BowieNet, David Bowie's bold venture into the online marketplace, launched Monday with a cybercast that included appearances by Ani DiFranco, Spacehog, the Jesus and Mary Chain and a surprise turn by Bauhaus.

The performance, which also included appearances by the Specials and the Jayhawks, marked the launch of www.davidbowie.com, the performer's official website/Internet service provider. As we reported earlier this summer (see [article id="1426405"]"David Bowie To Launch Online Service With BowieNet"[/article]), the service will offer the usual official site nuggets (news, music and video files, studio cameras, personal messages form the artist, etc.), and will also offer users Internet access, davidbowie.com e-mail addresses and tech support.

After Monday night's cybercast, the site went live at midnight opening the doors for Bowie fanatics and the curious to browse the site as non-members, or register

for membership.

Non-members can cruise though Bowie news, check out a thorough Bowie history and timeline, and catch a glimpse of what BowieNet has to offer members. For the rest, you have to pay.

The site's launch is timed to coincide with last week's release of "The Best of David Bowie 1969/1974" and "The Best of David Bowie 1974/1979," two new compilations of the artist's work from Virgin Records.