When rock graven image David Bowie was hit down by Cancer the Crab at age 69 , the world lose more than just another gifted player . A pop culture ikon for half a century , Bowie ’s eclectic and ever - changing approach reflected a wide of the mark range of influence and facilitate forge the euphony that we take heed to today . Whether adopting new part , bend gender stereotypes or only sailing off to the lunation with Major Tom , Bowie was nothing if not constantly pushing the envelope . So maybe it should derive as no surprise that the Thin White Duke found himself in trouble with the thought police every once in a while . Here are a few of the clock time he run into the censor :
1 . YouTube Ban
Bowie released " The Next Day " more than a year before he was diagnosed , but at least some critic call his twenty-fourth studio album the first half of an aesthetic postscript that concluded with 2015 ’s " Blackstar , " released last week . If that ’s the typesetter’s case , then Bowie began enfold up his calling the path he get down it : auspiciously . A short promo for the album wasbriefly bannedfrom You Tube in 2013 for violating the cyclosis site ’s term of service . The boundary - examination spiritual - themedvideo – entitle " The Next Day " and feature a garmented Bowie raising a barely - clad working girl from the dead – was by and by clear for consider . A YouTube spokespersontold Billboardthat the video recording was deflect by mistake .
2 . Dog Days
The 1974 album " Diamond Dogs " marked a bit of a departure for Bowie . It was hisfirst albumafter he retired the Ziggy Stardust persona that was memorialise without back by the Spiders from Mars . What stay put the same was the frontman ’s knack for ruffle some straight - laced feathers .
The record album ’s original cover artistry feature Bowie as a half - man and half - Canis familiaris . It also displays a heavily - to - miss canine penis . That was enough to run afoul of U.S. censors , who ask the artwork to beairbrushed overa chip before the record album was bring out stateside ; the few hold up original versions have become sought - after collectible .
3 . No Everyday Hero
In 2011 , Bowie did a little self - censoring of sorts . Despite claims otherwise , his representatives said theydenieda request to habituate Bowie ’s catalog of songs for a British stage performance called " bomber : The Musical . " The show , which was to be based on various characters from Bowie ’s oeuvre , was one of many projects thwarted by Bowie ’s pixilated control over the use of goods and services of his originative production .
4 . Saturday Night Comes Alive
" Saturday Night Live " is no slouch when it comes to depart a conversation about verboten subjects . Still , when Ziggy Stardust bring at 30 Rock in 1979 , NBC ’s censor were a little overzealous . They told Bowie that they wouldmute a linefrom his performance of " Boys Keep Swinging . " The verse in interrogation was definitive Bowie line blurring : " When you ’re a boy , other boy control you out ! " The curtailment did n’t ride well with Bowie . He responded byperforming the tunewith his head word strapped to a life - size of it marionette that boast a pretty realistic bulge belt down out of the top of its pants .
5 . Tin Man Strikes Again
Change was one of the only constants in Bowie ’s whirlwind musical vocation . He turned and faced the strange alright , and ushered in new genres by melding genres and influences at the drop of every new runway . Still , there appear to be at least one habit that the Starman could n’t give up : expose human genitalia on record album covering . His brusk - live side project Tin Machine had to make over the fine art for itssecond albumin 1991 after U.S. distributer balked at the stately display of four alloy world parts .
