Self-Medino launched the English version of Reinhard Kreist’s Law: David Bowie’s Berlin style at the Century Club in London on Friday, May 30, 2025. At the celebrity David Bowie event, a conversation between Comica founders Paul Gravett and Kraist was about the creation of the book, followed by Bowie’s tribute performance and live drawing.
A packed room at the Bowie event ©Dean Simons
The book title follows the first album of Bowie’s Berlin Trilogy (1976-1979), and is also related to Bowie’s difficult times, which led him to Germany. The Trilogy’s first album, Low, was actually partially produced in France before Bowie moved the production to West Berlin. Christ was temporarily involved with an anecdote from the time Bowie and Iggy pop (recorded in West Berlin at the time) when he traveled through the Berlin Wall and to East Berlin, the Soviet block. This story was featured in the 2016 anthology Berliner Mythen (Berlin myth), but is not available in English.
Reinhard Kreist explains elements of his Bowie study ©Dean Simons
During the conversation part of the event, Kleist explained why he kept David Bowie’s biography in two books that focus on some periods of the musician’s life. He suggested that the perfect chronology of Bowie’s life would be a difficult mountain to climb, and he also liked to inspire David Bowie and hone certain points that have personal meaning to Christ himself. Therefore, we acquired the early days of Starman Ziggy Stardust (published in 2023) and now there are fewer years of Berlin, where Bowie’s problems but transformed.
©Dean Simons
Christ created his name with graphic portraits of Nick Cave, Fidel Castro and Johnny Cash. Bowie Dulogy was part of his joking demonic deal with his German publisher, and greenlighted a graphic biographies about boxer Emile Griffiths (Knockout, 2021). Kleist also creates some interesting graphic portraits of sports figures.
©Dean Simons
Although based in Berlin since 1996, the majority of Low’s research was conducted through books and online sources, with just in-person interviews and visits to Hansa Studio. Kleist spoke with former Hansa Studio engineer Eduard Meyer and heard many anecdotes from the time, many of which were not featured in the book. One such time was when Meyer, who lived near the studio, woke up to David Bowie and Iggy pop, stoned to knock on the door and cook breakfast.
Reinhard Kleist Talking Process©Dean Simons
The process is interesting. Kleist says that before Kleist sketches the page, he works intensively with the editor to intensively manipulate the full script of the graphic novel – key scenes, dialogues – with the editor. Kleist also said that he uses colorists for many of his graphic novels, and only coloring the flashback sequences themselves. Colorists often surprise Kreist with their choices.
©Dean Simons
Kleist spent the final part of the conversation showing off some of the cool, funny pictures he stumbled over in his research. This is a shot by David Bowie, but the harmonizer is a strange instrument that became popular during that era.
kleist©Dean Simons shows some interesting photos he found in his book study
The final part of the event was a live performance of cabaret artist and comedian Aidan Sadler performing a live set of Bowie songs with a live drawing piece of Reinhard Kreist inspired by them. A unique night.
And yes, there was a signature. There’s also a rather long queue.
The night ends with a signature
Low: Bowie’s Berlin days are now in the UK, and on July 8th, it appears in the US.
Like this:
Like loading…
