A comprehensive box set chronicling the final creative phase of David Bowie’s legendary career, I Can’t Give Everything Away (2002–2016), is scheduled for release on September 12, 2025, via Parlophone. This latest installment in the critically acclaimed series of Bowie retrospectives captures the artist’s evolving musical vision during the last 14 years of his life, bringing together remastered albums, rare live performances, and previously unreleased material.
The collection features newly remastered versions of four of Bowie’s final studio albums: Heathen (2002), Reality (2003), The Next Day (2013), and Blackstar (2016), the latter released just two days before his death. These albums marked Bowie’s return to form in the 21st century, with Heathen and Reality exploring themes of spirituality, mortality, and alienation through a modern lens. The Next Day was widely acclaimed for its unexpected return and bold political undertones, while Blackstar was hailed as a haunting swan song, rich with jazz influences and lyrical introspection.
Included in the set are two rare live recordings: one from the 2002 Montreux Jazz Festival and another from the 2003 Reality Tour. The Montreux performance is considered one of Bowie’s most dynamic live sets of the 2000s, while the Reality Tour—his last major global tour—showcased his enduring stage presence and a deep repertoire spanning decades.
Perhaps the most anticipated component is Re:call 6, a rarities compilation consisting of 41 tracks, many of which are previously unreleased or making their debut in physical formats. These include alternate mixes, non-album singles, soundtrack contributions, and hard-to-find B-sides, offering fans a more complete picture of Bowie’s creative output during this final phase.
Longtime Bowie producer and collaborator Tony Visconti played a pivotal role in the box set’s production, overseeing the remastering process. Visconti also contributed to the box set’s accompanying 84-page hardcover book, which contains rare photographs, handwritten lyrics, and behind-the-scenes notes. The inclusion of these personal artifacts adds a deeper, more intimate dimension to the collection.
This new release marks the sixth entry in the series of Bowie archival box sets launched in 2015, each covering a specific period of the artist’s expansive and constantly shifting career. Previous editions, such as Five Years (1969–1973) and Brilliant Adventure (1992–2001), have been praised for their meticulous curation and attention to detail. The new set not only completes the chronological arc of Bowie’s career but serves as a profound reflection on the artist’s final artistic chapter.
In tandem with this release, the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) in London is preparing to unveil the David Bowie Centre for the Study of Performing Arts in 2026. This permanent archive will house more than 80,000 items spanning Bowie’s life and work, from costumes and instruments to letters and visual art. The Centre is set to open on September 13, 2026, and will feature guest curators like Nile Rodgers and the British rock band The Last Dinner Party, highlighting Bowie’s lasting impact on generations of artists.
The box set’s title, I Can’t Give Everything Away, is taken from the final track on Blackstar, a poignant farewell that captured the bittersweet essence of Bowie’s parting message. The release is more than a collection of songs—it’s a curated experience of an artist grappling with legacy, reinvention, and mortality.
Fans can preview the upcoming release with a rare version of “New Killer Star” from Bowie’s AOL sessions, now available ahead of the official drop. This early glimpse hints at the rich trove of material awaiting listeners in the full box set.
I Can’t Give Everything Away (2002–2016) stands as a definitive statement on David Bowie’s late-period renaissance, reaffirming his place not just as a pop icon, but as one of the most innovative and influential artists of the modern era. With its blend of remastered classics, deep cuts, and insightful archival content, the set provides a compelling narrative of an artist who continued to push boundaries until the very end.