David Bowie’s Family, Relationships, and Friends: The True Story Behind the Starman

David Bowie was a major figure in music, but his life offstage often drew interest too. He spoke about the impact of family, relationships, and friends on his journey. These close connections added more meaning to his career and shaped much of who he became.

Family Ties and Personal Life

David Bowie was born David Robert Jones on January 8, 1947, in London, England. He grew up in Brixton and Bromley with his father, Haywood Stenton Jones, and his mother, Margaret Mary Jones. Bowie had an older half-brother, Terry Burns, who influenced his early interests.

From a young age, his family supported his creative interests. Later, Bowie’s close bond with his children became clear. Bowie married Iman Abdulmajid in 1992. Iman, a Somali-born supermodel, met Bowie at a dinner party in Los Angeles in 1990.

They married in a private ceremony in Lausanne, Switzerland, and celebrated again in Florence, Italy. Together, they had a daughter, Alexandria “Lexi” Zahra Jones, born in 2000. Lexi is their only child together and is biologically theirs.

Bowie also had a son, Duncan Zowie Haywood Jones, born in 1971 to his first marriage with Mary Angela Barnett. Duncan became a film director as an adult. Both of Bowie’s children were biological. Iman, Bowie’s wife, continues to work in fashion and business.

Name	Relation	Birth Year
Haywood Stenton Jones	Father	1912
Margaret Mary Jones	Mother	1913
Terry Burns	Half-Brother	1937
Duncan Zowie Haywood Jones	Son	1971
Alexandria “Lexi” Zahra Jones	Daughter	2000
Iman Abdulmajid	Wife	1955

Relationships and Past Partners

David Bowie’s romantic life often made headlines. His first marriage was to Mary Angela Barnett, known as Angie Bowie, in 1970. Angie, an American model and actress, met Bowie in London in the late 1960s, and they married soon after.

Their marriage lasted until 1980, ending in divorce due to personal differences and the pressures of Bowie’s career. Angie wrote books about her life, including her time with Bowie. After divorcing Angie, Bowie was linked to several partners, though not all relationships were confirmed.

He was rumored to have had a romantic connection with Mick Jagger of The Rolling Stones. The nature of their relationship remains debated, but both were known for pushing social boundaries in music and fashion. Some rumors suggested affairs with both men and women, but details were often private.

After meeting Iman in 1990, Bowie settled into a lasting marriage that lasted for the rest of his life.

Name	Relationship Type	Time Period
Mary Angela Barnett (Angie Bowie)	Ex-Wife	1970–1980
Mick Jagger	Rumored Partner	1970s

Friends and Creative Partners

Throughout his career, Bowie formed strong friendships with other musicians and artists. One of his closest friends was Iggy Pop. They met in the early 1970s and supported each other during tough times. Bowie helped Iggy with his solo career, and they co-wrote songs together.

Bowie also developed a close friendship with Freddie Mercury from Queen. Their main collaboration was the hit song Under Pressure. Both Bowie and Mercury appreciated each other’s creativity and drive. Another key friend was John Lennon, with whom Bowie co-wrote Fame.

These friendships were built on shared respect for music and art, lasting through changes in each person’s life and career. Some friendships changed with time, but most remained strong through the years.

Name	Known Since	Profession
Iggy Pop	Early 1970s	Musician
Freddie Mercury	Early 1980s	Musician
John Lennon	Mid 1970s	Musician