When David Bowie Visited Apocalypse Island in Greece in the Summer of 1985

David Bowie as captured by Polidoros Anastaselis during his stay at the Apocalypse island of Patmos in the Aegean, Greece, in the summer of 1985. The Thin White Duke visited the island in 1985 as a guest of Aga Khan after his triumphant performance at Live Aid in July and got so mesmerized that he continued to spend many of his summers in Greece.

The discreet presence and friendly disposition of the legendary rock star had left the best impressions on the island’s inhabitants. As noted by radio producer Giannis Petridis: “It is certainly not original that David loved Greece. In the days we hosted him and his friend Iggy Pop, we traveled for three days to the archaeological sites of our homeland and apart from music we talked about our history and how important a role it has played in the history of the whole planet. They were both impressed, as was the secretary who accompanied them and was huddled with them in the back seat of Austin, by the visit to Delphi and the immense peace offered by the landscape and the view of Sounio.”