Released today (October 23) in Australia is the 40th Anniversary editon of the Space Oddity album.

Online stores indicate a pricing of around $24 for the 2 CD set which contains 15 bonus tracks, 8 of which are previously unreleased, including two ultra rare demos.

Check out this page at JB Hifi for further details.

The Australian entertainment community has been saddened by the loss of American born entertainer Don Lane.

Don passed away on Wednesday at the age of 75 after a battle with dementia. His Australian talk show career began in the early 1960s.

When the final episode of The Don Lane Show aired on November 13, 1983, DAVID BOWIE made an IMPROMPTU appearance at GTV studios in Richmond, Melbourne.

The Bowie / Don Lane interview can be seen on youtube here. The two and a half hours episode featured such stars as Sammy Davis Jr, Phyllis Diller and John Farnham.

November 7 is looking like Bowie day across Australia. In addition to the party in Brisbane, Sydney will be celebrating the return of JEFF DUFF, STEVE BALBI and BRYDON STACE in their awesome Bowie tribute.

The band is backed by The 'STARDUST COWBOYS' featuring Dario Bartolin (Bass) Scott Aplin (Keyboards) Lloyd G (Drums) and Luke Cuerden (guitars).

On Saturday 7 November, Brisbane's Prince of Retro Kristian Fletcher is presenting a DAVID BOWIE PARTY at Tank Hotel, 371 Queen St, Brisbane.

This dance party event celebrates 40 years since the release of Bowie's influential 1969 album Space Oddity.

From 8pm, a DJ will play all your favourite David Bowie hits from the 60s to now!

Nestled in the quiet end of Queen St, the entire Tank Hotel will be overtaken with retro hits and fashion. (Tank Hotel is located where Eagle St meets Wharf St in Brisbane's CBD)

There will also be a dancefloor, licensed bar and vinyl giveaways!

Local reviews and interviews surrounding Moon - the acclaimed debut film directed by David Bowie's son Duncan Jones - are taking place in relation to its opening in Australian cinemas this week:

Despite rumours that spread through the net like wild fire, it's a no go for David Bowie at next year's Big Day Out.

This continues a pattern that has been following his name from false rumour to false rumour across many of the world's biggest music festivals over the last five years.

The artist headlining - as announced this morning - is Muse. Other artists in the first lineup can be found here.

Finally we have confirmation of some long fabled David Bowie outtakes from the 1970s.

A very rare Sigma Session reel from 1974 has appeared on ebay containing the tracks 'Young American', 'Shilling The Rubes', 'Lazer' and 'After Today'. The reel is for sale here with a current bid of $15,000.

Samples of the 4 tracks can be heard here.

Following the recent appearance of David Bowie's "Life on Mars?" on the Triple J Hottest 100 of All Time is news that the song has made the follow up compilation CD and DVD.

Available now at music stores everywhere.

During the original countdown, which had the input of over half a million votes, the national broadcaster published the top ten lists of several media figures:

Chris Taylor The Chaser's War On Everything, ABC 1.

Life On Mars (chosen as his number 1 song) "I love the piano in this song, and the way the melody charts the mental journey of the "girl with the mousy hair" from melancholy to outright despair. It's a sublime piece of songwriting."

Lawrie Zion Former Triple J presenter and initiator of the Hottest 100

Lady Grinning Soul (chosen as his number 6 song) "As a high school friend pointed out to me just in time, there's Bowie singles, and then there's Bowie music. This glorious glob of glam from 1973's Aladdin Sane definitely fits into the latter category. Bowie's voice has never been more intense, and Mike Garson's piano work makes Bohemian Rhapsody seem understated."

Powderfinger

Heroes (chosen as their number 2 song) "Self-explanatory"

Robbie Buck Triple J Breakfast host.

Sound & Vision (chosen as his number 1 song) "Eno produced, this lay the template for so much music that's come since. The sparseness of it gives the sound so much space. It's still riveting and sends a shiver down my spine whenever I hear it."

Although Bowie fans may be disappointed with a single representation at number 79 in the final 100, we should consider the broadcaster's target audience who - as seen from the results - indicate a huge favouring toward traditionally defined "alternative" acts of the 1990s and 2000s (67 songs were counted from those two decades alone). This largely reflects the average age of listeners (apparently 22 years old according to one source) and the songs that were most popular during their formative years. All things considered, it's nice to see Bowie on there, moreover with a song that is almost never played on commerical radio.

Discuss this topic at Bowie Downunder

Moon - the debut film directed by David Bowie's son Duncan Jones - will be appearing at the Melbourne International Film Festival weeks ahead of the national theatrical release.

David Bowie's VH1 Storytellers CD/DVD pack was released in Australia today corresponding with the international release date.

JB Hifi is offering a special price of $21.99 until October. More details about this release here.

From the ABC archives, Richard Kingsmill:

''On February 11, 1997, I spoke for over half an hour to one of music's true legends.

That was the year he released his drum and bass inspired album Earthling.

The conversation felt so natural the whole way through, I had to remind myself I was speaking to Bowie.

Here it is from start to finish (minus my first words which were 'Hi, how are you...')''.

LINK

On Friday May 29 as night fell on Sydney and the Opera House sails were lit in a vibrant display, curator BRIAN ENO took the stage of the Opera Theatre.

A long time collaborator of David Bowie and co-writer of the song "Heroes", Eno's keynote address soon turned intriguing when he began presenting such items as screwdrivers (shown on an overhead projector) in explaining an axis between function and style.

The following two nights, Eno's highest music recommendation Battles took to the same stage with awe inspiring shows. During these shows, Brian observed from a seat in the audience. On Monday, French-Algerian musician, Rachid Taha had the same honour ... but this time, it was clear there would be no sitting in seats for the audience or Brian Eno. This is how the events unfolded ....

In total, Brian Eno danced and sang back up vocals for nearly half the concert. Many Thanks to Svetlana who was standing beside us taking the above pictures.

The Brian Eno curated Luminous Festival continues over the following week before culminating in the finale Scenius on Sunday June 14.

Those among you that are following the Sydney Luminous e-newsletters may have seen a question about who exactly should curate next year's festival.

It must come with no debate that David Bowie should be high on the priority list. Since 2000, Bowie has currated two major festivals - Meltdown in London (2002) and Highline in New York (2007).

Check out the comments section of this page. Fingers firmly crossed!