David Bowie speaks to Jeremy Paxman on BBC Newsnight (1999)

In this BBC Newsnight interview from 1999 David Bowie talks to Jeremy Paxman about going to meet Tony Blair in stilettos, his alter egos - and makes some incredibly accurate predictions about the potential of the internet.
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[PVflying]

Bowie understood the Internet in a way Paxman couldn't begin to conceive. What a genius

[emilyelvish]

I’m a Media student, and Bowie is literally describing the theory of ‘Produsage’ a decade before the theory was first published. He knew how the role of 21st century media would break down the barriers between creator and audience, well before the internet fully immersed our everyday life - he’s a genius!

[agunsux]

Can you predict how the internet will change the world in 1999? Bowie did. And he predicted right.

[andycordy]

To hear him talk candidly about his addictive personality, declare himself an alcoholic without hesitation, a powerful moment.

[jillybe]

In 1979 Bowie was a guest DJ and made a joke about the Berlin Wall. He said "I read Kierkegaard on a wall. He speaks highly of me as well." I went to the library and asked who Kierkegaard is and got studying philosophy. As a result I gave up drugs and went to uni. David Bowie saved my life. He's a real hero to me.

[EatMyClickTops]

Do you think David Bowie ever thought over 300, 000 people would watch him talk about the internet's future on the internet?

[shrimpflea]

Paxman: The internet is just a tool.
Bowie: No, it's an alien life form!

[VampiraVonGhoulscout]

I'm not entire sure that David Bowie was even a real person. He's just too magical to be human, to exist.

[leonardovaleri]

He makes anyone interviewing him look dumb. Not intentionally, even just for a moment. What a genius.

[SteveBenway]

He really knew what he was talking about.

[DanHunterSportsWriter]

Jeremy Paxman Interviewed a thousand or more politicians, but did he ever interview anyone as sharp, intellectual, intelligent, far-sighted and riveting as David Bowie?

[rivolinho]

Bowie was before my time so I never gave the man or his music much thought until his death. But after watching a few documentaries, listening to some tracks and seeing various interviews, most tellingly this one, it's plain to see the man was an utter genius and visionary. Incredible to think that people of this caliber called themselves pop singers and topped the charts once upon a time.

[gpeddino]

This interview is almost scary. He was really ahead of the curve.

[WormholeJim]

"So now I have absolutely no knowledge of who I am but I'm extremely happy." As fine an epitaph as any anyone else could ever have come up with. Rest in peace, you little wonder you.

[MrComradeDave]

Bowie was definitely a very intelligent man. I think he got all his predictions right about the internet being the new rock and roll.

[fionalynas]

David Bowie is so honest in this interview.  He makes it cool to admit to being alcoholic and is so relaxed about it.  One of his best interviews, he comes over as such a nice person and so intelligent.  Rest in Peace David,

[michaelhope]

My respect for Bowie has gone up 10-fold

[ivankaramasov]

This shows Bowie as a true system thinker, being able to take information and knowledge from many areas and synthesise it to form new and interesting insights. He was extraordinarily well read, extremely intelligent, and psychologically flexible, that is able to never cling to a particular viewpoint, but adjust as you get to know more. This was what made him an incredibly interesting conversationalist, and a creative genius. It is so interesting to hear him speak about almost any subject.

[mattevans]

I watched Bowie as I grew up in the 70's. He scared me back then. What I realise now is that he was visionary, intelligent, articulate, hugely artistic and inventive and yet as down to earth as he could have been. This man truly was a one off.

[hdholl]

What an intelligent man, what a rich vocabulary, what nuanced phrasing of his thoughts, what predictive insight into the wonder *and* curse of the internet. Amazing. (for the record: I refer to David Bowie).