Masayoshi Sukita: 'In 1972 there was very little information about David Bowie in Japan and when I had arrived in London I had never even heard his name. I was immediately interested and intrigued.'
Subsequent to working with Marc Bolan of T Rex, Masayoshi Sukita secured a meeting to present his portfolio to Bowie's former manager, Tony Defries, and photographer Mick Rock. So impressed were they with Sukita's work that a portrait session with Bowie was immediately arranged to take place at a rented London studio.
The narrative thread of SPEED OF LIFE begins here - in London, 1972 - and continues through to the present day.
Masayoshi Sukita: 'The photos were meant to have a 'punk' feel. David-san had asked Yacco to get as many leather jackets as possible and instead of shooting on a straight white background, I included the door edge to break the image up and give a rougher feel.'
Over the course of more than 300 pages Sukita and Bowie trace their forty-year story through extended captions in both English and Japanese, informing many of the greatest images the authors have created together.
"Heroes" shoot - April 1977, Japan
David Bowie: 'For the years I've been playing it, Madison Square Garden has always seemed not a stomach-churning, nerve-inducing trial but, instead, a comfortable though exciting large club experience. I really feel close to the audience here and it is still my favourite American gig.'
More than 350 photographs are reproduced in full colour and black and white, most previously unseen, allowing the reader a new and utterly unique perspective on David Bowie's historic career.
With an official publication date set for 2012, SPEED OF LIFE celebrates Ziggy Stardust's 40th anniversary and ten years since Genesis's first collaboration with Bowie. That edition (MOONAGE DAYDREAM, 2002) is sold out with Deluxe copies often listed at auction with estimates in excess of £2,000.
Referring to MOONAGE DAYDREAM's co-author, Mick Rock, Sukita describes the fellow photographer as 'a key person' in his career. 'I'm pretty sure it was really Mick who decided I was okay to work with David and I am very grateful to him for that.'
Masayoshi Sukita: 'The clock was Bowie-san's idea. He wanted to depict a modern, busy day in the life of a typical businessman. The clock only has 10 hours to signify there aren't enough hours in the day. The photos from this series were never used. I decided not to publish any until the right moment came along.'
SPEED OF LIFE is the first book ever to present an extensive visual account of David Bowie's ongoing relationship with Japan and it's influence on his work. Both authors' words are written in English and Japanese.
The photographic selection as approved by David Bowie has never been published until now. As a mark of authenticity, each numbered book is individually signed by the authors David Bowie and Masayoshi Sukita.
