When we think about David Bowie, we usually see the lightning bolt painted across a pale face or the Thin White Duke staring coldly into the middle distance. We think of the alien. The icon. The man who basically invented the idea of the "chameleon" in pop culture. But honestly? Behind the stage curtains and the avant-garde outfits, there was a guy named David Jones who was surprisingly, almost stubbornly, normal when it came to his house.
David Bowie and family wasn't just a side note to a legendary career. It was the thing that actually kept him grounded while he was busy conquering the world.
The First Chapter: Zowie, Angie, and the Chaos of the 70s
Bowie’s first go at the whole family thing was, to put it mildly, a bit of a whirlwind. He married Angela Barnett in 1970. It was the height of the "Free Love" era, and their relationship was famously open, loud, and chaotic. They had a son in 1971, Duncan Zowie Haywood Jones.
You’ve probably heard the name "Zowie Bowie" before. It’s a quintessential 70s rockstar kid name, right? But as Duncan grew up, he ditched the stage name for something a bit more down-to-earth.
The divorce between David and Angie in 1980 was messy. What most people forget is that David actually got full custody of Duncan. Imagine that: the biggest rock star on the planet, freshly sober from a terrifying cocaine addiction in Berlin, raising a young son on his own. He took it seriously. Duncan later described his dad as a man who encouraged him to be curious about everything—science, philosophy, and film—rather than forcing him into the family business of music.
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Meeting Iman: When the Alien Found a Home
Everything changed in 1990. Bowie met the Somali supermodel Iman on a blind date. He said it was love at first sight. He was already naming the children in his head that same night. Talk about intense.
They married in 1992, and if you look at the photos from that time, you see a different version of David. He wasn't performing. He was just... happy. They became one of those rare celebrity couples that actually lasted, staying together until his death in 2016.
The Miracle Child
It took them a while to have a child together. They’ve talked openly about the struggles with IVF and how they were actually looking into adoption right when Iman finally got pregnant.
Alexandria Zahra Jones, known as "Lexi," was born in 2000. Bowie was 53. Iman was 45. They called her their "miracle." After Lexi was born, Bowie basically walked away from the relentless touring lifestyle. He wanted to be the dad who did the school run in New York City. He wanted to watch her grow up.
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Living as "David Jones" in Manhattan
In their Soho apartment, the persona died at the door. Iman has famously said, "I fell in love with David Jones. I did not fall in love with David Bowie."
- Routine: They lived a quiet life. Seriously.
- Privacy: They almost never did "at home" shoots.
- The School Run: Bowie was a fixture at Lexi’s school, just another dad in a flat cap.
It's kinda wild to think that the guy who sang "Starman" was probably worried about soccer practice and math homework. But that was the reality. He was protective. He wanted Lexi to have the privacy he never quite had during the Ziggy years.
Where are the kids now?
Duncan Jones didn't become a singer. He became a world-class director. You’ve probably seen Moon or Source Code. He’s carved out a massive career based on his own merit, not his last name. He’s now a dad himself, giving Bowie grandkids before the singer passed.
Lexi Jones is a different story. She’s an artist. She sells her work and clothing online, but she’s mostly stayed out of the Hollywood spotlight. Iman actually turned down modeling offers for Lexi when she was a teen, telling designers, "No, she doesn't want to." She wanted her daughter to find her own identity.
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Recently, Lexi has been more open on social media. In 2025, she shared her autism diagnosis, saying it helped her "see herself clearly" for the first time. She also released a debut album titled Xandri, proving that while she’s her own person, the creative DNA is definitely still there.
The Legacy of David Jones
When Bowie died in January 2016, the world went into mourning. But for Iman, Duncan, and Lexi, it wasn't the loss of a rock god. It was the loss of a husband and a father.
His will was very specific. He left half his estate to Iman and the other half split between his two children. He even left money to his long-time assistant, Coco Schwab, who he considered family. He wanted them taken care of, but more importantly, he wanted them to stay out of the tabloid meat grinder.
Honestly, the way he handled his family is probably his most impressive "performance." He managed to be a global icon while keeping his domestic life sacred. That’s a trick most celebrities never learn.
What you can do next:
If you want to understand the more personal side of the man behind the music, check out the documentary Moonage Daydream. While it's heavy on the visuals, it captures the philosophical shift he had once he found stability with Iman. You can also follow Lexi Jones on Instagram to see how she’s continuing the family’s artistic legacy through her own unique, often satirical, illustrations.