A new retrospective called "David Bowie Is" has set records for advanced ticket sales at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London with over 42,000 already purchased. That astonishing amount is more than double the amount generated by any previous exhibition at the museum. The retrospective, which opens Saturday, will feature more than 60 costumes worn by Bowie in performances, as well as photographs, documents, song lyrics, album sleeve artworks, music videos and stage sets from The Thin White Duke's illustrious career.
The exhibit would have been a hit at any time, but it's surely seen a significant publicity boost from the surprise announcent of Bowie's well received new record The Next Day, which debuted at #1 on the British charts earlier this month with no advance notice about the release date. The museum swears up and down they were as in the dark as the rest of us about the album announcement, with Geoffrey Marsh, one of the curators stating: “No one believes us, but we had absolutely no idea about the album.”
Bowie will almost definitely not leave New York to attend the opening, and there is still no word on a tour, despite the several rumors to contrary.