David Bowie’s surprising obsession with Australian soap A Country Practice is revealed – as his friend Iggy Pop admits they watched it together ‘all the time’
David Bowie’s surprising obsession with 1980s Australian soap opera A Country Practice has been revealed.
In an interview published by Mojo magazine, rockstar Iggy Pop, 73, revealed that he and his late friend Bowie shared a love for the medical drama, which starred Shane Porteous and Brian Wenzel.
‘A big favourite of ours,’ Iggy said of the program, adding: ‘We watched it all the time in Switzerland. David loved that show.’
‘A big favourite of ours’: David Bowie’s surprising obsession with 1980s Australian soap opera A Country Practice has been revealed in an interview with the late rocker’s friend Iggy Pop, 73. Pictured: David Bowie in 1983
Bowie was so enamoured with the show that he involved A Country Practice’s star Shane Porteous to meet him backstage during the Australian leg of his Glass Spider tour in 1987.
Speaking to Private Sydney this Sunday, Shane’s daughter Fiona Porteous revealed that she and her two siblings also met Bowie backstage.
‘There was no way Dad was going to that concert without his three teenage kids! We got to meet him before the concert,’ she told the publication.
‘A big favourite of ours’: In an interview published by Mojo magazine, rockstar Iggy Pop, 73, (pictured) revealed that he and his late friend Bowie shared a love for the medical drama
Cult favourite: Airing from 1981 to 1993, a Country Practice followed the lives of residents living and working in a fictional rural country town named Wandin Valley, in New South Wales, Australia
‘It was an amazing experience and I remember we all towered over him, David was quite short, and how exhausted he looked,’ she added.
Airing from 1981 to 1993, a Country Practice followed the lives of residents living and working in a fictional rural country town named Wandin Valley, in New South Wales, Australia.
The show focussed upon the workings of the town’s local hospital and general practice, and often featured guest appearances by celebrity actors.
Superfan! Bowie was so enamoured with the show that he involved A Country Practice’s star Shane Porteous (pictured) to meet him backstage during the Australian leg of his Glass Spider tour in 1987
Australian love affair: The flamboyant rocker owned a luxury waterfront apartment in Sydney’s Elizabeth Bay for a decade up until 1992, arguably the height of his career, but he would keep a low profile to avoid media attention. Pictured: David Bowie in 2004
Bowie, who died in January 2016, had a long-lasting love affair with Australia.
The flamboyant rocker owned a luxury waterfront apartment in Sydney’s Elizabeth Bay for a decade up until 1992, arguably the height of his career, but he would keep a low profile to avoid media attention.
He would stay for at least a month at a time and would often use the flat as a base for outback adventures and trips to far north Queensland to visit the rainforests.
Bowie first visited Australia during his 1978 Heroes World Tour, but it wasn’t until he returned in 1983 that he started forging a closer relationship – filming China Girl and Let’s Dance in Sydney.
Iconic: China Girl, released in 1983, was filmed in Sydney’s Chinatown district, and featured Australian-based, New Zealand model Geeling Ng as David’s on-screen love interest. Pictured: David Bowie and Geeling Ng in China Girl music video