A new Channel 4 documentary now sets out to explore what is described as a “relatively unexamined” period of David Bowie’s musical output as well as the later years building towards his final masterpiece, Blackstar, released days before his death aged 69 on 10 January 2016.
Directed by Jonathan Stiasny, it includes commentary from some of those closest to him, including producer Tony Visconti, guitarist Earl Slick and promoter John Giddings, as well as archive footage and interviews with Bowie himself.
Bowie dealt with a number of health challenges in his later years, including a series of heart attacks onstage four years after his triumphant Glastonbury headline performance in 2000.
Footage shows him at the T-Mobile Arena in Prague in 2004, clutching at his heart and clearly in distress. “I’m sorry, I can’t continue, I’m in too much pain,” he tells the audience, before staggering into the wings. Three days later, he got through a full set at the Hurricane Festival in Germany, only to collapse after coming offstage.
Featuring rare interviews with those who knew and worked alongside Bowie as well as famous fans and figures who have been inspired by his artistry, the film will uncover Bowie's artistic resurrection during his final decade, in which he released his critically acclaimed album Blackstar just two days before he died.
The 90-minute feature is a co-production between Channel 4, Dogwoof and Rogan Productions, which also made Freddie Mercury: The Final Act and ABBA: Against the Odds.
Director Jonathan Stiasny shared, "The traditional music documentary celebrates triumph. What fascinated me most when making this film was how Bowie's final chapter wasn't an ending, it was a resurrection. He transformed failure into triumph, silence into revelation, and ultimately, death into art."
Bowie is widely recognised as one of the greatest musicians of all time, selling more than 100 million records worldwide and winning countless awards.
The Space Oddity singer passed away in January 2016, aged 69, after a battle with liver cancer.
David Bowie’s years in Berlin to be explored in new BBC documentary
The BBC has announced a new David Bowie documentary set to premiere in 2026 under the working title Bowie In Berlin.
The 90-minute documentary will air on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer sometime in autumn 2026 – a firm release date has yet to be announced. The documentary film will explore the icon’s time in Berlin between 1976 and 1978.
Bowie had famously retreated from fame and moved to Berlin in 1976 to kick his cocaine addiction and reroute his career – the move would prove integral, as it sparked three legendary albums: ‘Low’, ‘Heroes’ and ‘Lodger’ – also known as the Berlin Trilogy.
Bowie In Berlin will feature archival footage of the legendary musician himself, as well as rare interviews with four women who played a large role in Bowie’s life during his Berlin stay – Clare Shenstone, Romy Haag, Sarah-Rena Hine and Sydne Rome. Bowie considered all four women his muses, with each of them providing the musician with a different approach to art and life.
