Last Night On Staten Island

DB and the band often enjoy a game of sardines just before showtime. Pic by Mark Plati.

Staten is my island...

Guitarist Earl Slick enjoyed a triumphant homecoming show at The Music Hall, Snug Harbor, Staten Island, last night...and he dragged along David Bowie and the rest of the band for company on what was the first show of the so called 'New York Marathon' run of dates.

Apparently a few characters from Earl's past turned up for the show, prompting David to observe: "We're playing in front of all Earl's family and friends. Joey Bag-of-Doughnuts, Carmine, Rat..."

Slicky's local rag, The Staten Island Advance, has posted a couple of online pieces. One pre and one post-show item, both written by Dean Balsamini.

"We have a particularly pretty audience here tonight...And I mean that."
DB on the rabble above. Picture by Mark Plati. Click for bigger version.

BowieNetter, Enemy of Silence, hit upon the marvellous idea of producing runner's competition numbers (whatever they're called) for the audience. I've not yet asked David what he made of the sight that greeted him when he took to the stage, but what would you think if you were confronted by the crazed lunatics above? };-)

DB will be onstage at St. Anne's Warehouse, Brooklyn about now, so for those of you that can't be there, please try and find some comfort in these brilliant pictures from Mark Plati, WireImage.com, and BowieNetters happyland and desert.firefly.

"Sailor over Staten Island..." © Theo Wargo/WireImage.com

Here's last night's set list:

Life On Mars?
Ashes To Ashes
Breaking Glass
Cactus
China Girl
Slip Away
Fame
I?m Afraid of Americans
Speed Of Life
5:15 The Angels Have Gone
I?ve Been Waiting For You
Survive
Rebel Rebel
"Heroes"
Heathen (The Rays)
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Sunday
I Would Be Your Slave
Afraid
Everyone Says 'Hi'
Hallo Spaceboy
Let's Dance
Ziggy Stardust

Above is a rather steamy shot of David and Gail taken by BowieNetter desert.firefly, and below BowieNetter, happyland, has kindly given us permission to use a few of his superb shots, more of which you can find on the MBs. Please do feel free to send me any more pictures from the remaining shows if you think we can use them here.

Munich Review By David Buckley

"That bloody Total Blam Blam thinks he can pass this off as
a picture from Munich just because I'm wearing the same clobber.
Well I'm off to the Hammersmith review below, where I belong!"

Mit Mir In Deinem Traum...

When I originally posted a piece about the Bowie show in Munich a couple of weeks back, (09/29/02 NEWS: PLATI PIX AND SET LIST FROM MUNICH) I hoped we'd "have something of a little more substance for you shortly." Well, being a man of my word, (stop sniggering at the back!) I now have that something of substance, a review from somebody more than qualified for the job, David Buckley.

Mr Buckley is the man responsible for the particularly good sleeve notes on the upcoming 'Best of Bowie' releases, and he is the author of many other Bowie works over the years. Anyway, here follows his piece, and while we're rounding up reviews, you can also check out a review of last week's Hammersmith show that I missed from The Independent newspaper here in the UK.

Total Blam Blam - (BowieNet News Editor)

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David Bowie Live - Olympiahalle - Munich - 29/9/02

It was perfect. I don?t know about you, but I?m often so disappointed with live performances. They either don?t play what you want to hear, or you?re permanently dying for a wee, or the tallest man in the world has decided to stand immediately in front of you, or the acoustics sound like shit. I managed to avoid all from this impressive list of would-be disasters, although I did almost piss myself when the synth line of ?Speed Of Life? came hurtling out of the speakers.

This was Bowie at his finest. From the moment he strolled onto the stage at 8.20, in what was the best suit I have ever seen, to the unforgettable ending of ?Ziggy Stardust? 150 minutes and 29 songs later, he sang brilliantly and clearly. It was the best Bowie concert I?ve ever been to.

Why? Well, because for starters the balance in the repertoire was perfect. Although totally different musically, the set list reminded me oddly of the Serious Moonlight tour, with the balance of new and old, of well-known, and esoteric. So, tonight we had a good selection of hits (no ?Under Pressure? on this tour ? hurray!), we had eight tracks from Heathen, one of my favourite Bowie albums ever, and we had the curios too. I?d never heard ?Speed Of Life? or ?New Career? live before. I adored ?Be My Wife?. I thought the bravura version of ?Alabama Song? was unstoppable, and the crash bang wallop slab of avant-garde rock that is ?Look Back In Anger? as hard-hitting as could be. Of course, having three guitarists helped fill out the sound, which, on some other tours, had (to these ears at least) lacked the power and the intricacy needed to project the disparate range of songs Bowie has recorded. There was brilliant Mike Garson too, whose playing is, quite simply, a bit mad, and Gail, who made ?Absolute Beginners? a real lovey-dovey treat.

Of course, the enthusiastic and surprisingly youthful audience lapped everything up; songs from Heathen (possibly a bigger hit here in Germany than in the UK) were given a grand reception, and the big hits greeted with abandon. The David I saw in 1990, who looked at times like he?d trade singing his pop hits for a round of root canal treatment sans anaesthetic, now seemed so pleased to be singing the re-worked ?Rebel Rebel?, a fantastic ?Sound And Vision? (probably my favourite single ? ever), an astonishing opening duo of ?Life On Mars?? and ?Ashes To Ashes?, and a floor-shuddering ?"Heroes"? and ?Ziggy Stardust?. On top of that, he looked impeccably turned out and tuned in, and on top cheery form. He informed us that he?d spent the afternoon in the ?Engländischer Park? (Englischer Garten actually David. Did you go to the Chinese Tower?), asked the front three rows their names, kept on introducing Sterling Campbell in a running joke, and was jollity itself when constantly forgetting what year he?d recorded which song.

The good-natured banter and impeccable timing took me back to ?Jazzin For Blue Jean? and Bowie?s light comedic flair, and, more recently, to the version of Bowie as stand-up comedian portrayed by Phil Cornwall on Stella Street. Sadly not available for panto this year, at one point he finished a new song with the words "Well, that was another one from Heathen. You can find all the other hits on there too - ?Space Oddity?, ?The Jean Genie?, ?Let?s Dance?" Ho ho! -how he made us laugh, - no mean feat in a culture not exactly regarded as the home of humour. As they say, a German joke is no laughing matter.

So, I have to say, I loved it. It was my first Bowie concert for five years, and the first-ever gig for my 13-year-old, Louise. She wore her Heathen T-shirt with pride to school the next day. I just hope mine still fits me after the Oktoberfest ... A night to remember.

David Buckley - September 2002

Voyeur Fan Meeting In Two Weeks

It's an invitation across the nation, a chance for folks to meet...

As you may have gathered from the flyer above, the annual Voyeur fan meeting is upon us. All the details you need are contained on the flyer, but if it's not big enough for you to glean all the information you need...here's the small print:

"Win an original Roseland Ballroom pass, a pink vinyl Slow Burn 7", a Meltdown program and many other great items in our Voyeur lottery. Entrance: Members ?5 - Non Members ?7."

Click on the flyer to take you to the Voyeur site where you can find a preview of the most recent issue of this fine publication, and no doubt, details of this forthcoming event in due course.

Fascination Catalogue Winners

(Fascination) Your soul is calling...

We now have the results for the FASCINATION catalogue competition that we set last week. (09/30/02 NEWS: FASCINATION ENDS TODAY, WIN RARE CATALOGUE AND CD) We asked you to name three Bowie CD album covers that Rex Ray has designed...this question seemed to throw a good few of you, but here are five BowieNet users that got it right:

SteeOui
keiths
lowlodgerheroes
maarten
ZigDust

And here are those three album covers that Rex designed with his usual style and wit. (many of you mentioned the single covers from 'hours...', they ain't albums I'm afraid.)

'hours...'
Bowie at the Beeb (3rd cd only)
Best of Bowie

Could the winners listed above please send their names and addresses to me at TotalBlamBlam@davidbowie.com with a subject line of "FASCINATION catalogue winner", and then Susans will send you your copy of this very collectable little beauty.

If you didn't win this time, don't despair, Rex has kindly offered more catalogues up for prizes that I'll randomly distribute to the remaining winners when the catalogues arrive.

New David Bowie Tv Biography

My life's amazing..

David has collaborated with the making of a new two hour TV biography, to be shown on The Biography Channel on A&E (USA) in November.

The programme covers the whole of his life up to and beyond the birth of Alexandria. The early teaser for the show describes the life we know and love, and has this to say about the David of today:-

Bowie continues to be on the leading edge of cultural revolutions: he's a board member of a fine arts magazine, the first musician to issue bonds, the originator of the first artist-created Internet service provider and an inspiration for fashion designers across the globe.

Highlights include interviews with his wife Iman and musicians Moby and Trent Reznor; footage of his appearance on BBC at age 17; rare family photos, film clips, and music videos from 1969 to the present.

Hopefully, we will be able to bring you more news of this show and certainly a reminder, nearer to the air dates which are:-

4th November at 9.00PM ET, and then again later that same night, which is 5th November at 1.00AM ET.

:))

!!!! Ticket Giveaways All Day Today !!!!

All day today we will be giving away pairs of tickets to the NY MARATHON shows. We have ONE (1) pair of tixx to each show in the NY AREA to give away.

So if you couldn't get tixx to one of the following shows, and you've got something to say for yourself, you could just score a free pair.

• 10.11.02 - Staten Island - Snug Harbor
• 10.12.02 - Brooklyn - St. Anne's Warehouse
• 10.16.02 - Queens - Colden Center @ Queens College
• 10.17.02 - Bronx - Jimmy's Bronx Cafe
• 10.20.02 - New York - Beacon Theater

HERE'S WHAT TO DO:Post a reply to THIS MESSAGE which states "WHY I SHOULD WIN TICKETS TO THE 'fill in show date/venue here...' SHOW"

>> POST IT HERE

NOTE: DO NOT REQUEST TICKETS if you are not certain you can and will attend the show you request. If you are in another country you should be prepared to make the voyage if you win -- otherwise please do not request tickets. You will be withholding tixx from other potential winners if you do this. Please be considerate of others.

CLICK THIS TO POST YOUR MESSAGE

!!! More Tickets !!!

As you may or may not already know David will be appearing as the musical guest TOMORROW on LIVE with Regis and Kelly [ 10/08/02 NEWS: DB ON 'LIVE WITH REGIS AND KELLY' AND 'THE EARLY SHOW' ].

We've just gotten 4 SPOTS to this show and want to offer them up to you Bnetters. But the show is tomorrow, so you'll have to scramble to get your entry in before 5 PM EST TODAY.

That being said -- WHY DO YOU WANT TO GO TO THE REGIS SHOW?

Reply creatively TO THIS POST for your shot at one of the spots.
GOOD LUCK.

Kristeen Young At Cbgb's Tonight - Win Her Album Now!

The very colourful Kristeen Young.

Oh she's a tongue twisting storm, come to the show tonight...

Regular visitors to these pages will be more than aware of the very talented Kristeen Young. But, just in case your are in any doubt as to quite what she is, this excerpt from her most recent press release explains all:

"Plucked from the thick-brown-rumblin'n'rollin'-Tina Turner-Chuck Berry-Muddy Waters of the Mississippi River arrives ROCK singer/songwriter, KRISTEEN YOUNG. This native St. Louisan re-introduces ADVENTUROUS rock as only a 1/2 Apache/bible-fed/orphaned child/now non-teen/mid-westerner can. It's from a far-off distant planet called Missouri and it's got scars.

Kristeen leads her band, KRISTEEN YOUNG & the Low Boys, with a driven, blown-out, guitar-riff piano sound that is equal parts Jerry Lee Lewis/Jimmy Page/Jello Biafra in attitude. She combines this with a Thomas Dolby meets DMX meets Bowie flavor, then, throws it into a 3 minute/verse-chorus American blender for good measure. This is definitely music from a person sitting in the middle of a continent (no boundaries). Vocally, she slides just as effortlessly through styles, wielding a 4 octave range. And, of course, her clothes could only be designed by her all 600s structure gone sliding sideways into that American artery.

Rock and Roll as an ADVENTURE...Rock and Roll as a BLOODSPORT...Isn't it time? To see it is to believe it."

Now that's cleared up, it just remains for me to tell you about the shows. Kristeen Young & the Low Boys start a residency at CBGB's tonight, here's the schedule for the whole of October:

Tuesday October 8th @ CBGB, 8:30
Thursday October 17th @ CBGB, 8:30
Tuesday October 22nd @ Luxx (in Williamsburg), 8:00
Thursday October 24th @ CBGB, 8:30
Tuesday October 29th @ CBGB, 8:30

I'm sure you are all aware that Tony Visconti, the producer of Kristeen's wonderful album, is but one of the Low Boys. While we're on the subject of the album, which has a working title of 'Breasticles', we're giving ten BowieNetters the chance to win a specail promo CDR copy of it. Apart from the obvious attraction of having a Bowie lead vocal on 'Saviour', 'Breasticles' is a great record in its own right anyway.

From the scorching opener of 'Bite Down', through the aforementioned sheer class of 'Saviour' and the impossibly catchy future hit, 'We Want More!?', to the out and out strangeness of 'Wake The Dead', 'Breasticles' is a fine record with a brilliant Tony Visconti production.

All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning a copy is tell me four artists, other than Kristeen, that Tony Visconti has produced. How easy is that!? Send your answers to me at TotalBlamBlam@davidbowie.com with a subject line of "I Want Kristeen Young". The competition will end about this time next week, and I'll announce the winners later that same day.

Db On 'live With Regis And Kelly' And 'the Early Show'

I'll come on like a regular superstar

David will be a guest on 'Live with Regis and Kelly' on Thursday 10th October. The show is syndicated which means that it airs at different times, on different stations and networks throughout the USA. You will need to check out local listings in your area for details which apply to you. You can check out 'Live with Regis and Kelly' at their website, here. Their online trailer for the show says:- "Regis and Kelly welcome a visit from superstar DAVID BOWIE."

If you would like to try for a standby ticket you are encouraged to come to the studio (corner of West 67th and Columbus Ave.) as early as 7:00AM for a standby number. After ticket holders are seated, it is first come, first served from the standby line.

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Early, before the sun

David will also be a guest on The Early Show, one of the programmes on CBS News, on Friday October 25th. There are some more details about the studios and air times on this page.

And just a reminder that David will also appear on VH1/Vogue Fashion awards on October 15th (09/20/02 NEWS: DAVID TO PLAY VH1/VOGUE FASHION AWARDS 2002), and on Late Night with Conan O'Brien on October 19th (10/02/02 NEWS: DB ON LATE NIGHT WITH CONAN O'BRIEN). Remember that Conan O'Brien airs at just after midnight, so the day you need to mark in your diary is actually October 18th.

Enjoy!

:))

George Underwood Ziggy Collection Paypal Info

Lady Stardust, Starman, Ziggy Stardust, Weird and Gilly... what a lovable bunch of characters!

Looking for information...

The e-mail address required for PayPal when ordering The Ziggy Collection, a limited set of enamel badges by George Underwood, is info@georgeunderwood.com. If you missed the original story go back a couple of days for more information about this beautiful limited edition set. (10/06/02 NEWS: GEORGE UNDERWOOD ZIGGY SET AVAILABLE NOW)

Simona Ventura Falls For David Live On Italian Tv!

Simona Ventura says 'Hi' to David Bowie.

As she hits the floor he sighs...

As you all know David Bowie appeared on the very popular Italian TV show, Quelli Che il Calcio, in Milan on Sunday afternoon, to perform a two song live set that comprised of 'Cactus' and 'Everyone Says 'Hi''. David looked cool in that red silk number (Dior, I think) that he's been wearing at recent shows, you know the one, it's the same style as the blue suit he wore at Hammersmith.

Emotions run high on Quelli Che il Calcio.

Well of course it's no surprise to any of you, that women throw themselves at David's feet, it must happen all the time. But when it's presenter Simona Ventura, (a huge star in her own right in Italy) throwing herself at David's feet on live national TV, it all becomes a bit surreal. But, apparently the Italian beauty did exactly that at the end of David's second song, as our pictures show.

In the translation programme I favour, Quelli Che il Calcio,
translates as: "Those That Soccer"! What's that all about then?

Apart from those present at the TV studio, the event was witnessed by a viewing audience of approximately seven million! I have no idea how comfortable David was with the situation, but he does look a little uneasy in these pictures. Perhaps he knows that Simona Ventura's behaviour is apparently a traditional thing that Italian women do to declare their undying love! Who said romance is dead?

"And we'd sleep, oh so close..." Susans gets her head down
under the watchful eye of DB. Picture taken by Bianca.

A short while later, and apparently unfazed by his ordeal, David kept his appointment at La Feltrinelli for what was reportedly the busiest signing session he's done yet. Another woman who ended up on the floor just for David, was BowieNetter Susans who joined the queue for the signing the night before, and slept on the pavement underneath a huge Bowie poster in a sleeping bag!

Susans was rewarded for her efforts by managing to get a moment with DB at the signing... By all accounts (ie, Susan said) he smelt lovely. How can one man handle so much love?

George Underwood Ziggy Set Available Now

The Ziggy Collection embossed silverglow tin, and the Ziggy
enamel badge. Please note, items are not in scale to each other.

I'll give my, complete attention to a very good friend of mine...

Artist and long time friend of David Bowie, George Underwood, has commissioned a beautiful set of enamel badges to commemorate the first UK and US Ziggy tours of 30 years ago. The badges are based on the original Ziggy Stardust cartoon images that George created for early promotional material. The five characters; Ziggy, Starman, Lady Stardust, and Weird and Gilly have been lovingly recreated for this special limited set of only 1,000 tins.

Here's the blurb from the official George Underwood site:

The Ziggy Collection by George Underwood
A 30th anniversary commemorative set of enamel badges

In 1972 George Underwood designed a set of cartoon images based on characters featured on David Bowie's LP Ziggy Stardust. In August that year the drawings were used in a programme for David's famous Ziggy Stardust concerts at the Rainbow Theatre in London. A sheet of colour transfers was also produced and used for promotional purposes, mainly in America. The images were widely used to promote many of David's early Ziggy shows and original printed items featuring these designs are now rare and highly collectable.."

The original Ziggy skin decals and a full-page music press ad.
Just two of many items that featured George Underwood's
Ziggy characters. Please note, items are not in scale to each other.

To commemorate the first UK and US Ziggy tours 30 years ago, George has commissioned a set of enamel badges featuring all five characters; Ziggy, Starman, Lady Stardust, and Weird and Gilly . Each character has been faithfully reproduced as a high quality enamel badge, personally overseen by George himself. The badges are carefully mounted on black foam inside a silverglow tin, its hinged lid embossed with the collection title.

This complete issue is limited to just 1,000. A booklet inside features a short history of the characters and features an individual printed number. Sets are issued from number one onwards - early orders will receive the lower issue numbers.

Go check out George's site for individual shots of each badge, and for technical and payment details. To order via PayPal you need to use info@georgeunderwood.com as the e-mail address.

Hammersmith Meet And Greet Pictures

"Looking up to me for encouragement..." DB and
Spaceface get close. Picture by Total Blam Blam..

Where the sailors all meet...

(Ooops...please forgive me...I forgot to upload this story yesterday!) Here are a few pictures from the BowieNet meet and greet at Hammersmith on Wednesday. Our two winners, Kisch and gwtmh, each bought a guest along with them to this very exclusive post-gig bash. I'm sure there have already been accounts posted on the MBs, but here's a little of what I remember.

After a little panic to find our winners, we were all escorted through a couple of well-guarded doors to a small room, with a bar at one end and a couple of sofas at the other. We had dragged Spaceface along to join our four guests, because...well, because she bloomin' well deserves it. The room was populated by other meet and greet winners, industry nobs and a few of David's friends.

"There's a bar at the end where I can meet you and your
friend..." Kisch presents David with a book of the city she
is from, Saint Petersburg. Picture by Total Blam Blam.

It was touching to see everyone affected by nerves, not just Kisch and her friend*, (who had both travelled all the way from Russia and seemed particularly nervous) but also ultra-cool characters like June (aka gwtmh) and her guest Rus, seemed to be a little agitated before David's arrival.

But sure enough, after a short wait, David breezed into the room, looking for all the world like a man who had been relaxing all day...not somebody who had just performed a very energetic set for close on three hours to a sold out Hammersmith Carling Apollo! He looked great, as you can see from my pictures, and made everyone feel as at ease as they could possibly be in such a situation.

"It's a God-awful small affair, To the girl with the mousy hair..."
Actually it wasn't a small affair for gwtmh at all... as the look of
complete terror in her eyes betrays. Picture by Total Blam Blam.

Kisch was the first to grab her moment with David, and she was determined to make the most of it. After a longer chat than most got, she gave a very appreciative DB a book about Saint Petersburg, and after leafing through it for a while, he finally made his way round the room to talk to the rest of the guests and sign various bits and pieces.

I've spoken to a few people about meeting David Bowie over the last couple of years, and it seems that most of them worry about what to say, and probably their greatest fear is that the conversation might dry up. Believe me, it won't. It won't, because David won't let it! It constantly amazes me how he still makes time for this sort of thing... particularly after having just done a show, and how he manages to appear genuinely interested in what people have to say.

"Like the video films we saw..." Film buff and generous
supplier of many Bowie competition prizes, Rus Phillips,
takes his turn with the man. Picture by Total Blam Blam..

Anyway, our winners all got some time with David, and as they were ushered out, the conveyor belt delivered more people who had been promised a moment with the main man. I hung around to get some more pictures, and chatted with the likes of George Underwood and John Cambridge...two very different characters you couldn't wish to meet. Watch this space tomorrow for some great news on George's latest project.

"I'm just looking for a friend, don't have to be a big wheel,
don't have to be the end..." DB flanked by old muckers George
Underwood and John Cambridge. Picture by Total Blam Blam.

"Press your Spaceface close to mine, love..." And yet another dream is
realised. Spaceface was pretty happy too! Picture by Total Blam Blam.

*So sorry, I've forgotten your name, Kisch's friend... But be sure to send me your name and address so I can get your Hunky Dory sleeve signed. Thanx again for the Russian 'Heathen'... Very cool of you!

More Hammersmith Pictures And Review Round-up

"Let's sway. Sway through the crowd to an empty space..."
DB wows 'em at the Carling Apollo. Picture by Total Blam Blam.

I struggle hard to take these pictures in, but...

I guess the headline says it all, so here are a few more pix I took at Hammersmith and a round-up of the online reviews, a couple of which we posted links to yesterday... but you can't have too much of a good thing. Come back around this time tomorrow for some pictures from the BowieNet Meet and Greet. Enjoy!

Hammersmith Reviews

CarlingLive

CNN

YAHOO!

Ananova

Sky

Dot Music

BBC

BBC (2nd review)

The London Evening Standard

NME

NME Photo Gallery

Most of the reviews have pictures from the show. Don't forget to check out the MBs for some great member reviews and pictures too. Meanwhile, here's a few more of my snaps...

Earl Slick...moody, mean and magnificent...the
guitar god soundchecks. Picture by Total Blam Blam.

A mildly nervous Mark Plati in pre-show coordinated shirt and hat shock
at the Hammersmith Carling Apollo. Picture by Total Blam Blam.

Jimmy King the wardrobe erm...king. Those shiny little
outfits do look familiar don't they? Picture by Total Blam Blam.

Mark and Lard (in uncoordinated suit shock) waiting sidestage
to introduce the show. Picture by Total Blam Blam.

"When blue ties were for the big guys." DB sparkles
for Hammersmith. Picture by Total Blam Blam.

"Oh you, you walk on past..." Just feel that lurve...loads more
audience shots to be posted shortly. Picture by Total Blam Blam.

David and GAD getting down and dirty with it...whatever that means. Picture by Total Blam Blam.

"The return of The Thin White Duke..." DB echoes 1976
with his swept back hair. Picture by Total Blam Blam.

"If you should fall Into my arms..." BowieNetter Celine
gets a little emotional. Picture by Total Blam Blam.

"Smiles like a reptile." Looking rather pleased with himself,
David flashes a goodbye grin. Picture by Total Blam Blam.

Mr Garson's keyboard tech ends the night with a little puppet show.
Did anybody out there notice him? Picture by Total Blam Blam.

Hope you like 'em kidz... don't forget to tune in tomorrow for the Meet and Greet pix.

Db Weekend Round-up

Jeder sagt 'Hi'

On Saturday 5th October (tomorrow), as we mentioned previously, David will perform 'Everyone Says 'Hi' on the German ZDF TV Show 'Wetten Dass' and will also give an interview. The show airs from 8.15PM until 10.30PM.

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Image: Total Blam Blam

We were so turned on

Its highly unlikely that you need to be reminded of tomorrow night's BBC Radio 2 broadcast (8.00PM), but it IS a great excuse to bring you one more of Blammo's beautiful photographs, taken on the day of the recording. If you missed the original BowieNet news item (09/18/02 NEWS: BOWIE RADIO TWO SESSION PICTURES AND REVIEWS), check it out right now, and then make sure all of your recording equipment is in top shape. This is SUBLIME!

Titled 'David Bowie Live and Exclusive' the website describes the show thus:- "Jonathan Ross introduces an intimate, exclusive performance by David Bowie, recorded at the BBC's Maida Vale Studios in London on September 18th, featuring new and classic tracks." Jonathan Ross will be playing a special teaser for this on his regular BBC Radio 2 show, tomorrow morning.

If you aren't in the UK then you can listen to BBC Radio 2 online, here. The same page also has a list of previous shows which can be listened to at your leisure, so check back after the show.

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Tutti dicono Ciao

On Sunday 6th October, David will be in Milan to record 'Everyone Says 'Hi' for the Italian TV show 'Quelli che il calcio'

He will also be at the Milanese megastore La Feltrinelli, Piazza Piemonte at 3.00PM to sign copies of 'Heathen'. Passes will be given out, directly from the store at 8.00AM on the day. No-one without a pass will be admitted to the signing. You can check out Sony Music, Italy, for details.

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Became the 'special' man..

BBC6, the BBC's digital radio and internet channel, are offering 'An Evening with David Bowie' from 6.00PM on Sunday 6th October. The website says:-

Bob Harris presents an evening dedicated to the continuing musical success of David Bowie.

The evening starts with another chance to hear David talking to Gary Crowley (09/25/02 NEWS: NEW RADIO INTERVIEW AND TOTP ON TV), and continues at 7.00PM with a repeat broadcast of the BBC Radio 2 show mentioned above. At 8.00PM there is a chance to hear the first part of the fascinating in depth db documentary 'Golden Years' which first aired in March 2000 (03/18/00 REMINDER: RADIO 2) (03/21/00 UPDATE: RADIO 2: GOLDEN YEARS) and (03/29/00 UPDATE: GOLDEN YEARS PT 3). If you enjoy reading, do check out those BowieNet News pages. There are acres of transcript done by some hapless BowieNet Member. ;-). Further instalments of Golden Years can be heard, also on BBC Radio 6 from Monday to Thursday at 9.00PM on The Evening Sequence with Tom Robinson.

You can listen to BBC6 via the internet, and on cable and satellite TV, and of course on DAB digital radio. Check out this page for listening details.

:))

"not Only Is It The Last Show"... Hammersmith Revisited

A relaxed David Bowie during yesterday's soundcheck at
Hammersmith Carling Apollo. Picture by Total Blam Blam.

We played our songs and felt the London sky...

Sorry for my tardiness in getting this report to you...Bad computer day...Grrrrr. Anyway, you've probably seen the online reviews for last night's Bowie show at Hammersmith, including: CarlingLive, CNN, BBC, The London Evening Standard, (this is a member site that has two reviews, Bowie Finds His Stardust and Looking Back In Pleasure), and the NME Photo Gallery. All of the reviews have pictures from the show. It's also worth checking out the MBs for some great member reviews and pictures from what was another truly astonishing Bowie performance.

We're using a member review here today. BowieNetter LizSK2 has kindly sent in her excellent review which we have reprinted in its entirety below. I've also included a few of the shots I took last night - They're a little bigger than usual, hope you don't mind? - I'll be posting more of these over the next couple of days. Before I leave you in LizSK2's capables, here follows the songs David played in his incredible two hours, forty minute set:

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
I?m Afraid of Americans
5:15 The Angels Have Gone
I?ve Been Waiting For You
Afraid
Fashion
Rebel Rebel
"Heroes"
Heathen (The Rays)
--------------------
Sunday
I Would Be Your Slave
Moonage Daydream
Changes
Starman
A New Career In A New Town
Everyone says 'Hi'
The Bewlay Brothers
Sound and Vision
Hallo Spaceboy
Let's Dance
Ziggy Stardust

Over to LizSK2, aka Liz Tray:

David Bowie at the Hammersmith Odeon, October 2nd, 2002 by Liz Tray

David Bowie and friends in the beautiful surrounds of the
Hammersmith Carling Apollo. Picture by Total Blam Blam.

There was a particular feeling pervading the former Hammersmith Odeon last night: privilege. The buzz, the whispers, the excitement; rarely has a performance been as easily anticipated as this one. As a veteran of only three previous Bowie concerts, this was it. The one to tell people you attended; the one to boast about.

The arrival of Bowie on stage felt like the ultimate in fevered anticipation. As Methuselah himself strolled out, sat behind his piano and launched into the familiar opening of Life on Mars we strained to catch a glimpse. And then, there he was. Outfitted in a blue silk suit, with (tied) tie, he sauntered, in that particular way of his, to centre stage as the theatre erupted. And from that moment you knew it was going to be a night like no other. That long, cold night on the concrete outside the venue last Friday was going to be worth it, as we always knew.

"If I can smile a crooked smile..." Picture by Total Blam Blam.

Before we could blink he was off - Ashes to Ashes, Look Back in Anger and the "first cowboy song of the night", Cactus followed. The set was a blur as the songs came thick and fast. I'm sure someone will have written it down but I sat in awe as David thundered through the songs that have defined and accompanied all our lives. His trademark energy puts us all to shame - how can this man, if you shall pardon the phrasing, keep it up? His boundless, ceaseless zest for all the material was astounding.

The Heathen tracks sat beautifully next to the other songs - 5.15, Slip Away, Afraid, I've Been Waiting for You took their rightful place alongside Fame, Fashion, Breaking Glass and so on. The welcome addition of Absolute Beginners was a surprise and I don't think I'm alone in being envious of the wonderful Gail who danced around the stage with David as the song ended. Not to be outdone he then uttered the famed phrase "not only is this the last show of the tour." The crowd sank to a hush then a cheer as he repeated the line he had once said many years before then he added "but this is the last show we'll ever do." then a pause for dramatic effect before adding "on the day of a fucking Tube strike!"

"Shit! I can't get back to my lyrics in time...what's the next line again kidz?
Twinkle Twinkle little what? Anybody know?" Picture by Total Blam Blam.

A cheeky stripped down version of Rebel Rebel had the crowd in paroxysms of delight and the gorgeous title track of Heathen ended the first part of the show. Everyone sat, simply stunned in submission by what we were watching and before we could catch our breath he was back again with the sublime Sunday. If the exact song order is sketchy it can only be because it was hard to centre oneself after such a night. Then came the moment I had been dreaming of for as long as I can remember. The most worn part of my Ziggy Stardust tape and my Madison Square Garden 50th birthday tape. He was actually going to do it.

"I'm an alligator." My heart jumped a hundred feet. "I'm a rock and rolling bitch for you." He did it and did it right; the first verse accompanied by the sexiest moves you've ever seen. If the gig had been 99.9% perfect until now this was the missing link. I never thought in any wild dream that I would see him perform Moonage Daydream let alone in this venue. Before (or after, still hazy on specifics) someone threw a black and silver feather boa on stage which David picked up and draped around his neck as he had once done before on this same stage - it was pure fantasy straight from all our dreams. This has been hard to write, as usually a review must have balance, the parts liked with the parts not as much. This was impossible as, genuinely, as all the moments had been just as I imagined every night before this. Now it had been made real.

"I think I left this under a seat here back in '73." DB almost
smothered by black feather boa. Picture by Total Blam Blam.

Then as if it was the most casual announcement it came: "We've only ever performed this song once before.". I think my heart actually stopped as I thought, no chance, he isn't actually going to do this song is he? A song that's, arguably, the finest song from Hunky Dory? It just wasn't possible - that we could witness only the second ever public performance of. "This one's called the Bewlay Brothers." It was like an Aladdin Sane lightning bolt to the heart. He thought no one would know it but the vast majority if the crowd knew exactly how much this one meant. It was word perfect. Can't wait to get the bootleg.

I was stunned after that; to be lucky enough to hear this song performed live was something that left me speechless. It was a wonderful blur - Everyone Says Hi, Starman, Changes, I never wanted it to end. But it must and what better way to make grown men weep than with a roof-raising rendition of Ziggy Stardust. He has so far to go, so many great moments yet to bestow on us. The night that had begun as people remembered the past ended as people looked forward to a better future.

"Ziggy plaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayed...guitaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaar."
Mr Stardust says goodbye to Hammersmith again! Pic by Total Blam Blam.

Tune in again tomorrow for loads more pictures from last night's show...and possibly more!

Check Out The New Link Pad On The News Page!!

Look!

We've updated the little pod here to make it quick and easy for you to get to 4 cool BowieNet features.

1. THE HOTLIST: Pop out the this list for quick links to the most important BowieNews items that you may not seen if you missed a day of BowieNews.

2. SUGGESTION BOX: Drop us a line, we want to hear your suggestions on how to make BowieNet better. We can't improve the site if we don't know what you want. Speak up an you'll be heard.

3. POSTCARDS: Perfect for any occasion, we pulled these up from the VIRUS section so its quick and easy for you to send a musical BowieCard anytime the feeling grabs you.

4. GOODIES: At long last we've got the goodies. A screensaver, some IM icons and loads of wallpapers will make your MAC or PC full-on BowieNet-ified and Heathen-ized.

"But where are all the special features that used to be in that space before??!!"

That's easy, click the 'special features archive' button below the 'link pad' and you'll see all the special features ever made avaialable here on Bnet -- oh, and if something is missing, send us a suggestion and let us know, we'll dig through the archives and post it up again.

Get Your Tickets For Us Shows Now

run run run run run run run...

What can I say apart from go get your tickets for the David Bowie New York Marathon, Philly and Boston shows now. It's all very easy to follow, simply go here and follow the easy steps.

Db On Late Night With Conan O'brien

Oh come on little baby, late night - big town

David Bowie is set to appear as a musical guest on the USA TV show Late Night with Conan O'Brien. The show airs at 12.35am on Saturday October 19th.

Ticket reservations are accepted in advance only by calling the NBC ticket office at (212) 664-3056. Advance reservations are limited to four tickets per group.

For stand-by tickets: Arrive no later than 9:00AM on the morning of the taping, under the "NBC Studios" marquee at the 49th street entrance of 30 Rockefeller Plaza. Tickets are limited to one per person. No one under the age of 16 will be admitted.

Stand-by tickets do not guarantee admission.

Enjoy!

:))