INTERVIEW

f I was George Underwood, I’d be slightly out of the UK right now. There’s a be remembered, I say that I would just etc. Once he started morphing STUCK WITH miffed at being known as the boy who sublime isolation surrounding his like to be remembered. With David, into Ziggy, how did you cope with punched David Jones in the eye over a subjects that really touches the the dynamics are somewhat different. losing David Jones to rock ’n’ roll? A VALUABLE Ififteen-year-old girl called Carol Goldsmith. viewer, the figures being both heroic Despite the hormonal bravado which led and vulnerable simultaneously … I have spoken to so many people George: I got married in 1971 and to the fight, they remained friends, band Now that a huge shift to painting that say David changed their lives in David was there with his long hair, FRIEND mates and tour companions remained is taking place, I would expect some way or other. That’s powerful in Hunky Dory mode. Only one year friends when George decided to pursue a to see George’s name pushed stuff. I have great memories of later, came the birth of Ziggy, with the career in painting and illustration and his further and further to the front’ David that I can recall at any time. new flame-red haircut and jumpsuits friend became a ‘song and dance man.’ From when we were nine years old designed by Freddy Burretti. A CONVERSATION WITH I first contacted George and we and onward. They either bring a Quite a transformation; but I wasn’t GEORGE UNDERWOOD AND George’s work on the Hunky Dory and Ziggy agreed to correspond by email smile or a tear but they are all very totally surprised after seeing Stardust sleeves are legendary, alongside over a month, allowing ourselves precious. A valuable friend indeed. David morph into pretty much PHIL CHARTERS some iconic sleeve work by T-Rex, Mott the to be led by the conversation. anything he wanted over the years. Hoople, Procul Harum and many others. Phil: I can’t imagine how you feel. Loss Phil: You’ve been associated with of anyone close is desperately sad David said he was going on a US tour For some years, he has been a highly David Bowie for a long time and but as you say, his impact on people and invited my wife Birgit and me collectable painter, working on striking I assume your friendship had was far from ordinary. I’m fifty-three along. I was going to be working on a pieces, initially influenced and inspired been through many phases. Tell and only picked up on Bowie around new cover for The Man Who Sold the in the 70s by Fuchs, Hausner and me how the news of his death the Diamond Dogs album but soon World which we talked about on the Brauer. These days he paints heroic and affected you personally anddug deep into the previous repertoire QE2 first class on our way to New York. enigmatic characters from his imagination. what you did to get through it. and have been hooked ever since. I also spent ten years in the touring When we got to the States, Despite their different paths, George and George: The news of David’s passing industry and was fortunate to share RCA had already rushed David remained friends and years on from was of course, very upsetting for a stage all summer with Bowie during through a photographic cover their playground clash. Bowie thanked him me and my family. It still hasn’t 1996 whilst touring with the Prodigy. for that album so my version for giving him the unique look, but also said; completely sunk in. The fact of that cover never happened. that his spirit is alive and well Your relationship was always ‘George has, over the years, refined his - through the amazing body of friendship first - you’d been friends I thought we would be going home work to the point where I would put him work he left behind is comforting. since cubs, school, the eye incident, after a week or so, but David really among the top figurative painters coming If anyone asks me how I would like to the early music, Haddon Hall wanted us to stay with him on the

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