10 Things You Didn’t Know About David Bowie

For more than 40 years, David Bowie has remained an enigmatic figure of fashion, art, and, most importantly, music. Never afraid to push buttons and challenge social or stylistic norms, he remains a radical rock-'n'-roll style icon for generations past and present. In 2014, the music industry still lacks a figure as singularly influential, controversial, and intelligent as Bowie. We need him now as much as the world did in 1969 when "Space Oddity" broke through to listeners across the globe.

Good thing David Bowie Is, the first major retrospective of Bowie's career, is finally hitting the states. If you're not a Windy City native, we highly recommend booking a flight to Chicago, as the Museum of Contemporary Art is the only venue in the country that will exhibit the interactive show, which features everything from his intricate, beautiful costumes to recreated concert stages. It's something that you must see to believe.

So, in honor of tomorrow's opening — and the fact that Rahm Emanuel has officially declared September 23 to be David Bowie Day — we present you with a sneak peek at the exhibition, paired with 10 crazy facts about Bowie's life and career. Trust us, there's never been (or will be) anyone quite like Ziggy Stardust!