grateful for the chance to write about David Bowie in the Church Times, a paper that was always on the kitchen table first thing on a Friday morning while I was growing up and whose excellent journalism deserves widespread recognition
www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/202...
www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/202...
The plaque outside rather sweetly describes him as 'Singer and Talented Musician'
As we remember David on his birthday, this is lovely news. And it’s great to know that it’s in such caring and diligent hands. They really don’t come any better than Geoffrey Marsh and the rest of the team who are looking after this culturally enriching project.
www.theguardian.com/music/2026/j...
www.theguardian.com/music/2026/j...
David Bowie’s childhood home to open to the public for first time
The London house where Bowie, then David Jones, lived from 1955 to 1968 will be opened at the end of 2027
www.theguardian.com
January 8, 2026 at 10:05 PM
The plaque outside rather sweetly describes him as 'Singer and Talented Musician'
Reposted by Peter Ormerod
It would have been David Bowie's 79th birthday today
It's also the tenth anniversary of David Bowie's ★
Here's my 2020 three-part podcast on the making and myriad possible meanings of ★, featuring its co-creator @donnymccaslin.bsky.social and Leah Kardos!
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/d...
It's also the tenth anniversary of David Bowie's ★
Here's my 2020 three-part podcast on the making and myriad possible meanings of ★, featuring its co-creator @donnymccaslin.bsky.social and Leah Kardos!
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/d...
Donny McCaslin & Leah Kardos on ★
Podcast Episode · DAVIDBOWIE: ALBUMTOALBUM · 21/06/2020 · 37m
podcasts.apple.com
January 8, 2026 at 10:34 AM
It would have been David Bowie's 79th birthday today
It's also the tenth anniversary of David Bowie's ★
Here's my 2020 three-part podcast on the making and myriad possible meanings of ★, featuring its co-creator @donnymccaslin.bsky.social and Leah Kardos!
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/d...
It's also the tenth anniversary of David Bowie's ★
Here's my 2020 three-part podcast on the making and myriad possible meanings of ★, featuring its co-creator @donnymccaslin.bsky.social and Leah Kardos!
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/d...
Goodness, there's a lovely review of my book in this week's Spectator
'One of the best and most original books of those published to mark a decade since Bowie's death'
'The Bowie you thought you knew is recast completely'
spectator.com/article/the-...
'One of the best and most original books of those published to mark a decade since Bowie's death'
'The Bowie you thought you knew is recast completely'
spectator.com/article/the-...
The spiritual yearnings of David Bowie
What did David Bowie mean by ‘No confessions/ No religion’ in his lyrics to ‘Modern Love’? Peter Ormerod proposes what at first seems an unlikely theory – that Bowie was talking about Gnosticism, the ...
spectator.com
January 8, 2026 at 10:47 AM
Goodness, there's a lovely review of my book in this week's Spectator
'One of the best and most original books of those published to mark a decade since Bowie's death'
'The Bowie you thought you knew is recast completely'
spectator.com/article/the-...
'One of the best and most original books of those published to mark a decade since Bowie's death'
'The Bowie you thought you knew is recast completely'
spectator.com/article/the-...
Reposting this for its own sake but also because not enough people realise the video was directed by Stakka Bo
LAZARUS VIDEO IS TEN YEARS OLD
“Everybody knows me now...”
Following the release of the Lazarus digital single on 18th December 2015, the Johan Renck-directed video became available ten years ago today on 7th January 2016.
Read more here: www.instagram.com/p/DTOnzB-CCd...
#LazarusVideo
“Everybody knows me now...”
Following the release of the Lazarus digital single on 18th December 2015, the Johan Renck-directed video became available ten years ago today on 7th January 2016.
Read more here: www.instagram.com/p/DTOnzB-CCd...
#LazarusVideo
January 8, 2026 at 7:16 AM
Reposting this for its own sake but also because not enough people realise the video was directed by Stakka Bo
Reposted by Peter Ormerod
David Bowie, 1975, by Steve Schapiro.
January 7, 2026 at 5:44 AM
David Bowie, 1975, by Steve Schapiro.
Very happy to see my book recommended by @theipaper.com as one of their top January reads
'Thoughtful rather than fan-driven, it adds a fresh take to the canon'
It's in some pretty great company (Julian Barnes! Ali Smith! Others too!)
inews.co.uk/culture/book...
'Thoughtful rather than fan-driven, it adds a fresh take to the canon'
It's in some pretty great company (Julian Barnes! Ali Smith! Others too!)
inews.co.uk/culture/book...
The best new books to read in January 2026
From the return of great novelists to incisive non-fiction, here's our pick of 14 new reads to enjoy this month
inews.co.uk
January 5, 2026 at 11:36 AM
Very happy to see my book recommended by @theipaper.com as one of their top January reads
'Thoughtful rather than fan-driven, it adds a fresh take to the canon'
It's in some pretty great company (Julian Barnes! Ali Smith! Others too!)
inews.co.uk/culture/book...
'Thoughtful rather than fan-driven, it adds a fresh take to the canon'
It's in some pretty great company (Julian Barnes! Ali Smith! Others too!)
inews.co.uk/culture/book...
Really grateful to @johnfugelsang.bsky.social for having me on his show and putting me on his podcast. He's rightly regarded as a properly great interviewer - if I sound a bit thrown at times, it's because I was quite taken aback by how well he knew my book!
open.spotify.com/episode/4786...
open.spotify.com/episode/4786...
Spotify – Web Player
open.spotify.com
January 2, 2026 at 9:29 PM
Really grateful to @johnfugelsang.bsky.social for having me on his show and putting me on his podcast. He's rightly regarded as a properly great interviewer - if I sound a bit thrown at times, it's because I was quite taken aback by how well he knew my book!
open.spotify.com/episode/4786...
open.spotify.com/episode/4786...
Reposted by Peter Ormerod
This is such a wonderful analysis of a very late Bowie song
Touching on so many things, it’s beautifully written and presented
Thanks @leahkardos
youtu.be/Iub7Fcga3uA?...
Touching on so many things, it’s beautifully written and presented
Thanks @leahkardos
youtu.be/Iub7Fcga3uA?...
Thinking about the song "No Plan" by David Bowie
YouTube video by Leah Kardos
youtu.be
January 2, 2026 at 3:26 PM
This is such a wonderful analysis of a very late Bowie song
Touching on so many things, it’s beautifully written and presented
Thanks @leahkardos
youtu.be/Iub7Fcga3uA?...
Touching on so many things, it’s beautifully written and presented
Thanks @leahkardos
youtu.be/Iub7Fcga3uA?...
A little post for New Year's Eve, including another lovely nugget from the V&A
open.substack.com/pub/bowiegod...
open.substack.com/pub/bowiegod...
December 31, 2025 at 10:35 AM
A little post for New Year's Eve, including another lovely nugget from the V&A
open.substack.com/pub/bowiegod...
open.substack.com/pub/bowiegod...
I haven't made any music for a while but I always find winter really inspiring for some reason so here's some wintry music for you. Hope it brings something good to your day
peterormerod.bandcamp.com/track/shimmer
peterormerod.bandcamp.com/track/shimmer
Shimmer, by Peter Ormerod
track by Peter Ormerod
peterormerod.bandcamp.com
December 30, 2025 at 10:24 AM
I haven't made any music for a while but I always find winter really inspiring for some reason so here's some wintry music for you. Hope it brings something good to your day
peterormerod.bandcamp.com/track/shimmer
peterormerod.bandcamp.com/track/shimmer
On BBC iPlayer at the moment is one of the most heartbreakingly brilliant things I've ever seen. I first watched it when I was eight and it's fair to say it stayed with me. An astonishing and unique piece of art
December 23, 2025 at 9:25 PM
On BBC iPlayer at the moment is one of the most heartbreakingly brilliant things I've ever seen. I first watched it when I was eight and it's fair to say it stayed with me. An astonishing and unique piece of art
Americans and insomniacs in Britain and Europe: you can hear me being interviewed by the excellent @johnfugelsang.bsky.social about my book tonight at 9.20pm EST (that's 2.20am GMT) on SiriusXM Progress 127. It'll be on his podcast tomorrow too. Worth listening to for him as much as me
December 16, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Americans and insomniacs in Britain and Europe: you can hear me being interviewed by the excellent @johnfugelsang.bsky.social about my book tonight at 9.20pm EST (that's 2.20am GMT) on SiriusXM Progress 127. It'll be on his podcast tomorrow too. Worth listening to for him as much as me
Reposted by Peter Ormerod
If Kate Bush was featured in your Wrapped, dive into @leahkardos.bsky.social sharp insight of “Hounds of Love” in this 33 1/3 book.
🎧📚 https://bit.ly/4pm6rwI
#MusicSky @3313books.bsky.social @bloomsburymus.bsky.social
🎧📚 https://bit.ly/4pm6rwI
#MusicSky @3313books.bsky.social @bloomsburymus.bsky.social
December 8, 2025 at 5:00 PM
If Kate Bush was featured in your Wrapped, dive into @leahkardos.bsky.social sharp insight of “Hounds of Love” in this 33 1/3 book.
🎧📚 https://bit.ly/4pm6rwI
#MusicSky @3313books.bsky.social @bloomsburymus.bsky.social
🎧📚 https://bit.ly/4pm6rwI
#MusicSky @3313books.bsky.social @bloomsburymus.bsky.social
Lazarus was one of Bowie's most extraordinary and important works. I've done my best to do justice to it in my book, thanks in large part to a wonderful conversation I had with Ivo van Hove. Bowie's last appearance came on the night his dream became reality; that's quite something.
LAZARUS OPENED TEN YEARS AGO TODAY
“By the time I got to New York...”
Public performances of Lazarus began ten years ago this evening at New York Theatre Workshop.
David Bowie attended the opening night, and it was to be his final public appearance.
#Lazarus10
www.instagram.com/p/DR-FiwIjHt...
“By the time I got to New York...”
Public performances of Lazarus began ten years ago this evening at New York Theatre Workshop.
David Bowie attended the opening night, and it was to be his final public appearance.
#Lazarus10
www.instagram.com/p/DR-FiwIjHt...
December 7, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Lazarus was one of Bowie's most extraordinary and important works. I've done my best to do justice to it in my book, thanks in large part to a wonderful conversation I had with Ivo van Hove. Bowie's last appearance came on the night his dream became reality; that's quite something.
Reposted by Peter Ormerod
Boom! Check out an Albumtoalbum episodes for some Bowie this weekend.
Relax in style with:
Nicholas Pegg? Or Adam Buxton? Reeves Gabrels? Leah Kardos? Carlos! Quantick D? Charlotte Hatherley? Tim Palmer? Gail Ann Dorsey? Mark Reeder? Mike Garson? & many more
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/d...
Relax in style with:
Nicholas Pegg? Or Adam Buxton? Reeves Gabrels? Leah Kardos? Carlos! Quantick D? Charlotte Hatherley? Tim Palmer? Gail Ann Dorsey? Mark Reeder? Mike Garson? & many more
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/d...
December 6, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Boom! Check out an Albumtoalbum episodes for some Bowie this weekend.
Relax in style with:
Nicholas Pegg? Or Adam Buxton? Reeves Gabrels? Leah Kardos? Carlos! Quantick D? Charlotte Hatherley? Tim Palmer? Gail Ann Dorsey? Mark Reeder? Mike Garson? & many more
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/d...
Relax in style with:
Nicholas Pegg? Or Adam Buxton? Reeves Gabrels? Leah Kardos? Carlos! Quantick D? Charlotte Hatherley? Tim Palmer? Gail Ann Dorsey? Mark Reeder? Mike Garson? & many more
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/d...
Reposted by Peter Ormerod
One of *my* favorite Bowie/Gabrels songs too. 😎 Thanks for listening.
#Top31DavidBowie
#BowieForever
28/31 (ranked)
🎵 Thru' These Architects Eyes
A 1. Outside's highlight.
Written by Bowie and @reevesgabrels.bsky.social.
A guest role for @armstrongk.bsky.social on guitar and supposedly Neil Conti on drums.
Groovy.
It's difficult you see.
youtu.be/dB7Tg3-r88w?...
#BowieForever
28/31 (ranked)
🎵 Thru' These Architects Eyes
A 1. Outside's highlight.
Written by Bowie and @reevesgabrels.bsky.social.
A guest role for @armstrongk.bsky.social on guitar and supposedly Neil Conti on drums.
Groovy.
It's difficult you see.
youtu.be/dB7Tg3-r88w?...
Thru' These Architects Eyes
YouTube video by David Bowie - Topic
youtu.be
December 5, 2025 at 5:42 PM
One of *my* favorite Bowie/Gabrels songs too. 😎 Thanks for listening.
I probably enjoyed writing about The Next Day more than any other Bowie album. A few of those bloat tracks turn out to be pretty fascinating, and there's vastly more to the album than is immediately apparent. But this opinion is also true
The Next Day is Bowie's greatest missed opportunity. There's a stunning 10 track album in there, but those few extra bloat tracks just bring it down.
November 30, 2025 at 3:36 PM
I probably enjoyed writing about The Next Day more than any other Bowie album. A few of those bloat tracks turn out to be pretty fascinating, and there's vastly more to the album than is immediately apparent. But this opinion is also true
One of those moments when social media justifies its existence. Had no idea this was out there
This excellent article lead me to discover Wire's amazing Rockpalast performance. So giving credit where due
youtu.be/AhtYeJXNNbU?...
youtu.be/AhtYeJXNNbU?...
November 29, 2025 at 2:08 PM
One of those moments when social media justifies its existence. Had no idea this was out there