CELEBRATING DAVID BOWIE: Reinhard Kleist, Aidan Sadler, Arsalan Mohammad
30 May 2025, 19:00
Events
Celebrate the sound and vision of classic David Bowie through comics and cabaret! This deep dive into the rock icon’s ’70s output features journalist Arsalan Mohammad in conversation with comic book artist Reinhard Kleist about his graphic novels ‘Starman: Bowie’s Stardust Years’ and the new ‘LOW: Bowie’s Berlin Years’ (both published by SelfMadeHero). In the event’s second half, cabaret artist Aidan Sadler will perform highlights from Bowie’s catalogue as Kleist live draws to the music. A memorable tribute to a musician who is never out of fashion!
Reinhard Kleist is one of Germany’s most acclaimed graphic novel creators. He made his international breakthrough in 2006 with ‘Johnny Cash: I See a Darkness’. Kleist’s other music-related graphic novels include ‘Nick Cave: Mercy on Me’, and ‘Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds: An Art Book’. Kleist has become well-known for his live drawing concerts, creating art in front of audiences from Brussels to Beijing. His critically acclaimed graphic biography of David Bowie forms two parts: ‘STARMAN: Bowie’s Stardust Years’ (SelfMadeHero, 2023) and ‘LOW: Bowie’s Berlin Years’ (SelfMadeHero, 2025).
Arsalan Mohammad is an arts editor and writer, based between London and Berlin. He is the presenter of acclaimed podcast ‘Albumtoalbum: The David Bowie Albums Podcast’, which has featured dozens of guests since 2017 from across the Bowie universe.
An “absolute tornado of a cabaret star”, Aidan Sadler is routinely vandalising the face of cabaret. Described as the “Demonic David Bowie”, they made their staggering ascent to notoriety at Edinburgh Fringe 2021 with their debut show, Tropicana, which went on to sell out, extend and win “Best Solo Act” at The Scene Alba Awards. They have since appeared in Fringe festivals across the globe every year, repeatedly trying to recreate the magic of their first run, like an addict chasing their first high.