David Bowie memorial plaque in Berlin is stolen

Less than a month after it was revealed to the public, a David Bowie memorial plaque in Berlin plaque has vanished.

Published 20th Sep 2016

Situated outside the late music legend’s Schöneberg district residence from 1976 to 1978, the £2,900 bone china plaque quoting the chorus of Berlin-inspired anthem ‘Heroes’ was unveiled by Berlin’s mayor Michael Müller on 22nd August.

Now, all that is left of the memorial is a gaping hole in the wall and a scattering of ceramic pieces scattered across the street from the theft.

> Die #DavidBowie Gedenktafel in der Hauptstraße 155 wurde scheinbar mutwillig entwendet :( pic.twitter.com/fDpmGWLykH > > — Angelo Algieri (@kritiker77) September 17, 2016

German newspaper B.Z. reports that police are now investigating after a local business owner reported vandalism and theft on Saturday (17th September).

When it was first revealed in August, the plaque’s manufacturers, KPM (The Royal Porcelain Factory in Berlin) confirmed that it can be replaced within 24 hours should it be stolen.

Some construed this as being an open invitation for unscrupulous Bowie memorabilia collectors.

Bowie shared his Berlin home with his friend and musical kindred spirit Iggy Pop. Having moved to the city to tackle his paranoia-inducing cocaine addiction, Bowie made three seminal albums in Berlin – ‘Low’, ‘Heroes’ and ‘Lodger’.