David Bowie's "Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Men with Long Hair"
How else was he going to get a hit?
Wolfgang Wild
Nov. 1964
In 1964, David Bowie (then known as Davy Jones) was 17 years old and very much pre-stardom.But BBC's Tonight show interviewed him for a feature, or more accurately, a piece of pure fluff. Davy was introduced as the spokesman for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Long-Haired Men.The interview, by Cliff Michelmore, sees Bowie "protesting" about the treatment that he and other post-Beatles, long-haired men received on the streets of England.The publicity generated by the interview extended to an interview in the London Evening News with Jones. 'It’s really for the protection of pop musicians and those who wear their hair long,’ explained the founder and president, David Jones, of Plaistow Grove, Bromley. ‘Anyone who has the courage to wear their hair down to his shoulders has to go through hell. It’s time we were united and stood up for our curls.’ David is in the process of enrolling members. ‘Everybody makes jokes about you on a bus, and if you go past navvies digging in the road, it’s murder!’Bowie was flanked by the other equally hirsuite members of his band, the Mannish Boys. "We can march in protest" said one Manish Boy. "Sort of like, ban the bomb all over again, you know!" "Baldermaston" deadpanned Bowie in response.Behind the "society" was Bowie's then-manager, Les Conn. When the Mannish Boys were due to appear on another BBC Show, Gadzooks! Its All Happening, to perform their single "I Pity The Fool," the show's producer Barry Langford asked for the band to cut their hair before the show. Handed this golden publicity opportunity on a plate, Conn organised a protest of fans with pro-long-hair placards outside the BBC, and created the society.In the event, Bowie and his band were allowed to retain their long hair on the condition that if an audience member complained, the band's fee would go to charity. No complaints were received.
It’s time we were united and stood up for our curls. - Davy Jones
I think we're all fairly tolerant but for the last two years, we've had comments like 'Darling!' and 'Can I carry your handbag?' thrown at us, and I think it just has to stop now. - Davy Jones, 1964
I wouldn't have my hair cut <br>for the prime minister, let alone the BBC! - David Bowie
