Southbank Centre celebrates 50 years of David Bowie’s Aladdin Sane album

Anniversary of 1973 album featuring iconic lightning bolt cover to be marked with exhibition, music and poetry in central London

The famous flash of lightning across David Bowie’s closed eyelids was a tiny emblem gracing the rock star’s cheekbone until the celebrated photographer Brian Duffy stepped in.

“He told the makeup artist ‘no, no, not like that’,” said the photographer’s son, Chris. So Duffy grabbed some lipstick to draw an outline of a much bigger flash … and Aladdin Sane was born.

Aladdin Sane: 50 Years is at the Southbank Centre until 28 May