David Bowie’s unreleased demo to be sold at auction for up to £15,000

A never-before-released track by the late David Bowie is set to make up to £15,000 at auction at the Wessex Auction Rooms in Chippenham on Friday.

The demo, Run Piper Run, was recorded around 1967 when the music legend released his debut self-titled album, however it didn’t make the final track-list and was never made public. 

Now David’s devoted fans have the opportunity to get their hands on the seven-inch vinyl track and listen to it in it’s entirety, in the forthcoming bidding war.

The B-side of the record also features the rare song, Lay Your Head Upon My Shoulder, which was recorded by guitarist Ace Kefford. It was later released on the 2003 album, Ace (The Lost 1968 Tapes). 

In July 2020, another demo by David, who passed away in 2016, was sold at the same auction house for £18,000. 

Director and auctioneer, Martin Hughes, spoke to Classic Rock magazine about the scarcity of vintage records now available by the music icon. 

The Wessex Auction Rooms owner said: ‘Despite most people being aware of punk and it’s cultural impact, you have to remember that at the time most of these records were pressed in really small numbers.

‘Many bands hand made their record sleeves and had their singles pressed on small private press labels. 

‘Add to that scarcity the fact that most of these records didn’t survive the parties, gigs, and sharing of songs with friends, it is highly unusual to ever find them in this sort of condition.’    

David died on January 10, 2016 in New York City, having battled liver cancer for 18 months. 

He died two days after the release of his twenty-fifth studio album, Blackstar, which coincided with his 69th birthday.

He was married to supermodel Iman from 1992 until his death with the couple sharing daughter Alexandria, 20. David was also father to son Duncan, 49, who he shared with ex-wife Angie.

Last week, his widow Iman, 65, shared a heartfelt tribute to him on what would have been his 74th birthday. 

The model took to Instagram last Friday to share a sweet quote as she marked the day, captioning the post ‘#BowieForever’. 

The touching quote read: ‘If I had a flower for every time I thought of you… I could walk through my garden forever.’   

The post garnered plenty of supportive messages from Iman’s followers, with many also paying tribute to the music legend.     

Last Tuesday, Iman insisted she’ll never remarry following her late husband’s death, and she declared the singer was her ‘true love’.

In an interview with Harper’s Bazaar, the supermodel said: ‘David is in our hearts and minds on a daily basis, for all of us. You know, this was my true love. My daughter once asked me if I would ever marry again and I said, “never”.’   

Reflecting on her romance with the iconic artist, catwalk queen Iman said: ‘It could not have been more regular!

‘It was a really everyday marriage. He was a very funny, warm gentleman – you know, everyone talks about him being futuristic, but no, he was not, he liked more than anything to wear a three-piece suit.

‘It was a beautiful, ordinary life and that was what was great about it. We could live in New York, pick up our daughter from school, walk everywhere… You know, I wish we had had more years.’