The Thin White Duke
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The Thin White Duke, David Bowie's 1976 persona, is primarily identified with his Station to Station album (released that year) and mentioned by name in the title track. Ostensibly, the Duke appeared more "normal" than Bowie's previous incarnations, wearing a stylish, cabaret-style wardrobe, but the massive amounts of cocaine the rock star allegedly consumed during this period made his personality, or at least the personality he displayed during interviews, more alarming than it had ever been. The Duke was obsessed with the occult, fascism, and Hitler -- he was even rumored to have given a Nazi salute at the Victoria Station in London.
At this time in his life, he said that he lived on "Red peppers, cocaine and milk"
As his drug habit ate away at his physical and mental health, Bowie decided to move from L.A. to Berlin, where he began recording the groundbreaking so-called Berlin Trilogy (Low, "Heroes", and Lodger) with Brian Eno.
Nearing the end of 'The thin White Duke' Persona, Bowie's feelings came across greatly as somebody who was missing Europe, both through his actions and his songs. i.e Station to Station: 'The European Canon Is Here'.
Many Bowie fans believe that Bowie gave his best live performances while in this persona.
Bowie's personality today bears almost no resemblance to that of the Thin White Duke.
