David Bowie Family Tree: The Story Behind Ziggy Stardust

David Robert Jones, born 8 January 1947 in Brixton, London, England, was one of the most-influential musicians of the 20th century — known professionally as David Bowie; built decades of reinvention through Hunky Dory (1971), The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust (1972), Young Americans (1975), Low (1977), Heroes (1977), Let's Dance (1983), and Blackstar (2016). He died 10 January 2016 in NYC, age 69, of liver cancer (two days after the release of Blackstar).

The Family's Roots: A Working-Class South London Family

The Jones family was working-class English from south London.

His Parents

Father: Haywood Stenton "John" Jones (1912–1969) — Yorkshire-born; worked as a publicist for the children's charity Dr Barnardo's.

Mother: Margaret Mary "Peggy" Burns (1913–2001) — cinema usherette of Irish heritage.

His Half-Brother: Terry Burns

Terence "Terry" Burns (1937–1985) — Peggy's son from a previous relationship; David's elder half-brother; major early influence on David (introduced him to jazz, Beat poetry, Buddhism); diagnosed with schizophrenia; long-term institutionalised at Cane Hill psychiatric hospital; died by suicide on 16 January 1985 in Coulsdon, throwing himself in front of a train. David did not attend the funeral, leading to estrangement from his mother.

His Sister

Annette Jones — half-sister.

His First Wife: Angie Bowie

Angela "Angie" Barnett Bowie, born 25 September 1949 — American-born; married David in March 1970; divorced February 1980.

Son with Angie: Duncan Jones

Duncan Zowie Haywood Jones (originally Zowie Bowie), born 30 May 1971 — son with Angie; film director (Moon 2009, Source Code 2011, Warcraft 2016).

His Second Wife: Iman

Iman Mohamed Abdulmajid, born 25 July 1955 — Somali model and businesswoman. Married David in April 1992 in Lausanne until his death in 2016.

Daughter with Iman

Alexandria "Lexi" Zahra Jones, born 15 August 2000 — daughter.

The Bowie / Jones Family Tree at a Glance

Family Origins: Working-class English; Brixton, London.

Father: Haywood "John" Jones (1912–1969) — Barnardo's publicist.

Mother: Peggy Burns (1913–2001) — cinema usherette.

Half-Brother: Terry Burns (1937–1985) — schizophrenia; died by suicide.

First Wife: Angie Bowie (b. 25 September 1949; m. March 1970, div. February 1980).

Son with Angie: Duncan Jones (b. 30 May 1971) — film director.

Second Wife: Iman (b. 25 July 1955; m. April 1992 until his death January 2016).

Daughter with Iman: Alexandria "Lexi" Zahra Jones (b. 15 August 2000).

David Bowie:

  • Born 8 January 1947, Brixton
  • Bromley Technical High School
  • Stage name "David Bowie" from 1965 (to avoid confusion with Davy Jones of The Monkees)
  • Hit single: "Space Oddity" (1969)
  • Major albums: Hunky Dory (1971), The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust (1972), Aladdin Sane (1973), Diamond Dogs (1974), Young Americans (1975), Station to Station (1976), Low (1977), Heroes (1977), Lodger (1979), Scary Monsters (1980), Let's Dance (1983), Outside (1995), Earthling (1997), Heathen (2002), The Next Day (2013), Blackstar (2016)
  • Acting: The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976), Just a Gigolo (1978), The Hunger (1983), Labyrinth (1986), The Prestige (2006), Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992)
  • 140+ million records sold worldwide
  • Died 10 January 2016, NYC

What the Bowie / Jones Family Story Teaches Us

A publicist father. A cinema-usherette mother. A half-brother who suffered schizophrenia and died by suicide. Two marriages — first to a fellow musician, second to a Somali supermodel. Two children — one a film director, one a young adult. A career that crossed reinventions and stayed at the cultural edge for 50 years.

For every family — large or small, famous or otherwise — the David Bowie story carries the same lesson. Some family members shape someone's worldview deeply but tragically. Terry Burns's influence and 1985 suicide are on the Bowie family record alongside every reinvention. Write down which family member shaped which idea — and at what cost.

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