By Ben Gelblum
The death of pop legend David Bowie, aged 69 just days after releasing his 28th studio album, the haunting Backstar, has inspired tributes from pretty much everybody who woke up to the sad news today.
Perhaps our favourite tribute to The Man Who Fell To Earth, then reinvented himself endlessly, is Soulwax’s “Dave” – a flawless one hour mix by Belgium’s eccentric Dewaele brothers of their favourite Bowie hits.
Premiering in 2012, as part of the Radio Soulwax project that Soulwax aka 2manydjs hope will eventually be a rolling 24 hour broadcast of their signature high-concept mixes, “Dave” shows off Bowie’s eclectic brilliance.
So crayon on a rainbow-coloured tear, and watch the feature length video that accompanies the snazzily mixed journey through time and Bowie’s various incarnations. Directed by Wim Reynaert, the film stars a female lead as “Dave”, – the suitably gender-bending androgynous Hannelore Knuts.
RIP “Dave”.
RSWX presents Dave from Radio Soulwax on Vimeo.
Download the RADIO SOULWAX app for iphone / ipad / android or watch online at http://www.radiosoulwax.com
Soulwax: “Our homage to the man whose ability to change whilst remaining himself has been a massive influence on us. There are many legends in the music industry but for us, there is no greater than the mighty Dave. We’ve included all things Bowie, whether that is original songs, covers, backing vocals, production work or reworks we made, to attempt to give you the full scope of the man’s genius.
For the visual side to this mix our friend Wim Reygaert (who also made the amazing film for Into The Vortex) came up with the most ambitious film for RSWX, taking us on a fever dream time travel through the man’s career starring the amazing Hannelore Knuts as Dave. We’ve got to extend a special thank you to the cast and crew and everyone involved for putting so much time and energy and heart and soul into this amazing film, it is a pure labour of love for the phenomenon that is Bowie.”
DAVE
A film by WIM REYGAERT
A RADIO SOULWAX PROJECT A CAVIAR PRODUCTION
Featuring HANNELORE KNUTS
Screenplay by WIM REYGAERT & STEFAN BRACKE
Executive Producers KATO MAES & RUBEN GOOTS
Executive Producer Radio Soulwax GLYN PEPPIATT
Producers GEERT DE WACHTER TOM DE PELSENEER EVA VAN RIET
Director of Photography MAXIMILIAAN DIERICKX
Production Designer STEFAN BRACKE
Editor KOEN TIMMERMAN
Costume Designer VALERIE HELLEBAUT
Post Production Supervisor CORENTIN DE SAEDELEER
CAST:
Dave – HANNELORE KNUTS
William S. Burroughs – SAM LOUWYCK
The Scary Monster – BENT VAN LOOY
The Milkshake Girl & The Veiled Assistant – JOY THIELEMANS
Iggy Pop – MAARTEN CLAEYSSENS
Ziggy Stardust – JEF PEREMANS
The Queen Bitch – SIMON TURNER
Freddie Mercury – NICOLAS KARAKATSANIS
Freddie Mercuryʼs Crew – THE HICKEY UNDERWORLD
Detective N°1 – STEPHEN DEWAELE
Detective N°2 – DAVID DEWAELE
Detective N°3 – STEFAAN VAN LEUVEN
Record Sleeve Fairies – ʻBINTIʼ, YASMIN HOLAIL, SHERIEN HOLAIL, RANA HOLAIL, HADIEL HOLAIL, FEDIA, HOLAIL, AMINA HOLAIL
Lulu – DORIEN LEYERS
Six Weird Men – MARIE-HELENE VAN QUICKENBORNE, FAYE BOGAERT, NORA MONSECOUR,
PAULINE DEHEEGHER, ELYNN VANDAMME, LAURA BAETS
Tony Visconti – CARL PLAISIER
Big Smile Woman – EVELYNE VANOBOST
Diamond Dog Girl N°1 – ANN-SOFIE CLAEYS
Diamond Dog Girl N°2 – ELISABETH PUGLIA
John Lennon – GEERT DE WACHTER
Andy Kent – MICHIEL GELUYKENS
Little Stephen – QUINTEN KASCH
Little David – LENN DʼHONDT
