Previously known as the "Godfather of the legal highs industry",[1] he is credited with creating non-lethal, non-addictive party pills as safer substitutes for methamphetamine addicts,[2] and successfully lobbying in New Zealand for a quality control and regulatory system for psychoactive substances.
[9] After the death of a family member from ecstasy overdose[10] Bowden worked with a neuropharmacologist and biopsychologist to develop demonstrably safer alternatives to methamphetamine to be used as a substitute therapy.
[16] The result of this amendment was the introduction of a "Class D" schedule, which moved to "restrict the sale of herbal highs or party pills to people over the age of 18…and places controls on marketing and labelling of the products.
Bowden's organisation Stargate International began 'clinical trials' to distribute EASE, later identified as methylone, after receiving confirmation from the New Zealand Ministry of Health that the product was legal to import and sell.
[22] Following the screening of a locally produced documentary into EASE entitled The Truth Files, Associate Health Minister Jim Anderton released a statement classifying EASE as an illegal product,[24] and provided the following assessment: Yesterday, Associate Health Minister Jim Anderton said advice from the chair of the Expert Advisory Committee on Drugs, Dr Ashley Bloomfield, showed Ease contained a substance called methylone, an "analogue" – similar to – cathinone, which is a Class B amphetamine controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act.
[34] Receiving a great deal of publicity and media attention around his 40th birthday party, several hundred guests witnessed Starboy's first big outing.
[35] According to reports in the Sunday Star-Times, the event included, "women hanging from the ceiling on trapezes, others in bunny suits, loads of booze, and Bowden up on stage with his band amid lasers and costumed dancers, wearing Kiss-style makeup, big boots and long shiny coat, and evidently "enjoying himself much more than anyone else was".
[36] Other media interviews indicate that Bowden is likely to look offshore for his fanbase, as his role as de facto spokesman for the legal-high industry in New Zealand and changing personas has led to some discord.
Initially a stand-alone music video, the production has expanded into a three-part mini-movie that revolves around a young girl and her fight against the "Strangers" who have invaded her village.
The song is about enlightenment and the lyrics borrowed from classical poetry so it suited that era, with the addition of sci-fi content and Zac Blair's direction.