David Bowie is previewing “Blackstar”, a song he was commissioned to write as the theme for a new crime series, The Last Panthers, premiering next month on Sky Atlantic.
A portion of the tune can be heard over the opening credits to the 6-episode program, which will star Samantha Morton, Tahar Rahim and John Hurt when it debuts on November 12.
Bowie hooked up with director Johan Renck to discuss the series while it was still in the early stages of production.
“I showed Mr. Bowie the two first episodes in the rough state they were at the time, and he liked what he saw very much,” says Renck. “We discussed the various aspects of the show; naturally the plot line, but also the underlying currents of guilt and personality flaws.
“We talked about the dark heart of Europe. We talked about the biblical aspects of human nature. He asked if there was anything else to see, so I showed him the first concept board I had just made for the title sequence - images from the show laced with chimaeras and demons from the worlds of Bosch and Grunewald.
“That’s when he said go - it all fits. Then he played me his new song Blackstar.”
The tune marks Bowie’s first new song since 2014’s “Sue (Or In A Season Of Crime)” single.
Last month, Bowie launched a series of career-spanning box sets with the release of “Five Years 1969-1973.”
The 10 album/12 CD box, 10 album/13-piece vinyl set and digital download features all of the material officially released by Bowie during the era.
The package includes six studio albums, two live releases and “Re:Call 1”, an exclusive, new 2-disc compilation of non-album singles, single versions & B-sides.
See also:
David Bowie to launch box set series this fall
David Bowie musical Lazarus to premiere in New York
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VIDEO: David Bowie issues trailers for Nothing Has Changed collection
Search David Bowie at hennemusic
