David Bowie Pushing 60, On Tour

(AP)  David Bowie, pushing 60, says he's headed for another spell of experimentation.

Speaking in Tokyo to kick off the Japan leg of his current world tour, Bowie says he is stripping down his act in order to try out some new approaches.

"I'm heading for another period of experimentation," he said. "(I'm at) a time when I'm collecting myself before I break all my own rules."

The iconic artist has gone through various personas during his more than three-decade career -- Ziggy Stardust, the Thin White Duke, Philadelphia soul man, avant-garde rocker.

Now, he says, he wants to focus on his songwriting and singing.

"It's probably the simplest tour that I've ever done," he said, dressed in gray cargo pants and a hooded sweatshirt. "This is very stripped down. It's really not working with theatrics at all.''

The tour is Bowie's first world tour since 1995. Bowie released his latest album, Reality, last September.

The 57-year-old Bowie said it was harder to get his music heard these days, especially on radio stations, because of his age. But he added that he enjoys seeing life get simpler as he gets older.

"I was quite scared of getting old in my 40s," he said. "But as I approach 60 ... you learn to embrace getting older."

Bowie is scheduled for three shows in Japan this week.