The identity of David Bowie’s Major Tom has been revealed for the first time after 56 years, as a handwritten synopsis for a film called Young Americans sheds new light on the character
David Bowie’s Major Tom featured in Space Oddity and Ashes to Ashes(Image: Getty Images)
This is Ground Control to Major Tom…. just who are you exactly? David Bowie’s iconic fictional astronaut has long been a part of rock legend, yet his full identity has remained a mystery – until now.
A treasure trove of 90,000 items from the late Starman singer’s archive, now housed in the VandA’s new East Storehouse, reveals a handwritten synopsis for a film called Young Americans that sheds new light on his identity.
The two pages of A4 paper tell the tale of “British jet-ace…..Major Tom Brough”, who is involved in a scheme to fake the Moon landings. At one point, Bowie seems to reference his famous lyric from 1969’s Space Oddity by writing: “Ground Control are tense and alert as Tom descends his ladder.”
The proposed film – which has no relation to the 1975 album of the same name – was never produced. In Space Oddity, Major Tom’s ill-fated space exploration concludes with him adrift in space after losing contact with Ground Control, the Mirror reports.
Bowie sings at the end: “Here am I floating ’round my tin can, far above the moon. Planet Earth is blue, and there’s nothing I can do.”
The character reappears in 1980 in Ashes to Ashes, where Major Tom has fallen victim to drug addiction and is drifting in space. It’s believed that Bowie partially based the lyrics on his own experiences with drug addiction in the 1970s.
In 2015, Major Tom makes his final appearance in Bowie’s Blackstar video, depicted as a lifeless figure in an astronaut suit. This captivating new document will be accessible to all visitors when the archive opens its doors to the public on September 13.
The movie synopsis featuring Major Tom(Image: © Victoria and Albert Museum, London)
Treasures in the archive’s include Bowie’s very first instrument – a saxophone purchased by his father in the early 1960s, Jim Henson-crafted life-sized puppets representing Bowie’s various alter egos for an unreleased music video, and one of his last Ziggy Stardust outfits, never seen before in the UK.
Fans can request to examine any piece from the massive collection free of charge. The centre has already received over 150 requests for materials connected to the Ziggy Stardust era alone.
“There have been many new discoveries, and we have an entire section specifically about unrealised projects of Bowie’s, many of which have never been seen before,” Dr Madeleine Haddon, the curator at V&A East said.
This includes the artist’s notebook, index cards and numerous sticky notes, used whilst developing The Spectator, a musical set in 18th century London, which was uncovered in Bowie’s office following his death in 2016. The musical would open with the dramatic real-life public execution of the notorious criminal, Jack Sheppard, on 16 November 1724.
Costume worn by Bowie as Aladdin Sane(Image: © Victoria and Albert Museum, London)
Fans can explore some of Bowie’s iconic looks, including his 1992 Thierry Mugler wedding suit and the outfit he wore for his 50th birthday concert in 1997.
Other items available include the clapperboard from the 1976 film The Man Who Fell To Earth and Bowie’s original cover designs for albums Hours and Lodger, among others.
Artifacts related to the creation of Bowie’s final albums, The Next Day and Blackstar, are also on display. These include costumes, posters, and props for The Next Day such as the origami birds Bowie crafted for his October 2013 NME cover shoot.
Blackstar memorabilia includes Bowie’s own sketches, a costume he hand-decorated for the 2016 ‘Lazurus’ music video referencing a 1975 photoshoot by Steve Schapiro, alongside Bowie’s personal artwork and awards.
Join the Daily Record’s WhatsApp community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages.
Dr Tristram Hunt, Director of the VandA, expressed: “One of the greatest performers, musicians, artists and innovators of all time, David Bowie’s impact continues to reverberate nearly a decade after his death – while his influence on design and visual culture and his inspiration on creatives today is unmatched.”
He continued: “We are thrilled to care for Bowie’s incredible archive, revealing new insights into his creativity and legacy, and open it up for everyone at VandA East Storehouse, in dialogue with the VandA’s collection spanning 5,000 years of art, design, and performance.”