Welbeck dashes away with photographer Duffy's Bowie tribute

Welbeck has snapped up Aladdin Sane 50 by photographer Chris Duffy, celebrating the 50th anniversary of David Bowie’s album. 

Associate publisher Joe Cottington acquired world rights in all languages direct from Duffy, c.e.o. of the Duffy Archive.

The book contains hundreds of photographs, including dozens of previously unseen portraits of Bowie from the Aladdin Sane cover shoot by Brian Duffy. Aladdin Sane 50 will publish on 30th March 2023, ahead of the album’s 50th anniversary.

Duffy’s photographs will feature alongside essays on Bowie’s album and the story behind the famous cover itself, written by writers and Bowie experts including Paul Morley, Charles Shaar Murray, Nicholas Pegg, Kevin Cann, Jérôme Soligny and Geoffrey Marsh, curator of the V&A’s record-breaking David Bowie Is exhibition.

"In a breathtaking package designed by long-time Bowie collaborators Barnbrook creative studio, the book pays tribute to a seminal album and an image that will live forever more in rock ’n’ roll history – ‘the Mona Lisa of pop’, Aladdin Sane," the synopsis reads.

Cottington said: "To say I’m thrilled to be publishing this book is an understatement – sharing the full story behind music’s single most iconic image, including photo after photo that has somehow never been seen anywhere before, is a special honour. And to combine Duffy’s remarkable images with essays on David’s music by some of the most respected writers in the Bowiesphere in a gorgeous design by Barnbrook studio – I can’t quite believe it’s all come together so perfectly and I can’t wait for Bowie fans everywhere to see it."

Duffy added: "When [Brian] Duffy and I started the archive in 2006 I had no idea that David Bowie was going to implode into my life and change the direction I thought I was going in. Every photographer wants a jewel in the crown and out of the thousands of photographs of David Bowie, the Aladdin Sane image has become Duffy’s jewel and David’s most recognisable image, not only defining both men’s careers but also becoming a cultural icon.

"They say a picture can say a thousand words – there’s no debate that thousands have been written about the iconic ’Aladdin Sane’ album cover and it’s an honour 50 years after its release to be able to share new and unseen images from the session. I’m privileged to honour two great men and I thank all of those who continue to hold the flame."