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    David Bowie's Odd-Looking Eye Explained

    • Posted on Oct 23rd 2009 1:03PM by Dan Reilly
    • Comments (21)
    Print |  Email More
    We may never get answers to some of David Bowie's bizarre behavior, but at least we now know why his eyes look so different from each other. As it turns out, the Thin White Duke's ocular oddity is the result of fight from a romantic rivalry in his teens.

    "When I was 14 I fell in love with a girl. I was crazy about her. Only trouble was, my best mate had a bit of a soft spot for her too, but I was the winner," Bowie told biographer Mark Spitz, according to the Daily Express. "I moved in before he'd even made up his mind about how to approach her. Next day I was at school boasting to my mate about what a Casanova I was and he became terribly annoyed. In fact he threw a punch at me."

    "It caught me in the eye and I stumbled against a wall and onto my knees," Bowie added. "At first he thought I was kidding. It wasn't a very hard punch but obviously caught me at a rather odd angle."

    George Underwood, Bowie's friend and then foe, also gave his two cents to Spitz. "He knew damn well why I did it," Underwood said. "We both wanted to go out with her and I was lucky enough to get a date. On the day of the date David rang me up and said that she had to cancel. So I didn't go but he had made up the whole story. The girl stood around for over an hour waiting for me as I discovered later. It was a bastard thing to do and I was furious with him, so it developed into a fight between us. And during the punch-up I caught his eye with a fingernail."

    The sphincter muscles in Bowie's left eye were torn and after some operations, his pupil remains permanently open. "For quite a while I was very embarrassed about it," Bowie said. "Although I could see very well out of the eye, it made me self-conscious."
    • Filed under: News, Holy Hell
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    Reader Comments(1 of 1)

    vote downvote upReportHigh Ranked

    Angelat 10-23-2009

    I knew it had happened due to a fight in school, but hadn't known all of the details until now. I like that the other guy gave his side as well. Pretty funny....

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    Mandyat 10-23-2009

    Old news. Every Bowie fan knows this story. They've made up though. This article makes it sound like they're still fighting. George even painted the portrait that became the cover art for the first British edition of The Man who fell to Earth novel (Featuring David Bowie as the alien). Bowie owns the original print.

    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    priscillaat 10-23-2009

    goes to show..don't mess with us underwoods.

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    Mtnmanat 10-26-2009

    really important stuff here.

    vote downvote upReportHigh Ranked

    Michael D.at 10-23-2009

    Yeah but who bacame famous, i never heard of this Underwood guy 'til now!

    vote downvote upReportHighest Ranked

    skutertrampat 10-23-2009

    Figures it had something to do with the sphincter

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    muchogrouchoat 10-23-2009

    another bs hollywood story - and his eyes are two different colors because....

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportHigh Ranked

    Tiffanyat 10-23-2009

    a sphincter says what?

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    Derrelat 10-23-2009

    Tiffany don't be retarde

    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    carlat 10-23-2009

    It was over a girl, huh? Guess he was just in that mood that week...

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    Gregat 10-23-2009

    now why in the heck would Underwood believe Bowie when he told him that she had to cancel why would she tell Bowie and not Underwood. Just goes to show you how stupid a 14 yr old can be what a dummy.

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    dianaat 10-23-2009

    awww i feel so bad for that girl, gosh y do guys have to be like that. :(

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    Shannonat 10-23-2009

    What is retardE? Is that like retarded?

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    mikeat 10-23-2009

    ...ALL THESE YEARS, FINALLY A GOOD NIGHTS SLEEP!!!WGAF?

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    John Bennettat 10-23-2009

    I've seen many pics of Bowie and his eyes. So why do
    they show a pic of him squinting for a story about why
    he's got one,' eyeball wide open' ?

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    Remat 10-23-2009

    This is in response to Carl who said: It was over a girl, huh? Guess he was just in that mood that week...
    In case you didn't know, David Bowie is married to a female, model Iman.

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    debbieat 10-25-2009

    REM he's married to a women now but back in the day he went both ways.

    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    sarah petroat 10-25-2009

    Like muchogroucho over there,i also am still wondering why Bowie's eyes are different colors...I thought demystifing that theory was the whole point of the news article.I've been wondering about The reason for his eyes being two different colors for 30 yrs(i'm almost 38.Subtracting the yrs i was too young too notice anything),i suppose it's like a riddle"which came first,the chicken or the egg?"I guess I'll never find out.

    Reply

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