Music Trivia
David Bowie Trivia Questions & Answers
From Ziggy's farewell at Hammersmith to the Berlin years and Blackstar: test your Bowie knowledge across every persona, from easy questions to expert level.
15 David Bowie trivia questions to test yourself
Tap a question to reveal the answer. From easy warm-ups to expert-level questions only serious fans get right. Want a score and a diploma? Play the full quiz — it has many more David Bowie questions than this page.
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What was David Bowie's birth name? Easy
Answer: David Robert Jones
He was born David Robert Jones in Brixton, London, in 1947.
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Which 1983 album became Bowie's biggest commercial hit? Easy
Answer: Let's Dance
Let's Dance sold millions and filled stadiums on the Serious Moonlight tour.
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Which fantasy film featured Bowie as Jareth the Goblin King? Easy
Answer: Labyrinth
Labyrinth (1986) made him a hero to a generation of kids.
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Which Hunky Dory ballad asks 'Is there life on Mars?' Easy
Answer: Life on Mars?
'Life on Mars?' is one of his most beloved songs.
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Which album cover shows Bowie with a red and blue lightning bolt across his face? Easy
Answer: Aladdin Sane
The Aladdin Sane bolt is among the most famous images in rock.
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Why did David Jones change his stage name to Bowie? Medium
Answer: To avoid confusion with Davy Jones of the Monkees
The Monkees' singer forced the change; he chose Bowie after the knife.
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Which ambient pioneer collaborated on the Berlin Trilogy? Medium
Answer: Brian Eno
Brian Eno's studio strategies shaped the trilogy's sound.
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Which glam anthem did Bowie write and produce for Mott the Hoople? Medium
Answer: All the Young Dudes
He gave them 'All the Young Dudes' in 1972 and saved their career.
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'Space Oddity' was released days before which historic event in July 1969? Medium
Answer: The Apollo 11 moon landing
The BBC used it in its moon landing coverage despite the song's dark ending.
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Which stage role did Bowie play on Broadway in 1980? Medium
Answer: The Elephant Man
He won acclaim as John Merrick in The Elephant Man, performing without prosthetics.
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Diamond Dogs grew out of Bowie's blocked plan to adapt which novel? Hard
Answer: Nineteen Eighty-Four
Orwell's estate refused a musical, so the songs became Diamond Dogs.
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Which famous 1972 US radio broadcast circulated as a bootleg for decades before its official release? Hard
Answer: Live Santa Monica '72
The Santa Monica Civic broadcast became an official album in 2008.
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How did Bowie announce The Next Day in 2013? Hard
Answer: A surprise single on his 66th birthday
'Where Are We Now?' appeared without warning after a decade of silence.
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Which single was Bowie's first UK number one? Hard
Answer: Space Oddity (1975 reissue)
The 1975 reissue of Space Oddity beat 'Ashes to Ashes' to the top by five years.
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Which of these was one of Bowie's pre-fame sixties bands? Expert
Answer: The King Bees
Davie Jones and the King Bees released 'Liza Jane' in 1964; The Konrads and Lower Third followed.
How many did you get right?
The full Lost Tape Club Trivia Challenge tracks your score across every difficulty level and hands out a collector diploma at the end.
Beyond trivia: the David Bowie recordings most fans never hear
Bowie's live history is bootleg royalty: the Santa Monica '72 broadcast and Nassau '76 circulated for decades before official release, and the Ziggy farewell was traded on tape long before the film came out. Lost Tape Club carries unofficial David Bowie collector CDs covering live shows and broadcasts.
Browse the David Bowie archive, browse all artists, or see real product photos of the collector editions.