A teenage Bowie stands up for mop-tops in 1964.

David Jones’ first ever TV appearance wasn’t to plug a record but as a dedicated follower of fashion, speaking to the BBC as founder of The Society of The Prevention of Cruelty to Long-Haired Men.

Ahead of the curve as usual, the young Bowie’s fancy looks were attracting unwanted attention from the narrow-minded British public, as he complained to presenter Cliff Michelmore, pleading for men to be able to wear their hair longer than nine inches without facing abuse: “I think we all like long hair and we don’t see why other people should persecute us because of it.”

Five decades later, and Bowie’s new album Blackstar is out this Friday – his 69th birthday – and is believed to be inspired by Boards of Canada and Death Grips. Hear the single ‘Lazarus’. [via Dazed]