GETTING ZIGGY WITH IT (AGAIN)

The star thrills fans with a three-hour set at the London venue where he retired Ziggy Stardust in 1973...

David Bowie

made an emotional return last night (October 2) to the LONDON venue where he famously killed off his own ZIGGY STARDUST creation.

David Bowie

Advertisement

was performing at the launch of the newly named Carling Apollo in Hammersmith, west London. The star last played the then Hammersmith Odeon venue in 1983, and famously played in July 1973 with his theatrical futuristic creation Ziggy Stardust with his band The Spiders From Mars. On the night, David Bowie

announced from the stage that he was quitting music – front page news in the NME that week.

The one-off date sold out in two hours when the 3,500 tickets went on sale to fans directly at the venue on Saturday (September 28). Celebrities in attendance on the night included Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy, David Bowie collaborator Brian Eno, Queen

’s Roger Taylor, Placebo, Sex Pistol

Glen Matlock, comedian Frank Skinner and writer Ben Elton.

Introduced on stage by Radio 1’s Mark & Lard, David Bowie began a mammoth three-hour set with the classic ‘Life On Mars?’. He then launched into a string of hits and album classics with his seven-piece band, including ‘Ashes To Ashes’, ‘Look Back In Anger’, ‘Breaking Glass’, ‘Absolute Beginners’, ‘Be My Wife’, ‘Fame’, ‘Fashion’, ‘Rebel Rebel’ and ‘Heroes’. .

Advertisement

Wearing a three-piece blue silk suit, David Bowie regularly clasped audience members’ hands which were thrust towards him. He also joked about his last appearance at the venue, telling the audience: “This is the last show we will play… when there’s a fucking tube strike!”

David Bowie, belying his 55 years, danced around on stage and kept up the performance for the full three hours. He also played much of his current ‘Heathen’ album, but went back to the early 70s late in the set for ‘Starman’, a rare outing for ‘The Bewlay Brothers’ and the ‘Hunky Dory’ favourite ‘Changes’. During the latter, David Bowieeven donned a black feather boa, commenting: “I left this here last time, I’ve just found it under a seat.”

For the final song, David Bowie performed fans’ favourite ‘Ziggy Stardust’, more than 29 years after he retired his own creation from the same stage.

The set list was:

‘Life On Mars?’

‘Ashes To Ashes’

‘Look Back In Anger’

‘Survive’

‘Breaking Glass’

‘Cactus’

‘China Girl’

‘Slip Away’

‘Absolute Beginners’

‘Alabama Song’

‘Speed Of Life’

‘Be My Wife’

‘Fame’

‘Afraid’

‘5.15 The Angels Have Gone’

‘I’ve Been Waiting For You’

‘I’m Afraid Of Americans’

‘Fashion’

‘Rebel Rebel’

‘Heroes’

‘Heathen (The Rays)’

Encore:

‘Sunday’

‘I Would Be Your Slave’

‘Moonage Daydream’

‘Changes’

‘Starman’

‘A New Career In A New Town’

‘Everyone Says Hi’

‘The Bewlay Brothers’

‘Sound & Vision’

‘Hallo Spaceboy’

‘Let’s Dance’

‘Ziggy Stardust’

You May Also Like

Advertisement

TRENDING

Advertisement

More Stories