David Bowie's Ashes in the Burning Man Temple

David Bowie's Ashes in Burning Man Temple

9/7/2016

For the last few days I've been sitting on some news that I didn't want to post without consent from my sources. I've just gotten that permission, and the news via a trusted associates in a position to know is that some of David Bowie's ashes were in the Temple this year!

Update, 12:36 pm PST, Sep 8, 2016: A new source confirms that the ceremony happened Wednesday, in a procession from the camp a family member was at to the Temple. Much of the Placement team for Burning Man was invited along, and there were her other campmates and a few friends biking along next to art cars playing Bowie songs.

Update, 10:16 am PST, Sep 9, 2016: At the request of someone who will remain nameless, I've removed certain information from the article out of respect.

Update, 12:33 pm PST, Sep 11, 2016: E Online has run with the story, claiming to have spoken to another source confirming the story further.

Update, 9:20 am PST Sep 12, 2016: Director Duncan Jones, Bowie's son by his first wife, denies that Bowie's ashes were there. I'm not going to try to 'prove' this out of respect, but I'm not going to take down the story either, as it's a result of multiple independent sources that say they were there. People have asked if I think Mr. Jones is therefore lying. I don't. I'm not going to speculate as to his denial however, again, out of respect.

Bowie was one hell of a rebel, and I'm positive he would have loved Burning Man's combination of outrageous style and music. His death hit me hard - he seemed nigh-immortal in some ways, and he went too soon. I miss his presence in the world, though am glad it's able to live on so strongly through his music.

I was particularly thrilled to get the ok to talk about this because I've also been working on a Bowie tribute using Burning Man footage from this year, and it's complete as well!

Anyway, hope you enjoy my video tribute to him.

Rest In Peace, Mr. Bowie. You will be missed.

On another note, thank you to David Best and the entire Temple team for a gorgeous Temple this year. Amazing.

15 Comments

Leah

9/13/2016 06:24:05 am

Hi Mark,
I read on Consequence of Sound that you saw pictures from the Bowie ceremony this year but are not allowed to share. I was part of that ceremony and would love to see too! Could you connect me with your source? I will of course respect the owner's and family's wishes not to share :)

Dr. Yes link

9/13/2016 01:37:00 pm

I can't do that I'm afraid, sorry! So far nobody wants to be revealed as having talked about it, though I've talked to five separate people who confirm it.

anon

9/13/2016 01:31:00 pm

Bowie's son denies your claim: https://twitter.com/ManMadeMoon/status/775300766269440000 and https://twitter.com/ManMadeMoon/status/775304005631119360

9/13/2016 01:37:49 pm

Yep, I know. He's either not aware of what other members of the family are up to, or has some motive for denying it. I don't know which, but I'm positive he's incorrect.

Shades

9/13/2016 05:41:20 pm

What is wrong with you? Have you ever had to deal with the remains of a dead family member? It's a pretty tightly controlled thing. Other members of the family like who? Iman? The newborn grandchild? That family is very small. People might want to believe it's true, but if the man's son says it's not, believe him and stop spreading rumors. If you were as respectful as you claim to be you would admit that Duncan Jones might actually know better than "multiple independent sources" where his father's ashes are, and take the freaking post down.

Anon1

9/13/2016 05:46:28 pm

Well said Shades. I have commented previously stating the same thing but strangely my comments and others keep being deleted. He knows he's in the wrong.

9/13/2016 05:51:02 pm

No, I'm just deleting no value comments.

Look, you can believe it or not. It doesn't make any difference to me. I've confirmed it to my satisfaction. I wasn't actually there, so it's possible, I suppose, that multiple people are independently pulling a prank, or they could all be serial liars, but it seems incredibly unlikely. Too many witnesses who are known factors in the Burning Man community.

I wish Mr. Jones the best and am sorry for his loss.

9/13/2016 05:59:46 pm

For what it's worth, I don't think multiple people are pulling a prank or being serial liars. I think people believe what they want to believe, and I'm sure it's all coming from a place of admiration for Bowie. But that does not make it the truth. Right? It's anecdotal. I could talk to 5 reliable, intelligent people who witnessed the Loch Ness Monster but that doesn't mean they saw anything other than a giant catfish or a family of seals. You know?

9/13/2016 09:58:22 pm

That's a good comment, and thanks. You're right that this is the kind of thing Burners want to believe. I was suspect enough of my own motivations to wait for days to write about it until I was satisfied it was true. I could be wrong, no doubt - I mean, I wasn't there. I'm just still convinced it happened. If that changes I'll be happy to admit it.

9/13/2016 10:05:25 pm

@Black Sheep - I don't know why but while I'm getting emailed about your comments, I can't actually see them here. Just wanted to let you know what I'm seeing them and definitely didn't mean to delete or ban your comments (if indeed I did). I'm unsure if others can see them or not.

Melanie

9/14/2016 03:19:19 am

Wow. Your actions and defenses show zero love for David Bowie and his family. Love is not a word you just say, and that makes it real. Love is an action. How about you drop the post and show some real love? Man up. Do the right thing. Even if this story you did not witness is true, this is a very small, very tight family that just lost their husband and father and are obviously still grieving. And God forbid if you and your "multiple independent sources" are wrong. Either way, you have so far betrayed how much Burning Man is really NOT about love and transformation. It's about having a party and only caring about your own feelings. Because why else would you be so stubbornly defensive and insensitive to a man whose father died barely nine months ago?

Marilyn

9/14/2016 06:19:53 am

Very heartfelt and clear Melanie. Thank you.

9/14/2016 06:15:33 am

I am a journalist and as a journalist - a real journalist - I'm offended by your sloppy, sham reporting. You are not a journalist Matt Mihaly (or whatever your name is). The first rule of thumb is to have verified sources when writing anything - fine, go ahead and don't name your source, but to be a credible journalist, you should check your sources and also get both sides of a story BEFORE publishing anything. That said, you should have reached out to Duncan or Iman to get their side of this what is now proving to be a false story - before it's published and these entertainment rags pick it up and run with it. Who is this godchild? I'm sure Mr. Bowie didn't have various godchildren to choose from. If you are anyone to be believed, you'll have that "source" speak out if you don't want to reveal him or her. How about we start writing falsities about your family?

Dr. Yes

9/14/2016 08:27:00 am

You are correct - I'm not a journalist, nor do I pretend to be one or particularly care about how journalists operate in this context. I'm a dude blogging for free about Burning Man. Article stays up unless my sources recant. People can see that I have sources saying one thing, and Mr. Jones says something else. They're then free to decide whom to believe. I don't, at all, blame anyone for thinking my anonymous sources are bullshit. They are, after all, anonymous.

9/14/2016 09:26:06 am

And therein lies the problem with just any dude blogging - "lies" spread around the world for all to see. I feel sorry for people who think they're doing everyone a good deed by doing this.

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David Bowie's Ashes in Burning Man Temple

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