“We can be heroes just for one day.” These iconic words adorn the David Bowie Plaque. It marks Bowie’s former home at Hauptstrasse 155 in Berlin.
The David Bowie Plaque commemorates a transformative period in the artist’s life. From late 1976 to 1978, Bowie resided here. He shared a flat with fellow musical legend Iggy Pop.
Why did Bowie choose Berlin? Weary from Los Angeles’ excesses he longed for peace. He also felt drawn to the Weimar era and its artists. Think Bertolt Brecht and the expressionist painters of Die Brücke.
Imagine Bowie arriving in a divided city. West Berlin was emerging with subcultures and drugs but little glamour. He found artistic freedom and a path to self-discovery.
His apartment was sparse. Bowie and his circle often ate out. Iggy Pop lived with Bowie for a time. He was later asked to leave for stealing food.
During his Berlin years, Bowie frequented West Berlin’s bars and cafes. He visited Neues Ufer a queer café. He also danced at Dschungel and dined at Exil. His favorite spot was the Brücke-Museum. He loved the expressionist paintings.
The David Bowie Plaque is a tribute to his Berlin Trilogy. Low Heroes and Lodger were created during this time. Lodger was mainly produced in Switzerland and the USA. These albums are milestones in music history. They reflect the gloomy mood of the walled city. Bowie experimented with electronic sounds and collaborated with Brian Eno.
The Meistersaal in Kreuzberg became Hansa Studios. David Bowie recorded his Berlin albums there. U2 Depeche Mode and Nick Cave also recorded there.
Bowie embraced Berlin life. He befriended Romy Haag and fashion designer Claudia Skoda. He also maintained a friendship with his landlord Wolf-Dieter Trewer.
His last Berlin concert was in 2003 at Max-Schmeling-Halle. In 2013 he released Where Are We Now?. It reflected on his Berlin years mentioning KaDeWe Potsdamer Platz and Dschungel.
David Bowie died in 2016. Fans gathered at Hauptstrasse 155 to mourn. They laid flowers and sang his songs. Heroes was voted the most iconic Berlin anthem.
Berlin’s mayor Michael Müller unveiled the David Bowie Plaque. He said Bowie contributed to Berlin’s culture creativity and openness. The plaque is made of bone china. It cost 3400 euros. The senate approved its installation quickly.
The David Bowie Plaque stands as a reminder. It is a reminder of Bowie’s impact on Berlin. It is also a reminder of Berlin’s impact on Bowie. It reads “we can be heroes just for one day”.