I’ve always been a Bowie obsessive. At first, it was just the songs, but then it became about his role as the absolute cutting edge of... well, everything. Like many of you, I’ve spent years collecting vinyls and books, and I still feel the sting of never getting a proper autobiography from the man himself.

While his life was incredibly well-documented, I’ve always felt a bit frustrated that most biographers (with a few rare exceptions) seem more interested in the "sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll" mythology than the actual mechanics of his music. They focus on the smoke, but I wanted the fire.

That’s why I’m so excited about my guest this week at Vintage Cafe. Throughout my career as a music journalist, I’ve been lucky enough to interview many of David's collaborators, but I finally sat down with the man Bryan Ferry calls "one of the great authorities on contemporary music": Jérôme Soligny.

Jérôme isn't just another biographer; he was actually Bowie’s favorite French journalist for over 25 years. He’s a Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres and a musician in his own right, which gives him a unique "player's perspective." His two-volume masterpiece, Rainbowman, is legendary because he didn't just speculate—he interviewed 130 people who were actually in the room when the magic happened.

I’m publishing a review of Rainbowman today at Vintage Cafe, and my full conversation with Jérôme will be out this Saturday. We dig into his work process and his very pragmatic approach to Bowie’s genius. If you want a look at the man that is based on "proven facts" rather than just hagiography, you won’t want to miss this.