A NEW David Bowie exhibition opens next month with photos of the star which have never been seen in public.

The pictures by Bowie’s childhood friend Geoff MacCormack offer a glimpse of life on the road with one the biggest rock stars of all time.

The exhibition opens at Brighton Museum and Art Gallery next month.

It will be staged in the museum’s three large galleries and will include 60 large original framed photographs taken by Geoff, who became friends with Bowie – then a young David Jones – at the age of eight.

Having joined Bowie and his band The Spiders From Mars on a worldwide tour in 1973, Geoff became his backing singer and percussionist – but also took dozens of photographs.

Bowie disliked flying and they travelled together by cruise liner and trains across the world, including on the Trans-Siberian Express

The exhibition of intimate snapshots covers Bowie’s glam rock years as Ziggy Stardust and Aladdin Sane, his Diamond Dogs tour across America and his obsession with soul music, to his first major film, The Man Who Fell To Earth in 1975, the recording of his album Station To Station and later his Thin White Duke persona.

A short film which has never been seen before in the UK and shot by Bowie himself on a trip to Moscow in 1973 will accompany the photographs, as well as music videos with Bowie and MacCormack on stage together, plus other film excerpts and music in the galleries.

Michael Bedingfield, chairman of the Royal Pavilion and Museums Trust, said: “Bowie was one of the most influential and captivating artists ever and we know this show will appeal to his many fans of all ages. The images offer a rare glimpse into a fascinating time of his life spent with one of his oldest friends.

“We are thrilled to be able to offer this show at Brighton Museum as our first major show on reopening after the lockdown.”

Tickets go on sale on Friday, October 2.