David Bowie’s death has highlighted the profound imprint that this ever-changing, mysterious and challenging artist has left on the world.
There were many people linked to art and culture who had words of praise and gratitude for the White Duke, for his majestic work and his enormous legacy.
One of them is Chuck Palahniuk, the writer known for his novel Fight Club, famously adapted into the David Fincher movie starring Brad Pitt and Edward Norton.
Palahniuk wrote a tribute note to David Bowie, published by Rolling Stone, detailing his bond with him, which was never personal, but through his art and songs, particularly, the album “Young Americans.”
“It was “Young Americans,” a song I could listen to forever on a desert island. Most people were ticked off. Soon everyone left, and I had Gerry to myself. Eventually I sold him Fight Club and 15 more books. To this day, he doesn’t remember that song, playing over and over and the haters hating me as they abandoned the bar.
With the book money, what did I buy? The good life, of course, as modeled by vampire David Bowie. Antique marble statues. Classy blowing curtains. And, yes, a powder room. Thank you, Mr. Bowie. You were my role model and my hero and my savior. I will miss you very much.”
Without Chuck Palahniuk’s fanaticism for David Bowie, we would never have had the novel Fight Club, or at least not under the circumstances that made it a cult classic of modern literature and a memorable movie. And that the author was worth his good millions.