David Bowie’s Early Musical Journey: The Surprising Story Behind His First Band and Saxophone Playing Days
David Bowie is an icon known worldwide for his innovative music and enigmatic persona. But did you realize that before all that fame, he was part of several bands that many people have never heard of? This lesser-known chapter of Bowie’s career shows a very different side of the legendary artist—one that’s far from the mysterious figure we usually picture. Here’s a dive into the early days of Bowie’s musical path, which might just surprise you.
Bowie didn’t start his career as the solo superstar famous for hits like “Space Oddity” in 1969. Instead, he was a young British musician navigating the traditional route by joining and forming various local bands. His very first group was The Konrads, formed when he was just 15 years old in 1962. Unlike the polished Bowie we know, in this band he went by his birth name, David Jones.
The Konrads were a typical London rock band of the early ’60s, playing gigs at weddings and small local events. The lineup frequently changed, sometimes featuring as few as four members and at other times growing to eight. Bowie didn’t play the guitar or sing lead here; he actually played the saxophone, which might throw some people off, considering his later identity as a vocalist and guitar player. But here’s an interesting fact—The Konrads didn’t last very long, and Bowie moved on quickly to explore other musical opportunities.
So, what bands followed The Konrads? After leaving that group, Bowie joined The King Bees, which marked a step forward as he landed his first contract with manager Leslie Conn. The King Bees released a single called “Liza Jane,” which made a small splash but wasn’t enough to catapult Bowie to stardom.
Not one to give up, Bowie then became part of The Manish Boys, a blues-influenced band that mostly performed covers like Bobby Bland’s “I Pity The Fool.” This group was especially notable because Bowie crossed paths with none other than Jimmy Page, who would later become famous as the guitarist for Led Zeppelin—a fascinating connection that many Bowie fans might not be aware of.
Bowie’s next band was The Lower Third, where he started using the stage name “Bowie,” the one we all now associate with him. This band enjoyed some commercial success, paving the way for Bowie’s evolving career. He then played with The Buzz, remembered for their single “Do Anything You Say.” His last band before his solo breakthrough was The Riot Squad, a group that recorded tracks which unfortunately never saw the light of day.
It was only after working with these bands—each contributing to his development as a musician—that David Bowie launched his solo career and became the legendary artist behind “Space Oddity.” And that, of course, changed music history forever.
But here’s where it gets controversial: some might argue that Bowie’s time in these early bands was more about searching for his identity than about genuine success. Could it be that these stints were actually necessary struggles that shaped his artistry, or were they simply dead-end attempts before his real breakthrough? What do you think? Do early failures and changes define an artist’s true path, or should success always come first? Share your thoughts below—this is the part most people miss when they look back at Bowie’s career.
Photo credit: Mark and Colleen Hayward/Getty Images
