Meltdown for legend Bowie

LONDON, UK (Radio 1) - Rock legend David Bowie is to host this year's Meltdown festival on London's South Bank. Each year a guest director is invited to programme two weeks of performances that reflect their diverse and cultural tastes.
Previous shows have seen Scott Walker, Nick Cave, Elvis Costello and John Peel take the helm.
Bowie will announce his line-up of events in the next few weeks.

Past performers at the eclectic event have included Radiohead, Blur, Sonic Youth and even Kylie Minogue, who was chosen by the 1999 curator Nick Cave. Bowie admitted he was "excited" about being chosen.
He said: "I hope some of the ideas we come up with for performances and artists will transpire for if they do, they will hopefully make this an inspiring and fun festival.

Bowie was asked to appear when Walker was in charge of the event, but the singer could not make it. He said: "I am thrilled that I get a second chance to contribute in whatever way I can."

Glenn Max, the South Bank's producer of contemporary culture, said he was delighted that the singer had agreed to curate the event. "As an artist, producer and bandleader he always champions the work of others - both renowned and obscure," he said.

Original

Bowie has long been one of Britain's most independent and pioneering musicians, releasing songs on the internet long before it was fashionable and even setting up his own online radio station and bank.
He killed off Ziggy Stardust, a major influence on glam rock, and followed him up with Aladdin Sane and the Thin White Duke.
He experimented with ambient music in the late 1970s and also tried his hand at acting.

The various acts for Meltdown will appear at the Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Purcell Room and National Film Theatre during the two week festival which starts on 12 June.