From witches and protective spells to an allegedly possessed swimming pool, David Bowie’s darkest period was stranger than anything he created onstage. David Bowie created some of rock’s most fascinating characters, from Ziggy Stardust to the Thin White Duke. But in 1975, Bowie became consumed by something far stranger than his stage personas. The singer developed an obsession with black magic, witchcraft, and the occult. He even believed supernatural forces were trying to destroy him… including David Bowie’s possessed swimming pool.

The story of David Bowie’s occult obsession involves witches, satanic rituals, protective spells, and a supposedly possessed swimming pool. It sounds like the plot of a horror movie. Unfortunately, for Bowie, the fear was very real.