The Thin White Duke

The Thin White Duke
David Bowie as the Thin White Duke in Toronto, February 1976
First appearance	1975
Last appearance	1976
Created by	David Bowie
Portrayed by	David Bowie
In-universe information
Occupation	aristocrat, cabaret performer

The Thin White Duke was the persona and character adopted by the English musician David Bowie for public appearances in the mid-1970s. Though the Duke is primarily identified with Bowie's 1976 album Station to Station and is mentioned by name in the title track, he had first begun to adopt aspects of the persona during the tour supporting his Young Americans album in late 1974. The look and character of the Thin White Duke were also influenced by that of Thomas Jerome Newton, the humanoid alien played by Bowie in the film The Man Who Fell to Earth, which filmed in mid-1975.^[1]

The Thin White Duke became a controversial figure due to ostensibly pro-fascist statements made by Bowie in press interviews during this period. Soon after making the comments, Bowie claimed that they were "theatrical" remarks made in character and did not reflect his actual views. In later years, he blamed his erratic behaviour during the mid-1970s on an "astronomical" use of hard drugs (particularly cocaine) while living in Los Angeles. He left California for Europe in late 1976 to improve his mental and physical well-being and settled in West Berlin in early 1977, at which point he quietly retired the Thin White Duke persona.