DAVID BOWIE's ex-wife ANGELA allowed the ZIGGY STARDUST singer to have custody of their son when they split in 1980, because she thought ZOWIE might save his life.

She believed the HEROES hitmaker was so out of control he might die of a drug overdose, so she sent eight-year-old Zowie to live with him, hoping it would give him a sense of responsibility.

She says, "I just didn't want to get in a p**sing match with David about custody.

"I really thought the best thing to keep David alive was to leave my son with him. It was the hardest thing I've ever done.

"I would never have deprived David of his son. I kept saying to myself, 'I've got to do this.'

"I can't escape if I take my child with me, he'll fight me, and it'll be awful for my son.

"And I can have another child, it's not a big deal."