On this day
08
January

David Bowie, Graham Chapman, Paul Verlaine

Born: David Bowie (1947), Graham Chapman (1941)
Died: Paul Verlaine (1896)

Born on this day

08JanBorn 194779th birthday

David Bowie

His changing musical identities and gender-defying performances expanded the possibilities of mainstream pop.

08JanBorn 194185th birthday

Graham Chapman

A comedian whose straight-faced absurdity helped give Monty Python its distinctive voice.

Died on this day

08JanDied 1896130th anniversary of death

Paul Verlaine

The great poet of French Symbolism and Arthur Rimbaud lived a passionate, destructive love affair – which ended with a gunshot.