Floria Sigismondi

David Bowie, Marion Cotillard, Gary Oldman.

When David Bowie makes a comeback, he does so in style -- and has lots of famous friends who want in on the fun. His latest music video, the title track from his album "The Next Day," stars Oscar-winning actress Marion Cotillard and Oscar-nominated actor Gary Oldman -- and seems designed to stir controversy.

The video, directed by Floria Sigismondi (who also directed the video for Bowie's earlier release' "The Stars (Are Out Tonight)"), features Oldman as a priest, Bowie as a prophet (think Jesus Christ) and Cotillard as a saintly figure. Meanwhile, in the background, a Cardinal is dealing in cash and a nun prays ... and that's before the stigmata starts gushing.

At the video's end, the cast of characters gathers around Bowie as he beatifically thanks Oldman and Cotillard directly, then "everybody," and at the toll of a bell, vanishes.

(Note: Video contains some violent scenes.)

Bowie's "Stars" video also featured an Oscar winner: Tilda Swinton.

He's worked with Oldman before; the pair recorded Bowie's "You've Been Around" for frequent Bowie-collaborator and guitarist Reeves Gabrel's 1995 album "The Sacred Squall of Now." Oldman and Bowie also appeared together in the 1996 biopic "Basquiat," where Bowie played Andy Warhol and Oldman played painter Albert Milo. 

There are some pairings that seem inevitable, and David Bowie's inclusion of Oscar-winning actress Tilda Swinton in his newest music video, "The Stars (Are Out Tonight)" is just such a one. The actress, who made an early career splash as the gender-shifting title character in 1989's "Orlando" seems just the right kind of otherworldly face to appear in a video by the Thin White Duke, who for much of his career has affected an androgynous look.

That said, here's the surprise: Initially, Swinton's done up in true girly-girl fashion as Bowie's wife, seen in a fluffy blonde wig and neck-scarf, sidling up behind him in a convenience store and offering a peck on the cheek. But as the video progresses and the pair are haunted by younger lookalikes, a transformation occurs. 

Check out the video and see what you think!

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David Bowie in 2010.

The revered and, in recent years, reclusive David Bowie has surfaced with a new song and video.

“Where Are We Now" got an early morning premiere on Bowie's official site and is available for sale in 119 countries via an exclusive deal with iTunes. A new album called "The Next Day" -- his first in 10 years -- is due out in March and available for pre-order starting Jan. 8.

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Produced by longtime collaborator Tony Visconti and recorded in New York, the song has the sound and sentiment of an elegiac lament, while the haunting video, directed by venerated artist-sculptor Tony Oursler, references Bowie’s time in Berlin.

According to an announcement issued by Iso/Columbia Records, the singer is shown looking in on footage of the auto repair shop beneath the apartment he lived in along with stark images of the city at the time. The press release begins with the words: “Where is David Bowie?” and makes mention of “radio silence” which has “been broken only by endless speculation, rumor and wishful thinking.”

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David Bowie in 1973.

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It continues: “A new record ... who would have ever thought it? Who'd have ever dreamed it! After all David is the kind of artist who writes and performs what he wants when he wants ... when he has something to say as opposed to something to sell. Today he definitely has something to say.”

Indeed, the news spread quickly on Twitter and other social media, proving the continued global relevance of an artist about to put out his 30th studio album. As for the timing of it all, it’s worth noting that on Jan. 8 Bowie celebrates his 66th birthday.

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Slash and David Bowie.

Slash revealed that his mother had an affair with David Bowie in an interview with Australian radio station Triple M, recalling that he once discovered them naked when he was a little kid. 

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"My mom started working professionally with David Bowie at first," said Slash, whose mom was a costume designer. "I'm pretty sure that's how it started and then it turned into some sort of mysterious romance that went on for a while after that."

The guitarist remembers seeing a lot of Bowie at the time -- quite literally, on one occasion. "I caught them naked once," Slash said. "They had a lot of stuff going on, but my perspective at eight was limited. Looking back on it, I knew exactly what was going on."

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Despite the potentially awkward encounter, Slash remembers Bowie fondly. "He was cool," the rocker said. "I liked David a lot."

Listen to the interview, courtesy of Triple M.

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