Marking three years since the death of David Bowie this week, the Observer magazine ran an interview on Sunday from July 1987 when the musician had just turned 40.
At the time, Bowie was promoting the album Never Let Me Down, which her later said was one of his worst. "It was such an awful album," he remarked.
The Observer asked Bowie if he was burnt out "at this advanced age for a pop star."
‘If you’re a painter, you don’t say: ‘Oh, they’ve had enough of me now,’" he replied. "Well, I think like that. I’m doing it for me, and I enjoy what I’m doing.’
Bowie was also asked about Prince, who was then enjoying the height of his success with his Sign O The Times album.
"In terms of the more exhibitionist forms of theatricality and musicianship, yeah. Absolutely. He’s sort of the 80s version. I’ve moved on to a different area now, and I don’t think anybody else could handle the job better.’
Bowie also talked about his Live Aid appearance in 1985 which featured him dancing with Mick Jagger in the video for a cover of Dancing in the Street.
He described Live Aid as a wonderful experience although he had a serious caveat. "Financially it doesn’t mean s*** - whatever amount you raise it’s gonna be nothing.
"It’s only going to be a token gesture. But I’m a great believer that of all the art forms, rock is the living art form. It’s the living culture, it’s the one thing that can actually move and change society."
