19 74 Bowie could complete the album. album. the complete could Bowie so New Olympic pay Yorkto him asking in DeFries contacted Vanilla Cherry fees. outstanding in £4,935 paid were they until sessions further from Bowie ban to threatened Studios Olympic creditors. the off fending was Schwab Corinne and flow cash no had office London The money. of out running was MainMan overspending, of years two After A England South WestLondon, Barnes Road Church 117 Studios Olympic 2 Studio L 2004). (EMI Edition CD 2 Anniversary 30th on Candidate’) Eighty-Four on based musical projected ‘Candidate’the for written was Lulu. for single follow-up potential a as it wrote Bowie progress. in still lyrics with recording acoustic basic retitled (later ‘Can Youa was Me’) Hear Right’ In ‘TakeIt of version early This Engineers Morris: Harwood/Andy Keith ‘Candidate’ Right’ ‘TakeIn It England South WestLondon, Barnes Road Church 117 Studios Olympic 2 Studio L ASTRONETTES ALBuM ASTRONETTES MONDAY 7 MONDAY 5 SATURDAY ! 1 TUESDAY 1 TUESDAY JANUARY (Ryko 1990) and (as (as and 1990) ‘Alternative(Ryko T Released on on Released RECORDING RECORDING BuSINESS . . (demo) Diamond Dogs Dogs Diamond JANuARy (demo) JANuARy Nineteen reissue that’s where where that’s And house. his in again over and over it ran and film the rented He it. of awe Lang’s Fritz Wesaw recognised. being and daylight in out going about paranoid so was He him. for thing big real a was It everything Bowie got from from got Bowie everything and album and staging whole the design of the new new the of design stage the in point reference key a as film expressionist German the used Bowie [194] Lear Amanda Hampstead. Metropolis of screening afternoon an to out Amanda birthday, To 27th his celebrate M Lear took Bowie andGeorge Underwood TUESDAY 8 TUESDAY SOCIALISING sessions dueto unpaid bills. owners' threats to banfurther Diamond Dogs Euro disco.queen of muse, andlater aspiring actress a Studios in Barnes, despite the in Studios recordedBowie mostof LEFT: Lear: model, Amanda ABOVE: Metropolis Metropolis at the Everyman Cinema in Cinema Everyman the at Diamond Dogs Dogs Diamond (1978) JANuARy Diamond Dogs Dogs Diamond and David was in was David and at Olympic at Metropolis came from, came show. . directing the whole thing. thing. whole the directing of sort and roles in them casting and people for things filmlet pastiche little creating and pretensions cinematic my to vent giving again was I role. that into fall that, do to me for easy very was it and Svengali a like somewhat felt I because this” doing stop “I’dbetter thought, I Lulu I’d done when so her, of identity my in lost get to trying was She boy. a like looking and suits funny these in up dressing started she and her, gave I that thing particular the with that after anything do to Lulu for hard was It certain niche in my career. career. my in niche certain a from me saved World’ The Sold Who Man ‘The cabaret. Berlin very was It Bowie Lulu England South WestLondon, Barnes Road Church 117 Studios Olympic L The Songs Of David Bowie Bowie David Of Songs The fedora. World’and suit a wearing Sold Man The Who performing ‘The BBC’s on appearance Lulu’s for sound the supervised and track backing the supplied Bowie Producers Ronson: Bowie/Mick David PeakNo.3 Chart 490) 2001 (Polydor UK ‘Watch Man’That Man Sold The Who ‘The World’ ASTRONETTES ALBuM ASTRONETTES LuLu LuLu FRIDAY 11 FRIDAY 11 FRIDAY ! 9 WEDNESDAY T I Reissued on on Reissued RECORDING SINGLE RELEASED SINGLE Image tocome 1005418kt (2009) (1976) Oh! You Pretty Things: You Oh! Things: Pretty JANuARy JANuARy (5:11) Top Of The Pops, TopThe Of (Castle 2006). (Castle [332] [298] (3:58)/ thrown around. around. thrown being ideas just demos, just were They good. wasn’t music the Toears, my out. them put just anybody asking without and tapes the had He time. another at to back come to abandoned we that demos just were They Geoff MacCormack Geoff Simon Kate door. next ventured she session the After 2. Studio to adjacent room a in recording was Stomu of Yamashta, who pictures for assignment on Olympic at was Simon Kate Photographer Engineer Morris: Andy Dogs’ ‘Diamond Brother’ ‘Big ‘Candidate’ WithMe’ ‘Rock’n’Roll ALBuM DOGS’ ‘DIAMOND England South WestLondon, Barnes Road Church 117 Studios Olympic 2 Studio L From Bad Homes Homes Bad From as released eventually and by Tonyretained were sessions DeFries States. the in later album solo her make would they that Ava Cherry promised He album. his finishing on concentrate to project Astronettes the shelved Bowie numbered, Olympic at days his With wistful thatday. thatday. wistful of kind was he again.”Maybe you see “I’ll said: he Then out. got I until word, a say didn’t he – journey long a quite was what on – way the all but nice, very very, was He Fulham. in flat my to limousine huge this in ride a got I so town?” into back lift a need you do “Bette, said: done, was I once and – Midler Bette like looked I believed he – ‘Bette’ me calling kept He day. that freedom absolute me gave lovely, was he And himself. accompanying just was, guitar. acoustic playing and singing hat, felt green a and coat fur synthetic green long a in room, main the in desk huge the behind now,sitting clearly David see can I ASTRONETTES ALBuM ASTRONETTES MONDAY 14 MONDAY The tapes of of Astronettes’ The tapes The He was heading to Oakley Street and Street Oakley to heading was He he good how at overwhelmed was I RECORDING (2011) [280] [410] (Golden (Golden Years1995). JANuARy (2008) People People Disc , taking , ‘We Are Dead’ The ALBuM DOGS’ ‘DIAMOND England South WestLondon, Barnes Road Church 117 Studios Olympic 2 Studio L WEDNESDAY 16 WEDNESDAY RECORDING played on. producedBowie the singleand Diamond Dogs LEFT: Lulu backinthetop 10with LEFT: Olympic. listens toBowie a ABOVE: playback at JANuARy otherwise arise”. otherwise might which problems copyright any renamed Eighty-Four Nineteen Are Coming? YouComing?’ the for tracks on Brother’ and ‘Big ‘Are You NME % of Dogs’. opening the ‘Diamond for Stewart’s Rod and “Hey!” greeting crowd the of roar the sampled Bowie before. weeks two released album live Beginners And Overtures of track opening the from sample uncredited an donated who Stewart, Ron Rod Woodand Jagger, Pete Mick Townshend,included the to Visitors ALBuM DOGS’ ‘DIAMOND England South WestLondon, Barnes Road Church 117 Studios Olympic 2 Studio L SATURDAY 26 SATURDAY 24 THURSDAY RECORDING PRESS reported that Bowie was working was Bowie that reported The 1980 Floor Show Floor 1980 The Diamond Dogs Dogs Diamond JANuARy JANuARy JANuARy Coast To Coast Coast: stage show, now stage – – Faces’ The sessions , , avoid “to WEDNESDAY 13 FEBRuARy FEBRUARY % PRESS Amstel Hotel I MIXING Amsterdam, Netherlands Good Earth Studios 9 Melrose Terrace Accompanied by Angie and Zowie, Shepherd’s Bush Bowie attended a press reception where London, England Ad Visser, host of Dutch music show Top Pop, presented Bowie with the Tony Visconti: Engineer Edison Award for the Most Popular With Olympic Studios no longer an Male Vocalist. option, Bowie had to look elsewhere Visser then poured them glasses of to finish the album and called up Schelvispekel, recalling they had drunk Tony Visconti for advice. it a few years before at Bowie’s house in London. Visser toasted the Bowies’ Tony Visconti (1982) health, explaining it was an old He said, “I’m having trouble mixing and fishermen’s drink. Bowie quipped, “It finishing this album, so why don’t we tastes like old fishermen.” get together again?” and he asked if I Bowie’s Burretti-designed outfit was could recommend a good studio. I said I inspired by Carmen, the flamenco rock was building my own, so he wanted to group who had appeared on The 1980 come and see it, and when he did, it Floor Show in October. obviously felt right, and he decided he must finish the album there. Bowie (1993) We didn’t even have chairs at that I had conjunctivitis so I made the most time, but he said it didn’t matter, and of it and dressed like a pirate. Just the next day he went to Habitat or some stopped short of the parrot. I had this place like that, and this big van showed most incredible jacket that I was up in front of my house, and out came wearing that night. It was a bottle-green tables, chairs, lounges and all that, and bolero jacket that Freddie made for me, he completely furnished my studio so and he got an artist to paint, using the that he could finish his album there. appliqué technique, this supergirl from We actually did our first day’s work, a Russian comic on the back. But I took before all the stuff arrived, sitting on a the jacket off during the press carpenter’s horse – we were sitting on conference and somebody stole it. [111] this horse mixing, and it was the following day, when everything arrived, that he % TELEVISION said, “Well, we couldn’t spend another AVRO Studio day sitting on this wooden horse.” [015] Hilversum, Netherlands TUESDAY 12 ‘TOP POP’ ‘Rebel Rebel’ ABuSINESS Since Bowie had to leave England for T Broadcast: February 18 (AVRO). tax reasons, RCA organised a short T Released on Best Of Bowie (EMI 2002). promotional tour of Holland for Bowie N AWARDS to promote ‘Rebel Rebel’, receive an That evening Bowie and Angie attended award and put the final touches on the Edison Awards ceremony in the album. Amsterdam. The Edisons – the Dutch equivalent of the Grammys – included a performance by Tony Orlando and Dawn singing their hit ‘Tie A Yellow Ribbon’. Orlando broke off singing the last verse when he spotted Bowie and LEFT AND ABOVE: With Angie Angie in the audience: “I can’t believe and Zowie at the Amstel Hotel, what I see… Is that you? Is that really Amsterdam. you? Is that David? A fantastic star, RIGHT: Downstairs at the press David Bowie.” conference, Bowie has a glass of T Schelvispekel. Broadcast: Grand Gala du Disque OVERLEAF: Angie, Zowie and (AVRO). Bowie, holding his Edison Award for the Most Popular Male Vocalist.

FRIDAY 8 MARCH MSOCIALISING Bowie attended the exhibition and book launch of Belgian artist Guy Peellaert’s FRIDAY 22 FEBRuARy FEBRuARy THURSDAY 14 MSOCIALISING Rock Dreams at The Rainbow Room in I MIXING Bowie was at The Rainbow Theatre to London. The book was concerned with Studio L Ludolf see the first of Mick Ronson’s two the iconography and mythology of rock Machineweg 8–12 concerts at the venue, backed by history and included a double portrait Hilversum, Netherlands Trevor Bolder, Mike Garson, Ritchie of Bowie and Lou Reed. Bowie and Tony Visconti completed Dharma, Mark Pritchett and a horn work on the Diamond Dogs album section. Guy Peellaert (1974) at Ludolf. Those two are as provocative as they Mick Ronson (1975) can be on stage; there are thousands of good pictures of them. I wanted a more FRIDAY 15 FEBRuARy When I did the Rainbow, I don’t know I SINGLE RELEASED if it was good or bad. I think I wanted to inside point of view. David Bowie is ‘Rebel Rebel’ (4:22)/ do it. Maybe I should have hung on for always anxious about what is going to happen. He is clever and somewhat ‘Queen Bitch’ (3:14) a while. [162] UK (RCA LPBO 5009) cold. [075] Chart Peak No.5 SATURDAY 23 FEBRuARy I CHART MARCH Bowie also featured on the cover, sitting ‘Rebel Rebel’ in a diner with the artists who Peellaert UK Top 30 Chart Entry No.6 FRIDAY 1 said “started the big movements during I ALBuM RELEASED Charting 7 weeks the last 20 years”: Elvis, Dylan, Jagger MICK RONSON and Lennon, who bought the painting. ‘SLAuGHTER ON 10TH AVENuE’ Jagger had seen the Rock Dreams THURSDAY 28 FEBRuARy UK (RCA APL1-0353) % PRESS paintings while the book was still in ‘Beat Godfather Meets Included Bowie’s ‘Growing Up And I’m production and commissioned Peellaert ABOVE: The Terry O'Neill session Guy Peellaert (2000) Glitter MainMan’ by Craig Copetas Fine’, the Bowie–Ronson composition to illustrate the cover of the next Stones produced reference images for It was only when we were at the session published in Rolling Stone. ‘Hey Ma Get Papa’ and ‘Music Is Lethal’, album, It’s Only Rock’n’Roll. Jagger later Guy Peellaert's Diamond Dogs that he finally asked me if I would do a cover paintings. for which Bowie contributed English showed the finished painting to Bowie, painting for him. The idea was so Craig Copetas had introduced William who immediately contacted Peellaert. ABOVE LEFT: Ronson's solo debut lyrics. interesting I couldn’t refuse. [007] Burroughs to Bowie and moderated the album, recorded straight after Pin MainMan promoted Ronson’s first three-way interview at Bowie’s Oakley Ups in the same studio with the album with all the fanfare expected of The night before the Rock Dreams book Street home the previous November. same personnel. Cover by Leee an established star. A coinciding UK Black Childers, as he was calling launch, Bowie took delivery of the LEFT: AVRO Studios, Hilversum. tour helped Slaughter On 10th Avenue himself by then. artwork, and Diamond Dogs was in the Bowie mimes to 'Rebel Rebel' on make its chart debut at No.9. MainMan LEFT: Guy Peellaert's cover for the record shops six months before the Top Pop. then rented one of New York’s most Rolling Stones LP It's Only Rock 'n' Stones album. expensive billboards in Times Square Roll. to advertise the album with a half-nude OVERLEAF: The same O'Neill Bowie (1976) ‘sex god’ image of Ronson. session produced reference for Mick was silly. I mean, he should never Peellaert's illustration, originally Ronson told Circus, “It was pretty have shown me anything new. I went intended for the inside gatefold weird. I thought it would be an actual over to his house and he had all these but then repurposed as a Diamond photograph, like the album cover, but it Guy Peellaert pictures around and said, Dogs promotional poster. was a painting. I looked like a doll or “What do you think of this guy?” I told Bowie had already sketched out his something.” Terry O’Neill (2013) him I thought he was incredible. So I Rock Dreams-style visual concept for the One British writer commented I had shot the dog first and then a few immediately phoned him up. Mick’s Diamond Dogs front and back gatefold later, “He’s just a figure in a publicity frames of Bowie posing in his inimitable learned now, as I’ve said. He will never cover, based on a photo of Josephine campaign, a guy who wants a crack at way – which was at ease but totally in do that again. [101] Baker, with a mutant twist that the big pot. He wasn’t ready for this big control. Then I said, “What about trying referenced the title song’s lyric, “Tod hype and he couldn’t sustain it.” [273] one with you and the dog?” Just as I Browning’s Freak he was”. started shooting, the bloody dog leapt After a breakfast meeting at SATURDAY 2 MARCH up into the air towards the camera. Peellaert’s hotel, Bowie invited him to I CHART It was quite aggressive and I was a bit come to a hired studio where Terry ‘Rebel Rebel’ taken aback, but I kept thinking: O’Neill would be shooting the cover UK Chart Peak No.5 “Thank God I’m using a wide-angle photographs of Bowie morphing into a lens.” David just sat there throughout. dog – a great dane that O’Neill had He was totally unfazed. [236] borrowed from a friend.

MID"MARCH Plans for the West End stage show of Nineteen Eighty-Four were ditched in favour of an extensive American tour with a strong theatrical element. DeFries planned to ‘unretire’ Bowie by relaunching him in America as an entertainer. In the tradition of Frank, Elvis, Judy and Liza, he would be known from then on as ‘Bowie’. Broadway designer Jules Fisher flew to London to meet Bowie, who briefed him on the concept for the Diamond Dogs stage show. Fisher then brought in Mark Ravitz to design the Hunger City set. Toni Basil (2002) Jules Fisher (1985) When I was taken to dinner, David He had an attitude, a perspective of wasn’t there but there were several what he wanted, a very clear vision of people with us. The money that was what it should feel like. When an artist being thrown around was a lot of can communicate what he really feels, money. He was just willing to do FRIDAY 22 MARCH he can leave it up to other artists to theatre, rock’n’roll, dance, story – I ALBuM RELEASED execute. For Diamond Dogs, he had an everything. [370] DANA GILLESPIE understanding of German expressionist ‘WEREN’T BORN A MAN’ art and film – he wanted that image. LEFT: Tour choreographer Toni Corinne Schwab (2001) UK (RCA APL1 0354) He said, “I see a town, like the one in Basil. I got started working with David by Included Bowie/Ronson productions ABOVE: Gillespie's debut album The Cabinet Of Dr Caligari.” [016] answering an ad in the Evening Standard ‘Andy Warhol’ and ‘Mother Don’t with cover photography by Gered in London asking for “Girl Friday Be Frightened’. ‘Backed A Loser’ was Mankowitz. 'Andy Warhol' and Mark Ravitz (1985) needed for busy office”.I had run my credited as a Bowie composition. David gave me three clues – power, 'Mother Don't Be Frightened' were produced by Bowie and finger down the page and stopped there Nuremberg and Fritz Lang’s Metropolis. Ronson in 1971 with the Hunky in totally arbitrary fashion. I needed a MONDAY 25 MARCH [016] Dory line-up, including Rick job to earn expense money for a trip my L RECORDING Wakeman. photographer friend and I were Studio 2 Jules Fisher (1995) planning to take. We had a magazine Olympic Studios Tony Visconti (2000) There were four towers that were the interested in us to do a story of two girls 117 Church Road Toni Basil taught him things like basis of the design, and they were made on a Greyhound bus tour of America, Barnes “Don’t ever waste a movement. If you of newsprint that could be torn apart, kind of Jack Kerouac On The Road style, South West London, England so Bowie could actually climb one of have to put your microphone down, do but two girls as opposed to two guys. LuLu SINGLE these towers and destroy the building it with a flourish. If you have to walk They were only willing to pay a certain ‘Can You Hear Me’ during the concert. There was also a from one side of the stage to the other, amount upfront and we thought to save bridge across here, and during the do it with great dramatic gestures. a bit more we’d get short-term jobs. David Bowie: Producer/Guitar concert the bridge lowered down to the Throw your head back before you put When I was ready to leave MainMan Tony Newman: Drums stage so that he could step off of it and your first step out.” [030] six months later, David called and sing downstage. And at the end it raised asked me why I was leaving. I explained up again. And there was a door that As Bowie made plans for his move to about this Greyhound bus tour of opened up and a cherry picker arm America, Corinne Schwab was planning America thing. He paused for a minute came forward and extended out over to move on from the London MainMan and said, “How about a limousine tour the first six rows of the audience. [354] office, where she’d been keeping of America?” I paused for about a creditors at bay. nanosecond and said something like, Angie told Bowie about Toni Basil, a “Uh, okay.” Needless to say, I don’t think choreographer working with The Toni Basil (1985) my photographer friend ever truly We talked about the Living Theatre, Lockers, an urban dance troupe with a forgave me. [389] ‘street’ sense that fitted Bowie’s we talked about mime. David had this TOP: The poster for Fritz Lang’s Diamond Dogs concept. Bowie asked idea about having ropes tied around Since Gloria Harris had moved on, Metropolis provided visual DeFries to secure her services. the necks of some dancers. When I told Bowie appointed Schwab (whom Geoff inspiration for the Hunger City set. him he could do it if he was careful he MacCormack nicknamed Coco) as his ABOVE: Mark Ravitz's design yelled at Corinne, “The Diamond Dogs model for the Hunger City set, personal assistant. She later became his number is back in!” [016] showing Bowie in position on the manager, a position she still held in bridge. 2016. APRIL MONDAY 1 >TRAVELLING PARIS – CANNES – NEW yORK L RECORDING RCA Studios That night Bowie asked Alomar to join People magazine reported: Studio 4D the Diamond Dogs tour band. Alomar L RECORDING “Noted for his metallic jumpsuits, 155 East 24th Street was equally keen to join, pending fee RCA Studios Martian spaceman costumes and gobs New York City negotiations with Bowie’s management. of eye make-up, Bowie appeared rather Studio 4D New York, USA MSOCIALISING conservatively dressed in Cannes 155 East 24th Street LuLu SINGLE In the meantime Alomar spent the recently, sporting nothing louder than New York City ‘Can You Hear Me’ evenings showing Bowie and Ava a satin-quilted suit and a borsalino hat.” New York, USA Cherry around The Apollo Theatre, one After stopping off for a couple of “Have you heard Ann Peebles?” Bowie ‘Rebel Rebel’ (US version) night featuring The Temptations and hours at the Carlton Hotel in Cannes, asked Martin Kirkup a few days later. One of Bowie’s first jobs in New York The Spinners on the same bill. Bowie and Geoff MacCormack boarded “Yeah, well Lennon’s right, ain’t he, best was to rework the new single for the SS France for New York. record in years. I mean, that’s what I’d American market, with tape effects, Carlos Alomar (1997) like to do producing Lulu – take her to more percussion and a new Here we are… in the centre of Harlem, Geoff MacCormack (2007) Memphis and get a really good band arrangement, which he retained for the at the front entrance of the theatre. We nearly missed the boat from Paris. like Willie Mitchell’s and do a whole 1974 tour. There is a line. A long line! And a stretch David fell in love with a girl on a revue album with her, which I will do. Lulu’s limousine pulls up. Out comes the show and I had a girlfriend there at the got this terrific voice, and it’s been Geoff MacCormack (2008) whitest white man imaginable with time. We had a suite in the Carlton Hotel misdirected all this time, all these years. David and I got very heavily into Latin stark red flaming hair, who proceeds to for three nights but all we managed People laugh now, but they won’t in two music. He decided we should put down walk right up to the front entrance and was to get back just in time to grab a years’ time, you see! I produced a single a new backing vocal and have some pass right through, ignoring the obvious banana, have a quick wash and get in a with her, ‘Can You Hear Me’, and that’s 11 APR congas all the way through ‘Rebel gawks, stares, gaping mouths and limo taking us back to get our boat, more the way she’s going. She’s got a Rebel’. So when we got to New York, probable profanities. [196] which we nearly missed. [021] real soul voice, she can get the feel of they ordered some congas for me and I Aretha, but it’s been so misdirected.” put a heavy conga thing all the way Bowie (2002) After Bowie heard the crew were [178] through and we sang those backing It rekindled the affection for soul and disappointed that he was not scheduled Carlos Alomar played guitar on the vocals. [280] R&B which I had in the Sixties… seeing to play on the voyage, he turned up in session – the beginning of a long it for real in the States. It was unlike the canteen with an acoustic guitar. working relationship with Bowie. I TELEVISION anything I’d seen or witnessed before. Alomar had got his start at The Apollo RCA Studios [116] Bruno Rabreau Theatre in Harlem in the vocal group Studio 4D (Le France Receptionist) (2006) We Listen My Brother (Luther Vandross, 155 East 24th Street APRIL enjoyed more than ten songs and Robin Clark and Fonzi Thornton), who WEDNESDAY 17 New York City MSOCIALISING especially ‘Space Oddity’ which was opened for bigger acts such as Sly And New York, USA Bowie, MacCormack and Cherry Vanilla the first one, and a few crew members The Family Stone in 1969. While in the attended the New York premiere of took instruments too and played with % COMMERCIAL FLMING house band, Alomar substituted for Rodin, Mis en Vie, a ballet based on the him. It was a really, really good time. ‘DIAMOND DOGS’ ALBuM James Brown’s guitarist and soon life of sculptor Auguste Rodin. Bowie He was a very ordinary person and afterwards toured with Brown for eight DeFries had appointed MainMan was impressed with the performance very friendly to us. [161] months. He also backed Chuck Berry publicist Cherry Vanilla head of the film and staging concepts, particularly in and The O’Jays. division of MainMan, part of the the final scene, ‘The Gates of Hell”, in THURSDAY 11 APRIL By 1971 he was working in the RCA strategy to sell Bowie to America on which the entire company climbed up >TRAVELLING studio house band, where he joined The television. He assigned her to produce a and descended from an ominous Bowie and MacCormack sailed into Main Ingredient. Their singer, Tony television commercial for the new 50-foot scaffolding. New York on the SS France. After signing Silvester, suggested Alomar when album. Photographer Macs McCarey Afterwards Bowie met Michael autographs for a small group of fans Bowie said he was looking for a guitarist filmed Bowie sitting at the recording Kamen, who scored the production, waiting on the dock, they checked into for the session. console at work on the new version of and invited him to join the tour as the Sherry Netherlands hotel on Fifth ‘Rebel Rebel’. Cherry Vanilla provided musical director. Avenue. the voiceover: “Diamond Dogs by Bowie, Carlos Alomar (2004) He was so thin, about 100 pounds, and I SINGLE RELEASED available on RCA Records and Tapes one of the first things I said to him was, ‘Rock’n’Roll Suicide’ (2:58)/ worldwide. Diamond Dogs by Bowie – a “Man, you look like shit. You’ve gotta ‘Quicksand’ (5:03) MainMan production.” come to my house and eat some decent UK (RCA LPBO 5021) food.” And he did. [062] Chart Peak No.22 The first record credited to ‘Bowie’ and OPPOSITE: Bowie working on the his first RCA single to miss the British 'Rebel Rebel' uS remix in RCA's Top 20 since ‘Changes’ in January 1972. New york studios. Again the money on the table – $300 FRIDAY 19 APRIL a week – was less than Slick was making MSOCIALISING playing around town in bars, but he Following Todd Rundgren’s three-hour knew it was a step up that he needed concert at Carnegie Hall, Bowie and Ava to take. In 1976 he told Melody Maker Cherry attended the 3am party thrown he took the job for the prestige of being by Rundgren’s record label Bearsville at Ronson’s successor. “I thought I could the midtown Shun Lee restaurant. use that to put on a record company “Looking casual in blue denims,” or an agency when I got my own band Melody Maker’s New York editor ABuSINESS together.” But he would have to make Chris Charlesworth reported, “he drank Carlos Alomar was set to join the tour one more concession. champagne with his companion until DeFries refused to match the $800 Ava Cherry and fled when the snapping a week Alomar was making playing with Earl Slick (1999) flashbulbs began to irritate.” [080] Before The Main Ingredient. Bowie would have I had really, really long hair when I met he left Bowie raved to Sounds magazine to do without Alomar – for the moment. David and he had it all cut off for the about his first week in New York. Michael Kamen then recommended tour because it was part of the show. “I’ve got to spend the next two Frank Madeloni, aka Earl Slick, a young [004] months here getting the tour ready for guitarist from Staten Island who had a June 14 start in Montreal. The new played in Kamen’s New York Rock Once Slick was hired, Kamen also album will be out as soon as the cover Ensemble. Initially Slick had worked suggested New York Rock Ensemble art’s okayed by RCA. It’s a painting of as a roadie for the band, jamming with Earl Slick (1999) saxophonist David Sanborn, who had me changing into a dog and they’re a them on soundchecks. I came in, went in the main studio (they played with Stevie Wonder. bit worried that its cock shows. But had already set up an amp that I had apart from the cock, everything’s Earl Slick (2000) requested) and I put the headphones APRIL all right. David was looking for a new guitarist. on. They played me a couple of tracks SATURDAY 20 I CHART “Also, I’m putting a very good new And I tell you, if you were looking for from Diamond Dogs, took the guitars ‘Rock’n’Roll Suicide’ band together. There’ll be three people this type of gig, you’d never find it. out of the mix, told me what key it was UK Top 30 Chart Entry from the Diamond Dogs album, Mike Something like this has to fall on your in and told me to play…! He then came Charting 7 weeks Garson on piano again, Herbie Flowers head. But one day Michael comes to me into the studio with a guitar, we started on bass – yeah, I managed to persuade and says, “You’ll never guess who’s talking, he plugged the guitar into an % PRESS Herbie to tour with me, and you know interested in your playing.” [418] amp and we jammed around for a little NME reported the completion of Jules he’s got to be the best bassist in the while and that was it. Corinne said that Fisher’s elaborate Hunger City set. country – and there’s Tony Newman, Slick turned up with his guitar at the they would call me in a week, because who used to drum in the old Jeff Beck RCA studios to audition, and found they had other people to listen to. I got TUESDAY 23 APRIL Group. there was no band – just Bowie and an a phone call the next morning. Then I In Venice California, performance artist “And I’ve found a really incredible engineer behind the console in the shot up to the hotel, we talked and that Chris Burden was crucified on the roof black guy called Carlos, just Carlos! darkened control room. was it. [004] of a Volkswagen, which was then And there’s another black guy I want wheeled out, revved for two minutes to get to play guitar in the band. I want and wheeled back in. In 1977 Bowie a really funky sound. I’ve been going referenced the performance in ‘Joe The down to the Apollo in Harlem. Most Lion’ – “Tell you who you are if you nail New Yorkers seem scared to go there if me to my car.” they’re white, but the music’s incredible. I saw The Temptations and ABOVE: Guitarist Frank Madeloni, The Spinners together on the same bill better known as Earl Slick. there, and next week it’s Marvin Gaye, LEFT: With Ava Cherry at Todd incredible! I mean I love that kind of Rundgren's after-show party at thing!” [178] Shun Lee restaurant, New york. OPPOSITE TOP: Bowie and Geoff MacCormack (back, left) arriving at the party. OPPOSITE BOTTOM: Sharing a table with journalist Chris Charlesworth, as the snapping flashbulbs begin to irritate. “If you were looking for this type of gig, you’d never find it...”

Earl Slick David Bowie: Writer/Arranger/ ABOVE: The first CD issue of SELECTED REISSUES WEDNESDAY 24 APRIL Producer, except ‘Rock’n’Roll With Me’ Diamond Dogs (1984 German T CD (RCA 1984). I ALBuM RELEASED (Bowie: Words. Bowie/Peace: Music) RCA pressing), showing the ‘DIAMOND DOGS’ T CD (remastered with bonus tracks) Keith Harwood: Engineer censored version of Guy UK (RCA APL1-0576) Peellaert's artwork with the (Ryko 1990). David Bowie/Tony Visconti: 1. ‘Dodo’ (2:53) ABOVE: Bryan Ferry holds court (1974) US (CPL1-0576) canine genitalia airbrushed out. Chris Charlesworth FRIDAY 7 JuNE Mixers Tracks 1–5 Side One/ at the Roxy Music party in New UK Chart Peak No.1 The offending parts were 2. ‘Candidate’ (5:09) MAY Roxy’s image has attracted a clique #LIVE Tracks 3–5 Side Two york, with Amanda Lear, Bowie US Chart Peak No.5 restored for the Ryko 1990 T following of film stars, artists and CD (remastered) (EMI 1999). I SINGLE RELEASED and Shaun Cassidy. SHOW CANCELLED David Bowie/Keith Harwood: reissue and subsequent editions. general Warhol-type personalities SIDE ONE T CD 30th Anniversary 2 CD Edition ‘Rebel Rebel’ (2:58) (US remix)/ Mixers Track 6 Side One/ and they turned up in droves for the Bowie was forced to cancel a surprise 1. ‘Future Legend’ (1:00) The inside gatefold was originally to (remastered with bonus tracks) ‘Lady Grinning Soul’ (3:19) Tracks 1–2 Side Two after-show party. [081] warm-up gig in a small club upstate in 2. ‘Diamond Dogs’ (5:50) be a second painting Peellaert had US & Canada (RCA APBO-0287) JUNE Tony Visconti: ‘1984’ Strings Arranger (EMI 2004). Connecticut. He had planned to perform 3. ‘Sweet Thing’ (3:29) made based on Terry O’Neill’s leaping 1. ‘1984/Dodo’ (5:27) Mexico (RCA SP-4049) David Bowie: Vocals/Guitar/ Lisa Robinson (1976) under an assumed name, only revealing 4. ‘Candidate’ (2:39) Great Dane photo. When it was 2. ‘Rebel Rebel’ (US single version) (2.58) US Chart Peak No.64 SATURDAY 1 Saxophones/Moog/Mellotron I CHART The crowd was like an issue of Interview his identity as he came on stage. Not 5. ‘Sweet Thing (Reprise)’ (2:32) repurposed as a promotional poster, 3. ‘Dodo’ (2:53) This new version, remixed in April for come to life. For Bryan, who had even the club owner was told who was 6. ‘Rebel Rebel’ (4:21) Mike Garson: Keyboards ‘Rebel Rebel’ (reworked) Leee Childers was asked to make a 4. ‘Growin’ Up’ (Springsteen) (3:23) the American market, was later Herbie Flowers: Bass US Chart Entry No.85 initially been an artist and probably performing and had to be persuaded to photomontage of Hunger City – the 5. ‘Alternative Candidate’ (demo) (5:09) SIDE TWO withdrawn and replaced by the original semi-worshipped Andy Warhol in his take the booking. With the pressures of Tony Newman/Aynsley Dunbar: Drums album’s dystopian setting. 1. ‘Rock’n’Roll With Me’ (3:54) 6. ‘Diamond Dogs’ UK single mix. rehearsal, Bowie reluctantly called it off. Alan Parker: Guitar SUNDAY 2 JuNE younger days, it must have been 2. ‘We Are The Dead’ (4:58) (K-Tel Best Of Bowie edit) (4:41) T Reissued on MSOCIALISING satisfying. [254] 3. ‘1984’ (3:27) AGI: Design Leee Childers (1985) 7. ‘Candidate’ (intimacy mix) (2:58) Sound + Vision (Ryko 1989)/ Roxy Music received a standing SATURDAY 8 JuNE 4. ‘Big Brother’ (3:25) Guy Peellaert: Cover Artist I don’t think David ever thought of 8. ‘Rebel Rebel’ (2003 version) (3:09) I Best Of 1969/1974 (EMI 1997)/ ovation for their New York debut at CHART 5. ‘Chant Of The Ever Circling Leee Black Childers: me as a photographer. I don’t think T CD (mini LP replica) Diamond Dogs 30th Anniversary the Academy of Music, part of their ‘DIAMOND DOGS’ Skeletal Family’ (1:48) Photographer (inside) it was even his idea to use me on (Toshiba EMI 2007). 2 CD Edition (EMI 2004). East Coast mini-tour headlining in Album Top 20 Chart Entry Recorded at Olympic Studios Diamond Dogs; it was Tony DeFries smaller venues. Charting 14 weeks South West London, England/ trying to save money. [043] SATURDAY 11 Artist Larry Rivers threw an Island Studios, London, England/ Record Mirror reported Bowie’s plan to after-show party for them at his East Studio L Ludolf, Hilversum, produce Octobriana, a feature film based Village loft studio, which Bowie Netherlands on the Russian strip cartoon character attended with Roxy Music cover star with Amanda Lear in the title role. ‘DIAMOND DOGS’ TOuR Ava Cherry (2010) Tony DeFries: Executive Producer My dad was a musician in the Forties Tony Zanetta: Producer [in Chicago] – black guys used to wear David Bowie: Vocals baggy pants and they called them Gousters. I told David once, “My dad Mike Garson: Piano/Mellotron has got a couple of pairs of ties and Earl Slick: Lead Guitar suits.” He was, “Really? Where? Can you Herbie Flowers: Bass Guitar SATURDAY 8 ! bring some over?” So I ended up Tony Newman: Drums MONDAY 10 JuNE bringing over a couple of my dad’s silk L REHEARSING Pablo Rosario: Percussion ties and a pair of Gouster pants that Capitol Theatre David Sanborn: Alto Saxophone/Flute had suspenders [braces] on them. [045] Port Chester Richard Grando: After this, Porsche brakes were installed New York, USA Baritone Saxophone/Flute in the bridge to control its descent. FRIDAY 14 JuNE # Although the Hunger City set was “A Porsche brake?” Bowie asked the Michael Kamen: Musical Director/ LIVE complete, many technical issues had engineer. “Isn’t that how James Dean Electric Piano/Moog/Oboe Montreal Forum to be resolved before the tour could died?” Warren Peace/Gui Andrisano: Dog Montreal, Quebec, Canada begin. The cherry picker used in David Bowie: Direction/ Jules Fisher attended the first few dates ‘Space Oddity’ was playing up, the Nick Russyian (1985) Mime Improvisation to ensure that stage equipment worked sound was distorted and the wiring was The technical problems were never Toni Basil: Co-direction properly. After 36 hours the Hunger City overloaded to the point of melting. resolved before we left Port Chester. Jules Fisher: Production Superviser stage preparation was complete, David was in great danger physically, Mark Ravitz: Set Designer although the bridge remained Tony Visconti (2000) and could have gotten electrocuted Jules Fisher: Lighting Designer stationary as the hydraulics failed I was there the night when the cherry or killed. [016] Showco: Sound again. picker got stuck during ‘Space Oddity’, Freddie Burretti: Costumes and David had to crawl back down JuNE Colin Davies (Disc) WEDNESDAY 12 Design Associates: Set Construction the pole. The fans were trying to grab >TRAVELLING The Forum is a huge stadium normally Tom Fields Associates: Lighting his bottom and his clothes, and he NEW yORK – MONTREAL used for ice-hockey games and its Fran Pillersdorf: Production made it look like it was part of the act! Three trailer trucks, specially extended acoustics are worse than the Albert Hall’s. Co-ordinator [030] in length to contain theenormous set Even so, Bowie received a 20-minute Patrick Gibbons: Tour Co-ordinator and stage equipment, left the Capitol standing ovation. His new act is far more On the first day of rehearsals with Theatre for Montreal. Eric Barrett: Tour Manager than a collection of songs – it’s an the set, the hydraulics controlling the Bowie, Corinne Schwab, Stuart George Nick Russyian: Production Stage elaborate and brilliantly staged show. bridge failed and it crashed to the and driver Jim James left the Sherry Manager [109] ground with Bowie on it. Netherlands Hotel to begin the Stuart George: Security ‘limousine tour of America’ Bowie had Jac Colello: Hairstylist/Wardrobe The Montreal Star Toni Basil (1985) suggested to Schwab (and shown in the Corinne Schwab: David Bowie’s The whole set-up was an immaculately I’ve never met anyone who could Cracked Actor documentary), starting Personal Assistant contrived display of staging. And it was think so fast on his feet. As the bridge with a nine-hour drive to Montreal for Creative Management Associates: all for nothing, because Bowie is one of was falling, he calculated precisely the opening concert. David Bowie’s Agents the most undynamic performers on stage when it would hit, jumping into the today. He strikes poses, and opens his air just before the crash to avoid the THE SuIT mouth and emits bland sounds. shock. [016] Freddie Burretti designed the pale blue suit, red braces, knitted blue and I SINGLE RELEASED gold jumper, gold key chain and red ‘Diamond Dogs’ (6:03)/ Is there an image ‘Holy Holy’ (2:16) OPPOSITE: universal shoes. that relates better to Amphitheatre, Los Angeles. UK & Europe (RCA APBO 0293) the dates here? Eg: Bowie (1976) Chart Peak No.21 The Montreal I had been living in New York for The first release of ‘Holy Holy’ some time and I was wearing a lot of show? recorded during the November 1971 Puerto Rican clothing. [356] Ziggy Stardust sessions.

“Bowie received a 20-minute standing ovation...”

Colin Davies SATURDAY 15 JuNE MONDAY 17 JuNE SATURDAY 22 JuNE MONDAY 24 JuNE #LIVE #LIVE #LIVE #LIVE Civic Centre War Memorial Auditorium Ford Auditorium Hara Arena Ottawa Rochester Detroit Dayton Ontario, Canada New York, USA Michigan, USA Ohio, USA Bowie received a standing ovation but SHOW CANCELLED TUESDAY 18 JuNE TUESDAY 25 JuNE refused to return for an encore. # # Following the announcement “David LIVE Leee Childers (1974) LIVE Bowie has left the building”, a chair- Public Auditorium Someone had unwisely booked Bowie Civic Theatre throwing spree broke out on the arena Cleveland into the Ford Auditorium, a small, Akron floor. Ohio, USA beautifully equipped theatre with only Ohio, USA Bowie’s return to Cleveland left a one drawback. That same afternoon Replaced cancelled show at SUNDAY 16 JuNE big impression on Jerry Casale from they were having a high school Cincinnati Gardens, Ohio. #LIVE nearby Akron. commencement. O’Keefe Centre After the commencement the Bowie WEDNESDAY 26 Toronto, Ontario, Canada Jerry Casale (Devo) (2007) crew would have about three hours to THURSDAY 27 JuNE 2 SHOWS At the start, an eight-foot diamond set up a set that takes twelve hours to #LIVE descended to the floor of the stage. build. Impossible. [089] Syria Mosque Angie was at the first few shows with The front opened forward and Bowie Pittsburgh Dana Gillespie and Zowie, who took his jumped out wearing a Kabuki outfit, I CHART Pennsylvania, USA seat at the front of the stage, telling pulling dance moves reminiscent ‘Diamond Dogs’ everyone, “I’m going to see daddy earn of Broadway. I’d never seen anything UK Top 30 Chart Entry FRIDAY 28 JuNE dinner.” as spectacular before. It was hypnotic, Charting 6 weeks #LIVE Despite suffering from laryngitis, weird and fantastic. I lost count of the Civic Center Bowie impressed the rock writers number of set changes and dance SUNDAY 23 JuNE Charleston DeFries had flown in. routines. It was seamless – an incredible #LIVE South Carolina, USA Lisa Robinson (NME) fusion of rock music energy, theatrics Cobo Hall Diamond Dogs is a great show. It would and disturbing asexual innuendos. The Detroit SATURDAY 29 JuNE be better if some of the unnecessary show solidified right then and there Michigan, USA #LIVE theatrical bits were eliminated. Bowie what I wanted to do with Devo. We’d Municipal Auditorium alone is theatre enough sometimes. spent way too much time smoking pot Leee Childers (1974) Nashville The sets are fine, the sound and the talking about ideas and doing nothing The set-up had gone beautifully and Tennessee, USA lights are superb, the band is first rate. [253] about it.Here was someone who’d taken everything would be in perfect working Paul and Linda McCartney were in the time to do it for real. [078] order. The lights were wonderful. Lenny Kaye (Disc) town and came to the concert. Bowie’s voice was in fine form. I have The audience has become a spectator, Linda McCartney photographed Bowie JuNE rarely seen a rock show so effective watching with near-stunned attention. WEDNESDAY 19 in his dressing room. #LIVE as that night. Everything went exactly At an ordinary concert they would be Record Mirror reported that Bowie Public Auditorium as planned and the fans showed their asked to participate, to clap their hands, hoped to return to Britain in December Cleveland appreciation wildly. [089] to rise and boogie in place. There is none for five consecutive concerts at Ohio, USA of that here; this is theatre in the Wembley. Ray Bennett (Windsor Star) traditional sense. [171] THURSDAY 20 JuNE English glitter-rock star David Bowie’s SUNDAY 30 JuNE #LIVE Sunday night show at Cobo Hall was his Gordon Fletcher (Rolling Stone) #LIVE Sports Arena most theatrically ambitious Detroit The stage show Bowie has put Mid-South Coliseum Toledo concert so far but the least satisfying together for this tour is intelligent, Memphis Ohio, USA musically. Backed by a raucous and creative and entertaining. ‘TheaTour’ Tennessee, USA is what he calls it and it carries visual With temperatures reaching 130 unimaginative new band, Bowie churned effects several steps beyond their degrees in the arena, Bowie was given out many songs from his most popular heretofore supportive role at a rock oxygen after collapsing from heat albums and a couple from his new one, concert. In his wake Bowie left 3,500 exhaustion. Diamond Dogs, but his mind appeared people marvelling at the professionalism to be more on showmanship than singing and his vocal performance lacked the of a show that transcended rock’n’roll. [124] FRIDAY 21 JuNE M depth and clarity he’s displayed in The success of the first dates of the SOCIALISING the past. OPPOSITE: Municipal tour helped to put Diamond Dogs at Bowie spent the evening at a small nightclub operated by Sixties activist Auditorium, Nashville (top left) the top of the Canadian album charts and Mid-South Coliseum, John Sinclair in a downtown Detroit for two weeks in July. Memphis. hotel. Flowers went to Bowie’s dressing room to ask DeFries what the band JULY would be paid. DeFries told him, “You’ll WEDNESDAY 3 JuLy MONDAY 8 ! get the $70 union rate for a live album.” #LIVE MONDAY 1 SATURDAY 13 JuLy Flowers demanded they receive $5,000 Seminole Jai-Alai Fronton #LIVE #LIVE each. DeFries retorted, “You’ll bankrupt Casselberry Fox Theatre Tower Theatre us! We’ll have to cancel the tour!” Florida, USA Atlanta Philadelphia Flowers stood firm. “We want the Georgia, USA Pennsylvania, USA money now or we won’t go on the stage THURSDAY 4 JuLy tonight.” #LIVE Tony DeFries decided that a live album TUESDAY 2 JuLy Bowie kicked a chair across the room Exhibition Hall would serve as a contract filler and help #LIVE and shouted at him, “I’ve bloody well Jacksonville to offset the huge cost of the tour (as Curtis Hixon Hall got to go on in ten minutes. I don’t need Florida, USA well as publicise it), and organised to Tampa record the Tower dates. With Tony this shit!” Stuart George later denied Florida, USA SHOW CANCELLED Visconti unable to supervise the claims that Bowie threw a chair at “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. >TRAVELLING recordings, the job fell to engineer Flowers. The concert you’re going to see tonight ORLANDO – HAMLET – Keith Harwood, who had the road crew is not the show we had planned for you. NORTH CAROLINA – CHARLOTTE rig the stage with recording equipment. Stuart George (1986) Due to an unfortunate road accident, Bowie, Schwab and Stuart George took He kicked the chair and it flew half of our stage scenery, costumes, the 12-hour journey by rail from Tony Visconti (1976) backwards. It wasn’t directed at any lighting equipment is in a local swamp Orlando to Hamlet, North Carolina and Recording it live, David had to have person. David wouldn’t actually get 15 miles north of here. There was talk of on to Charlotte. eight microphones all around the set physical with anybody. Verbally he cancelling tonight’s performance but because he’d be singing ‘Ground could be very cutting but bodily, no. David Bowie would not hear of it and FRIDAY 5 JuLy Control to Major Tom’ on top of this [013] insisted we go on in the remaining half #LIVE cherry picker seat. He’d be about six condition. So, in a few minutes, we’ll go Park Center rows out over the audience and he’d be Flowers told them, “That’ll cost you a on with the concert – thank you.” Charlotte singing into a telephone handpiece. bonus for the stage crew.” DeFries wrote A bee had flown into the cabin of North Carolina, USA That was the microphone that out the cheques (which later bounced) the truck carrying the massive set and recorded his vocal on that. [332] and the show went on, 30 minutes late. stung the driver. SATURDAY 6 JuLy #LIVE DeFries had neglected to tell the Herbie Flowers (1985) Leee Childers (1974) Coliseum musicians, but Herbie Flowers soon I can claim to be a genius for setting up He drove the truck into a swamp Greensboro realised what was going on when he the tension before we did the show, somewhere near Tampa, Florida. North Carolina, USA noticed the extra microphones. because when we went on stage, the Bowie went on that night on a bare He assembled them to decide how feeling of liberation in the band stage. He says it’s the best audience SUNDAY 7 JuLy much they should be paid on top of was glorious. [016] reception he’s had to date. [089] #LIVE their usual fee. Based on probable Scope Convention Center album sales figures, they calculated OPPOSITE: Tower Theatre, Bowie received a 20-minute ovation Norfolk they were entitled to $50,000 Philadelphia. Dagmar was before returning for an encore. Virginia, USA ($5,000 each). invited to photograph the concerts, some of which were being recorded for the David Live double album. Bowie later went through her shots and selected the images for the cover.

“Bowie went on that night on a bare stage. He says it’s the best audience reception he’s had to date.”

Leee Childers TUESDAY 9 JuLy TUESDAY 16 JuLy L RECORDING #LIVE Sigma Sound Studios Music Hall Philadelphia Boston Pennsylvania, USA Massachusetts, USA AVA CHERRy WEDNESDAY 17 JuLy Tony Visconti (1982) FRIDAY 19 JuLy ‘Everything That Touches You’ # ‘Give It Away’ LIVE It was a mess, and like a lot of live #LIVE ‘Sweet Thing’ Bushnell Auditorium albums. If we’d had the time, we could Madison Square Garden Hartford have salvaged it, but at least it was an New York City Ava Cherry had been waiting for Bowie Connecticut, USA honest live album, and David didn’t New York, USA to record her promised solo album since (Memorial Coliseum, replace a single note of his vocal. The January when he had shelved the Cape Cod concert cancelled) only thing we did replace was the Mick Jagger(1974) Astronettes project. Eventually DeFries backing vocals, because the backing He was very nervous, but everyone gets had Michael Kamen arrange and Tony DeFries and his wife Liz divorced. vocalists were also dancing, and they nervous in New York. [314] Lisa Robinson produce a session for her at Sigma According to his niece, “He was very were better dancers than singers, and Chris Charlesworth noted that Sound Studios, where they recorded nice until all this Bowie thing began.” added to which they were usually out nothing about the show had changed three tracks: ‘Everything That Touches L MIXING of breath by the time they got to the since Toronto, except that Bowie You’, ‘Give It Away’ and ‘Sweet Thing’. Electric Lady Studios microphone. [015] included ‘Knock On Wood’ instead of Sigma was home to the R&B empire run Greenwich Village ‘Drive-In Saturday’ and spoke to the by Thom Bell, Kenny Gamble and Leon New York City Tony Visconti (2004) audience. Huff, Philadelphia International New York, USA Geoffrey and Gui sang their original Records. PIR was red hot since the Chris Charlesworth (Melody Maker) ‘DAVID LIVE’ parts in a few hours, but we used as house rhythm section MFSB (Mother The show was, as before, more visual Working title: much of the original vocals as possible. Father Sister Brother) had scored a No.1 than musical and the Garden is really too Wham-Bam-Thank-You-Ma’m Some of the horn parts were also in May with ‘TSOP (The Sound of large a venue to attempt a concert of this re-recorded because of technical Philadelphia)’, featuring vocals by The Tony Visconti: Producer kind. It belongs in a small theatre. [082] difficulties. [328] Three Degrees. Eddie Kramer: Engineer MSOCIALISING When Bowie dropped in to the Hoping to have the album ready for Eddie Kramer engineered the mixes Promoter Ron Delsener threw a lavish session, he was greatly impressed by release in September to coincide with the following day. after-show party at the Plaza for an the sound of the studio and was the West Coast tour, Tony DeFries had exclusive guest list of 40, including convinced that this would be the sound Tony Visconti flown over from England Tony Visconti (1982) Mick Jagger. Bette Midler arrived with of his next album. to mix the recordings for an album On the night we listened back to it, two of her Harlettes, Charlotte Crossley as quickly as possible. David invited about 60 people to the and Sharon Redd. “Where’s Bowie?” Michael Kamen (1986) When they played back the tapes playback. And we mixed that album in Midler demanded. He met the guys, these fantastic black from the Tower Theatre shows, Visconti quadraphonic, because RCA demanded guys. Something really fundamental realised that the microphones had been it, although they never released it in Charlotte Crossley (1977) shifted in him. [013] set up incorrectly for recording. The quad. So we sat with about 60 people After a while I noticed Bette was instruments were not isolated properly, between four enormous speakers in missing, so I went to look for her. Despite having said in 1972, “I’m never making it more difficult to mix. a studio, and everyone was saying how I heard some commotion in a walk-in gonna try and play black music ’cos I’m fantastic it was, except David and I, who closet. I walked in and saw her smoking white. Singularly white!” [212], Bowie was Tony Visconti (1974) were the only people present with big a joint with David and Mick. I freaked now convinced that this would be the I missed the recording of the frowns on our faces. We looked at each out. They asked me to join them but I sound of his next album. Tony Visconti Philadelphia concerts by a day because other, and we were just cringing. [015] said no, thank you. It was too heavy in told Circus Raves, “He’s been working to of transportation problems. I wasn’t as there. [288] put together an R&B sound for years. happy with the basic tracks that I had Every British musician has a hidden to work with as I might have been. The desire to be black.” [272] most important thing in recording a live album is to keep the instruments as SUNDAY 14 JuLy acoustically separate as possible. A rule #LIVE of thumb is to maintain the level of Veterans Memorial Coliseum instruments like the bass drum New Haven throughout the set. Although Keith Connecticut, USA Harwood is a good engineer, the levels he set for recording Bowie live were a MONDAY 15 JuLy bit inconsistent, and it took ages to #LIVE clean up the master. We had that Palace Theater trouble on ‘Diamond Dogs’ where the Waterbury bass drum and the bass guitar weren’t OPPOSITE: 'Cracked Actor' and Connecticut, USA distinguishable enough from each 'Panic In Detroit", Madison other. [271] Square Garden, New york. SUNDAY 11 ! SATURDAY 20 JuLy THURSDAY 22 AuGuST #LIVE L RECORDING Madison Square Garden Studio A North New York City Sigma Sound Studios New York, USA SATURDAY 27 JuLy Philadelphia The New York concerts were videoed for MSOCIALISING Pennsylvania, USA MainMan by John Dove for Bowie to Madison Square Garden ‘yOuNG AMERICANS’ ALBuM review later. Bowie had become New York City ‘The Young American’ obsessed with video, so Dove taught New York, USA ‘Shilling The Rubes’ him how to shoot, edit and apply effects JACKSON 5 ‘Lazer’ and arranged for Bowie to take lessons OHIO PLAyERS ‘After Today’ (version 1/fast tempo) in film theory and history. Bowie watched from the wings as the ‘I’m Only Dancing’ (later retitled Soon his hotel rooms became mini- support act Ohio Players took the stage. ‘John, I’m Only Dancing (Again)’) studios, crammed with video recorders, Ava Cherry had turned him onto the ‘Never No Turnin’ Back’ lights, video cameras and television AUGUST group – then riding high on recent hits (version 1/later re-recorded as ‘Right’) monitors as he constructed and filmed ‘Funky Worm’ and ‘Jive Turkey’ – and MONDAY 5 ‘Somebody Up There Likes Me’ miniature sets for his planned theatrical ‘Who Can I Be Now?’ Bowie had added their 1968 song I SINGLE RELEASED projects. ‘Come Back My Baby’ ‘Here Today And Gone Tomorrow’ to his ‘1984’ (3:21)/ (later retitled ‘It’s Gonna Be Me’) With the first half of the tour over, set. ‘Queen Bitch’ (3:14) ‘Take It In, Right’ Bowie prepared to record his next Circus Raves writer Joe Bivona noted US (RCA PB-10026) album at Sigma Sound in Philadelphia. the show’s effect on Bowie: “At the (version 1/later re-recorded as He booked 120 hours of recording ‘Can You Hear Me’) climax of the performance the WEDNESDAY 7 AuGuST ‘It’s Hard To Be A Saint In The City’ time in mid-August and gave Corinne syncopated strutters accomplished an % PRESS ‘Funky Music (Is A Part Of Me)’ Schwab his wish list of Philly musicians orgasm of audience participation the Disc reported that the Diamond (later rewritten as ‘Fascination’) to recruit. Bowie had wanted Sigma’s like of which their guest in the wings Dogs show “seems virtually certain to house rhythm section MFSB (Mother had seldom known to unite a rock come to Britain in the New Year”. Tony Visconti: Producer Father Sister Brother). At one stage audience. Twenty thousand voices Mike Garson told the paper that week, Carl Paruolo: Engineer Bowie announced he had secured the began to shout in unison ‘Part-tee!! “There are only a certain number of Mike Hutchinson: Tape Operator services of MFSB founder Norman Harris, Par-tee!!’ while thousands of shrieking places where it could be presented David Bowie: Vocals a guitarist/arranger/producer. In the whistles punctuated their chant.” [061] because the set requires 40 feet in Mike Garson: Piano event, only conga player Larry Washington height above the stage. At present they David Sanborn: Saxophone was available for the sessions. LATE JULY are talking of not doing a tour as such, Drummer Tony Newman went back to Willie Weeks: Bass One night Bowie and Zanetta were but putting on the show in a London session work, as did bassist Herbie Andy Newmark: Drums bemoaning MainMan’s excesses and venue for a whole week.” [115] Flowers, who later said, “If I’d done the Pablo Rosario/Larry Washington: financial woes. Bowie was finding it second half of the tour, I’d have died.” Percussion increasingly difficult to pay for anything [016] Warren Peace/Ava Cherry/ or for anyone to buy things for him, In their place Bowie was able to Diane Sumler/Antony Hinton/ yet thousands of dollars were being recruit bass guitarist Willie Weeks and ‘Luther’ Luther Vandross/Robin Clark: spent on MainMan staffers, indulgences drummer Andy Newmark, whom he’d Backing Vocals and loss-making projects. As they met at Ron Wood’s home studio. spoke, Zanetta realised that Bowie Determined to get Carlos Alomar for “When Andy and Willie came to see me assumed he was a partner in MainMan. the sessions, Bowie called him and in the studio, they were very wary,” When he explained how it really assured him that this time he would Bowie later said. “They didn’t know worked, Bowie vowed to terminate his make DeFries match his asking price. what to expect. They came in looking relationship with DeFries and MainMan. The rest of the musicians came from for silver capes and all, I imagine. the Diamond Dogs tour band. But once we started playing the songs, it worked itself out. It ended in a very, very solid friendship and a group that is going to work with me.” [143] ‘The Young American’, as it was originally called, was one of the first songs that evolved, starting off as a jam.

OPPOSITE: Madison Square Garden, New york. Tony Visconti (2002) The project had several other working Bowie (1974) I could hear the problem he had with titles during its production: Dancin’,The We let them in and played them some the sound. In those days, in America, Young American, Somebody Up There things from the album and they loved it, Carlos Alomar (2004) engineers recorded ‘dry’ and ‘flat’, Likes Me, The Gouster and One Damn Song. which was amazing. Fabulous, because It started off just as little fragments, waiting for the mix to add the T ‘Who Can I Be Now?’ and ‘It’s Gonna Be I really didn’t know what they’d think ideas and riffs that he’d bang out on the equalization, reverbs and special Me’ released on Young Americans about the change in direction. [143] piano or on his acoustic guitar, and effects. But the British often recorded (reissues) then I would work with those ideas, with the special effects right on the (Ryko 1990/EMI 2007). Matt Damsker (Rolling Stone) supplying him with signature guitar session! I was British-trained and David Bowie played the album for the ten T ‘After Today’ released on Sound + Vision lines, so he could choose, like one from was used to this sound! So I rolled up blissed-out, formerly camped-out, (Ryko 1989) column A, one from column B and so on. my sleeves and got right into it. By 2am devotees, who’d been ushered into the It was only about four hours into the we'd recorded our first official backing studio, finally, at 5am by Stuart George. FRIDAY 16 AuGuST first session. We got to the guitar track – ‘Young Americans’. [420] Bowie was an affable host as he signed I SINGLE RELEASED breakdown and we knew we’d got more autographs, apologised for the DANA GILLESPIE something. [062] The sessions continued in this way unfinished mix of the album and agreed ‘Andy Warhol’ (2:58)/ with Bowie working up song to play it a second time, at which point ‘Dizzy Heights’ (Gillespie) (3:34) Alomar’s wife Robin Clark and Luther fragments on guitar or piano, and the the party erupted into dance. Bowie took UK (RCA 2446) Vandross – who tagged along initially musicians picking up on it. Immediacy centre floor with a foxy stomp. [107] just to keep him company – came on was the order of the day and Visconti To promote her ‘new’ single (A-side the second day to help out with backing set up the studio with the baffles recorded with Bowie and Mick Ronson SATURDAY 24 AuGuST vocals. Bowie overhead them working positioned to allow eye contact in 1971), Dana Gillespie made a >TRAVELLING out parts based around the phrase between everyone and provide whistle-stop tour of Britain’s regional PHILADELPHIA – LOS ANGELES “Young Americans”. separation for microphone placement. radio stations with Angie. Euphoric from the Philadelphia On top of this, Bowie announced he T Reissued on Andy Warhol – sessions, Bowie began his three-day Luther Vandross (1987) wanted to sing live with the band. The Best Of The MainMan Years train journey to Los Angeles to I said to Robin, “What if there was a (Golden Years 1995). prepare for the seven (already sold out) phrase that went, ‘Young American, Tony Visconti (2002) Amphitheatre shows. Young American, he was the Young Because the instruments were much SATURDAY 17 AuGuST American – all right!’ Now, when ‘all louder than his voice, I had to rig up a Melody Maker reported that Eddie Jobson FRIDAY 30 AuGuST right’ comes up, jump over me and go special microphone technique, which had been approached to play on Bowie’s % PHOTO SESSION into harmony.” [302] cancelled the band but recorded his autumn American tour but had declined, ‘yOuNG AMERICANS’ voice. This required two identical saying “I'm a member of Roxy Music.” ALBuM COVER Bowie realised it was the hook the microphones placed electronically out Eric Stephen Jacobs: Photographer chorus needed and invited them both of phase. In other words, the diaphragm THURSDAY 22 AuGuST With the album considered to be to join the sessions. He seized on of one mike is pushing when the other is Throughout the sessions a group of finished, Bowie worked on ideas for the Vandross’ skill as a vocal arranger, pulling. The band’s sound is picked up devoted Philadelphian fans, dubbed sleeve design. Eric Stephen Jacobs had consulting him on every song. by the two mikes, but is out of phase the Sigma Kids, kept a nightly vigil recently shot a portrait of Bowie’s tour and consequently cancelled. David was outside Sigma Studios. choreographer Toni Basil, which appeared Carlos Alomar (1976) told to sing only into the top mike so They waited outside the Barclay Hotel on the cover of the September issue of That album was conceived and written that his voice was not cancelled. [420] on Rittenhouse Square, where Bowie After Dark magazine. For the Young in the studio. We’d be there at four in and his entourage would emerge each Americans sleeve Jacobs replicated the the morning, falling asleep virtually, One of the backing tracks recorded at evening. They took pictures of him portrait, including the hand-colouring and David would still be dashing off Sigma in August was a Vandross walking to the limo, and then quickly and airbrushed cigarette smoke trail. ideas for crazy vocal arrangements, composition, ‘Funky Music (Is A Part Of drove across town to Sigma in time to ridiculous things for ‘Right’, you know? Me)’, which Bowie revisited during the see him arrive. Sigma, Philadelphia, August 22. Crazy. [163] November sessions, rewriting some of Dagmar recalls: "I went to Sigma the lyrics and retitling the song Patti Brett (2005) Sound Studios, where Bowie was Tony Visconti arrived on the third day at ‘Fascination’. If he was already out of his limo when recording the latest songs. Found 8pm, jetlagged from London, to find the In eight days, they had recorded nine we were pulling up, we would stop our the fans waiting outside and group had already recorded rehearsals basic backing tracks for most of the cars in the middle of the street, get out joined them. To pass the time, of several tracks, including ‘The Young album, but only some of these made it and halt traffic just to say hi to him I made them write BOWIE with American’, ‘Shilling The Rubes’, The onto the finished album. The rest came again. In that time we got to be fairly their bodies on the pavement Astronettes’ ‘Lazer’ and ‘After Today’. together in November, December and friendly with everyone. We sent Carlos outside... and took pictures, of course. We just talked and had Bowie had originally asked Carl Paruolo the following January. into the studio with a Polaroid, and we fun, until the doors were opened to engineer the sessions as he’d worked got the engineer, Carl, whose window - sometime late at night, or early Bowie (1997) was behind the soundboard, to open it on most of the Philly hits at Sigma, but in the morning and everybody The original title for the Young Americans so we could hear it. [004] now he told him he wasn’t happy with was invited inside. David played album at one point was Shilling The the sound and Visconti would handle the songs for us all, we listened the recording once he arrived. Rubes, which is circus slang for taking After Bowie put in a long last night of and I just kept taking pictures..." money off people. I was advised that my finishing touches to vocals and (Bottom right) Mike Garson, Bowie stunning wit would not go down well. keyboard overdubs, he invited the and Tony Visconti (on the floor). [377] Sigma Kids into the studio. WEST COAST TOuR Earl Slick (1999) Earl Slick (2004) Luther Vandross (1987) Earl Slick: Lead Guitar But as it turned out, I was called in to It was a bit strange because the musical Bowie would always come in the room Carlos Alomar: Guitar do the tour because… Bowie couldn’t direction changed. It went Philly. At the while we were singing backgrounds and The idea had occurred to Yentob the Michael Kamen: Musical Director/ just go out and play eight songs from time I’m a 22-year-old testosterone-run I’d say, “David, listen. If I’m ruining your year before, when Bowie had described Young Americans. They needed me for fuckin’ rocker and I’m going, “Hmm, song, let me know, but check this out. himself on Russell Harty as “a collector – Electric Piano/Moog/Oboe the rock material. But when I did come this is kinda strange.” [387] We have these new vocal parts for ‘All Mike Garson: Piano/Mellotron I collect things”. back in… I was always looking over The Young Dudes’” and he’d say, “Put it SEPTEMBER David Sanborn: Alto Saxophone/Flute my shoulder, thinking they were going Bowie agreed to keep the Hunger City in tonight.” [302] Bowie (1997) Richard Grando: Baritone Bowie told DeFries, via Tony Zanetta, to fire me. But Carlos to me was the set for the Los Angeles audiences, but I’m not an original thinker. Probably Saxophone/Flute that he wanted to ditch the elaborate perfect team member… because there he stuck to his decision to shift the DeFries had wanted Ava Cherry to stay what I’m best at doing is synthesising Doug Rauch: Bass Guitar (ex-Santana) and expensive Hunger City set. DeFries were different styles that needed to focus from the theatrics to the new R&B in New York to work on her solo album, those things in society or culture Greg Errico: Drums accepted this stoically, but requested be covered. [004] feel. The set list was revamped with but Bowie insisted she join the tour. that I find rivetingly exciting and ex-Sly And The Family Stone) that it be retained for the Universal songs from the Sigma sessions: ‘Young what I end up doing is refracting those Pablo Rosario: Percussion Amphitheatre shows so that Los Angeles Carlos Alomar (1999) Americans’, ‘It’s Gonna Be Me’ and ‘John, things. [348] – a major media marketplace – could Ava Cherry/Warren Peace/ The problem was that a rock’n’roll I’m Only Dancing (Again)’ as the encore. see the extravagant show. Gui Andrisano/Luther (Luther) tour was coming face to face with an Vandross was retained to handle vocal Alan Yentob (1985) The band members stayed at the Sunset Vandross/Diane Sumler/ R&B revue. It’s an intimidating factor arrangements. He was a very eclectic singer… Marquis, nicknamed ‘The Plantation’. Anthony Hinton: Backing Vocals because you know that, sooner or later, He was a bit arty. The dressing up Bowie and his small entourage were at Andy Newmark and Willie Weeks left to one of you is out of a gig. I like Earl Luther Vandross (1982) stuff. The costumes… He was rather the Beverly Wilshire –’The Castle’ where play on George Harrison’s 1974 Slick. He played on the bottom half of I had a little group at that time and I pretentious but always adventurous. ‘the Prince’ lived. $5,000 worth of American tour. the guitar and I played on the top, so we brought two of the singers [Diane Sumler He was always trying to get security was brought in to keep the When Bowie secured Carlos Alomar never conflicted. For me to get together and Anthony Hinton] with me. It was engaged with ideas. [016] hordes of fans and freaks at bay. for the Young Americans sessions the with Earl Slick was absolutely nothing, the group that ended up being ‘Luther’ previous month, tour co-ordinator but it was extremely something for on Atlantic Records. I told Bowie I % TELEVISION Bowie liked both Yentob and the idea Pat Gibbons had called Earl Slick to say him, because I don’t think he dug any wouldn’t leave my group at home to go ‘CRACKED ACTOR’ and gave him unrestricted access as he probably wouldn’t be needed for of that. [004] on the road, so he said, “Well, bring Alan Yentob: Producer well as full control over editorial the rest of the tour either. them ‘cause I really want you.” [276] Michael Murphy/David Myers: decisions. Yentob hired a local camera Cameramen crew and spent two weeks following Bowie – backstage before a show, Pat Darrin: Sound cocooned in the limo, riding through British filmmaker Alan Yentob arrived to the streets of Hollywood and the desert ABOVE: Cracked Actor documentary document Bowie’s experiences in Alan Yentob (2013) highways – and gained a rare insight producer Alan yentob. America for BBC’s Omnibus programme. I got a phone call out of the blue from into his ambitions and fears, while the Earlier that year, Bowie had seen one Tony DeFries, the self-proclaimed RIGHT: Backing singers Luther Vandross, Anthony Hinton and bemused American media tried to make of his recent documentaries and he had emperor of the fast-expanding Bowie Geoff MacCormack with Bowie on sense of him. asked DeFries to arrange a meeting. dynasty trading under the name the Philly Dogs tour. In his suite at the Wilshire at three in MainMan. Would I be interested in the morning, Bowie literally opened up, making a film about David as he Alan Yentob (1985) pulling out a trunk full of Kansai embarked on his Diamond Dogs tour of When I started, I wanted to make costumes – Bowie has always kept North America? I met Bowie in New York a film about him called ‘The Collector’ – everything – to illustrate the evolution and he promised to make time for me to about this man who seemed to adopt of his image and demonstrating the get my film made in the midst of a other people’s gestures, presences cut-up writing method. staggeringly demanding schedule. [320] or personalities… there were lots of allusions in his records, references to movies and all sorts of things. [016]

“I wanted to make a film about him called ‘The Collector’ – about this man who seemed to adopt other people’s gestures, presences or personalities...”

Alan Yentob MONDAY 2 ! SUNDAY 8 SEPTEMBER #LIVE TUESDAY 17 ! Universal Amphitheatre Cameron Crowe (2006) MONDAY 30 SEPTEMBER Los Angeles L One of the artists I’d profiled was REHEARSING California, USA guitarist Ron Wood, then with The A promoter had cancelled seven dates Robert Hilburn reviewed the first night’s Faces, and one of the most gregarious after exorbitant demands from DeFries, show and afterwards came to the fellows on the scene. Without knowing creating a 17-day break between the Wilshire to talk about the new live he had stepped over a line, Wood concerts in Anaheim and St Paul on WEDNESDAY 11 SEPTEMBER album, but Bowie had other ideas. invited me to a private party with October 5. Bowie used the time to #LIVE reshape and rehearse the new show – a “This isn’t the new album,” Bowie told David Bowie. [102] him, “but the one after it, and the record Sports Arena stripped-down soul revue with a plain San Diego company doesn’t like me to do that. Crowe arrived with Wood, who ushered backdrop. California, USA We cut it in a week in Philadelphia and him past Stuart George and into the it can tell you more about where I am suite. Bowie (1976) now than anything I could say.” FRIDAY 13 SEPTEMBER Once I got to Los Angeles and did the #LIVE He played Hilburn some tracks from Cameron Crowe (2006) shows in the Amphitheatre there, I’d Community Center Arena the new album, tentatively named One Inside was Bowie himself, buzzing already done 30 of them and it was Tucson Damn Song. “I think it is the closest between guests, full of chaotic energy, terrible. There’s nothing more boring Arizona, USA thing I’ve ever done on record to being still wearing the stage clothes, than a stylised show, because there was very, very me. I always said that on most complete with red suspenders and I SINGLE RELEASED no spontaneity and no freedom of albums I was acting. It was a role a red newsboy’s cap. He was always ‘Knock On Wood’ movement. Everything was totally generally. And this one is the nearest to returning to the tape deck, discussing (Floyd/Cropper) (3:08)/ choreographed and it was very stiff. It actually meeting me since that very first and fussing over favourite records, ‘Panic In Detroit’ (5:51) didn’t look it if you went and saw the show once. The first time it was Space Oddity album, which was quite blasting Philadelphia soul music. [102] UK (RCA 2466) personal. I’m really excited about it.” Chart Peak No.10 probably a gas, but there’s nothing [143] much in it if you are doing it every Crowe was a fellow enthusiast and I SINGLE RELEASED Many celebrities attended the Los night. It just becomes repetition. I can’t as they talked about The Spinners and ‘Rock’n’Roll With Me’ Angeles shows, including John Denver, speak as an audience but certainly, as a the recent Young Americans sessions, (Bowie/Peace) (4:17)/ Neil Diamond and the Jackson 5, who performer, it was hard to keep it up, Bowie played him an early version of ‘Panic In Detroit’ (5:43) came with Diana Ross. Michael Jackson trekking all over the country doing the ‘Somebody Up There Likes Me’. US (RCA PB 10105) was especially intrigued with the same thing night after night. [085] choreography and afterwards invited Cameron Crowe (2006) SATURDAY 14 SEPTEMBER Bowie for dinner at the Jackson house. Yentob’s crew filmed Bowie going I had met Bowie, and now it was on to #LIVE through vocal arrangements with the next step. An interview. It was Ron Arizona Coliseum Bowie (2003) Vandross, Cherry and Robin Clark, who Wood, along with another musician I’d Phoenix Michael spent much of the evening was joining them for the Soul Tour. They interviewed, Glenn Hughes, who Arizona, USA practised the Young Americans track asking me about the production and pitched the idea to Bowie. [102] how we built the city and where the ‘Right’ as photographer Terry O’Neill MONDAY 16 SEPTEMBER ideas came from for all the different snapped away in the corner. Bowie also socialised with Marc Bolan #LIVE visuals. Elizabeth Taylor was a frequent visitor and his new girlfriend, soul singer Anaheim Convention Center I was taught a ‘backwards walk’ by at the rehearsal studio and Bowie spent Gloria Jones, who dropped in after one Anaheim Toni Basil who choreographed The much of his downtime with her. of the Amphitheatre concerts. Bolan California, USA Lockers, one of the first black street- was in America looking for a new deal According to Tony Zanetta, she called The BBC film crew captured Elizabeth dance troupes. It was basically the since Warner Brothers had dropped Bowie at the Wilshire every day when Taylor arriving at Anaheim with her Marcel Marceau walk but propelled him. His Ziggyesque album Zinc Alloy she awoke at four in the afternoon and companion Henry Wynberg. Also in backwards. It didn’t have a name at And The Hidden Riders Of Tomorrow they would chat for hours about clothes, the audience for the last Diamond Dogs that time, of course. She’d devised it had flopped, he had gained weight and make-up, hairstyles and old Hollywood. show were Elton John, Desi Arnaz, with them and taught it to me for the the English press were calling him Sally Kellerman and John Carpenter. Diamond Dogs show. ‘The Porky Pixie’. After the show, Taylor went It’s entirely possible that he copped The BBC filmed the September 5 backstage and swept into the dressing the walk fourth hand, so to speak. I concert in its entirety but only snippets room. Witnesses remarked that the two believe the nature of the show made were included in the final finished hit it off – an instant mutual admiration a big impression on him. [390] documentary: ‘Cracked Actor’, ‘Time’, that quickly became an intense but ‘Sweet Thing’, ‘Moonage Daydream’, brief friendship. Each night the rock aristocracy ‘Diamond Dogs’, ‘Rock’n’Roll Suicide’, converged on Bowie’s suite at the ‘Aladdin Sane’, ‘John, I’m Only Dancing Wilshire. At one after-show party he (Again)’. met Cameron Crowe, a journalist still in his teens when he began writing OPPOSITE: universal freelance for Rolling Stone. Amphitheatre, Los Angeles. Alan yentob's film crew shot footage of the September 5 concert for his BBC Omnibus documentary Cracked Actor. % PHOTO SESSION The shows were billed as SATURDAY 5 OCTOBER David Bowie and The Garson Band. ‘yOuNG AMERICANS’ TUESDAY 24 SEPTEMBER OCTOBER #LIVE I PROMOTION CHART David Bowie: Vocals/Guitar Civic Center THE SOuL TOuR Terry O’Neill: Photographer ‘Knock On Wood’ Mike Garson: Musical Director/ St Paul The $400,000 Hunger City set was UK Top 30 Chart Entry Keyboards Minnesota, USA At a studio in the Playboy building in Charting 6 weeks finally junked, donated (ironically) to Carlos Alomar: Rhythm Guitar Hollywood, Terry O’Neill shot a series of a public school in Philadelphia. TUESDAY 8 OCTOBER publicity photographs to accompany The new show added ‘Can You Hear Earl Slick: Lead Guitar WEDNESDAY 25 SEPTEMBER #LIVE the new Young Americans album. N Me’ and ‘Somebody Up There Likes Me’ Emir Ksasan: Bass AWARDS Indiana Convention Center The Eric Stephen Jacobs cover image and dispensed with Toni Basil and Dennis Davis: Drums Amanda Lear accepted Bowie’s award Indianapolis presented Bowie in the ‘old Hollywood’ the choreography. Pablo Rosario: Percussion for Top Male Singer at the Melody Maker Indiana, USA star tradition. Terry O’Neill’s shots Pop Poll Awards 1974 at the Global The other key player of the David Sanborn: Alto Saxophone showed off Bowie’s ‘new Hollywood’ look. Village, a club located beneath Charing Diamond Dogs show, Michael Kamen, Warren Peace/Ava Cherry/ Cross station in London. had been replaced as musical director Robin Clark/‘Luther’ Luther Vandross/ FRIDAY 20 SEPTEMBER by Mike Garson, who promptly asked Anthony Hinton/Diane Sumler: MSOCIALISING SATURDAY 28 SEPTEMBER for a pay rise. DeFries responded Backing Vocals Taylor invited Bowie to join her at Dean % PHOTO SESSION by firing him, but Bowie demanded Martin’s house on Mountain Drive, ‘PEOPLE MAGAZINE’ WITH his reinstatement. Luther Vandross (1982) Beverly Hills (pointed out by a tour bus ELIZABETH TAyLOR Bassist Doug Rauch was replaced Bowie made me go out and do an guide in Cracked Actor) for the 21st by Emir Ksasan, who had played in opening 45-minute act for him every Terry O’Neill: Photographer birthday party of Martin’s son Ricci. The Main Ingredient with Carlos night with my own material. I remember When Bowie arrived at the party, he O’Neill arranged the shoot at George Alomar. Greg Errico was replaced by the first night I went on stage and did went looking for Taylor, and found her Cukor’s Bel Air home, where Elizabeth Dennis Davis. my thing. Some people were shouting talking with Elton John, John Lennon Taylor was staying at the time. “Bowie, Bowie”. That was very and May Pang. They had come with Cukor would be directing her the Carlos Alomar (1997) disconcerting to me that night. Bowie Ringo in the hope of meeting Taylor, following year in The Blue Bird, the first I met Dennis when we were playing with said, “Please. Later for these people. whom Ringo knew. joint Soviet–American production to be Roy Ayers. When you’re a working Later for them. You go out there and shot in Russia. Taylor had asked Bowie musician in a big city like New York, you get your art together.” [276] May Pang (2005) to co-star with her and a photo session always should try to find the people you And at that same party we met David was arranged to accompany the sound best with. So I found Dennis, Bowie. We were actually introduced to announcement in the press. Emir, and the three of us were a massive Bowie by Elizabeth Taylor. [396] rhythm section… The first opportunity I Terry O’Neill (2003) got, I told David, “You’ve got to get Bowie (1999) David was two and a half hours late these guys. These guys will wipe out John was sort of: Oh, here comes for his first meeting with Liz. He arrived anyone else.” another new one. And I was sort of: dishevelled and out of it. Liz was pretty When he heard Dennis, he was like, It’s John Lennon! I don’t know what to annoyed and on the verge of leaving, “That’s it, it’s over, the door’s closed.” say. Don’t mention The Beatles; you’ll but we managed to persuade her to Emir did the same thing, but he has a look really stupid. And he said, “Hello, stay. She was thinking of asking him to different personality so he only lasted a Dave.” And I said, “I’ve got everything appear in The Blue Bird, but she went certain amount of time. That’s when you’ve made – except The Beatles.” [380] off the idea after that. [026] George Murray came in… his style and approach is more laid back. And that THIS SPREAD: Terry O'Neill became (1975) Bowie's photographer of choice Bowie rhythm section lasted up until Scary during his time in Los Angeles. That was a rotten film she wanted me to Monsters. [196] When Elizabeth Taylor fixated on do, and a rotten part. She’s finding out Bowie as a James Dean-like figure, about it now. She’s in Russia stuck out O’Neill documented the strange - there. The thing she’s in is a very dry, albeit brief - affair (above) and high French fairytale with nothing to Bowie’s new 'old Hollywood' image say. It is being directed by a wonderful (right and opposite). Bowie later director. But the whole film stinks and I told Cameron Crowe, “Dean was turned it down. [233] probably very much like me. Elizabeth Taylor told me that once. In the New York studios of WNEW-FM, Dean was calculating. He wasn’t John Lennon sat in on the afternoon careless. He was not the rebel he portrayed so successfully. He didn’t show and announced some of the want to die. But he did believe in commercials: “Tonight, at the Joint in the premise of taking yourself to the Woods, guess who’s there! It’s extremes, just to add a deeper cut Ladies’ Night! All females admitted at to one’s personality.” O'Neill also half-price. Oh, good! Well, Bowie can documented the universal get in!” Amphitheater shows (previous page) and tour rehearsals (seen in Cracked Actor, when Ava Cherry waves at him). FRIDAY 11 OCTOBER SUNDAY 13 OCTOBER TUESDAY 22 #LIVE #LIVE WEDNESDAY 23 OCTOBER Dane County Coliseum Mecca Arena #LIVE Madison Milwaukee Arie Crown Theatre Wisconsin, USA Wisconsin, USA Chicago Illinois, USA Michael Bauman TUESDAY 15 ! (The Wisconsin State Journal): SUNDAY 20 OCTOBER FRIDAY 25 OCTOBER Take away the gimmicks and the glitter, #LIVE % TELEVISION drop the overt decadence, and what Michigan Palace ‘BOWIE ’73 WITH THE SPIDERS have you got left? Boredom. Bowie Detroit FROM MARS’ WIDE WORLD: appeared before a crowd of 5,000 that Michigan, USA IN CONCERT (ABC) glittered a lot more than he did, he The broadcast version was heavily having ditched the old bisexual haircut WEDNESDAY 16 OCTOBER censored as ABC objected to the and make-up. If you like your concerts % TELEVISION references to death and suicide in bereft of any musical benefits, there Windsor the lyrics. was a lot going on. For most of the Ontario, Canada crowd however the reaction is summed % COMMERCIAL FILMING D A Pennebaker (2003) up best by comments heard while ‘DAVID LIVE’ They demanded that we beep them. heading toward the exit. To wit: CHANNEL 9 (CKLW-TV) The guy came in from ABC and went “The next time that (bleep) plays here through and told me where to beep it’ll be to an empty house.” [00] The television station derived much of its income by making commercials at a them and there were maybe 20 places. SATURDAY 12 ! fraction of what production houses But we did it on the mono version, in New York would charge. As a result which was going out on regular TUESDAY 15 OCTOBER network programming. Meanwhile we L the David Live commercial cost RECORDING had the stereo version that I’d made Star Studio MainMan $5,000 instead of $30,000. where there are no beeps. [373] 37th and National Avenue Bowie arrived for the shoot accompanied by a security squad, but Milwaukee This uncensored stereo version was Wisconsin, USA there were only a dozen fans on the lawn outside the studio. News used for the simultaneous FM radio ZIGGy STARDuST AND photographers were dispersed before broadcast. This cut included Jeff Beck’s THE SPIDERS FROM MARS they could get a shot. Management was appearance, which was removed for the SOuNDTRACK concerned that the sudden flash of a film’s 1983 release as Ziggy Stardust And MainMan had arranged for camera – unnecessary on the bright day The Spiders From Mars. DAPennebaker’s film of the Ziggy that it was – would be enough to make retirement show – then known as Bowie pack the whole thing in and Tony Visconti (2003) Bowie ’73 With The Spiders From Mars – leave. David phoned up and said, “Beck to be screened on American television Local record store workers were doesn’t want to be in the film. He with a stereo simulcast on FM radio. invited to watch the taping and, during doesn’t like his guitar solo. I can book Bowie went into the studio with a break in the studio work, joined Bowie this studio tonight, let him record his Mike Garson and Earl Slick to overdub for a snack of Kentucky Fried Chicken solo to his satisfaction. I’m sure if it some piano and guitar parts for the and Coca-Cola. works out it’ll be in the film.” I went to soundtrack, with help from Dean and the studio and he set up a guitar amp Sam Halonen and Robert Sage. and we could view and play to the film. It was CTS Studios in north London and they could lock up film and tape. Jeff played his solo and it sounded great. He played it in two parts, we edited one part into the other, he was really happy with it. The next day David phoned me, “Beck still doesn’t want to be in the film.” Jeff kind of felt out of place in the show. All the guys in the band were dressed in glam outfits and he came onstage with flared trousers and an THIS SPREAD: Detroit with Earl ordinary jacket. [373] Slick. The musicians had been hidden away behind the set for most of the tour. Bowie brought them more to fore after the LA shows. TUESDAY 29 OCTOBER WEDNESDAY 30 OCTOBER I ALBuM RELEASED #LIVE ‘DAVID LIVE’ Radio City Music Hall UK (RCA APL2-0771) New York City US (CPL2-0771) New York, USA UK Chart Peak No.2 John Rockwell (New York Times) US Chart Peak No.8 He has now dropped most of the overt SIDE ONE theatrics, written a clutch of new songs 1. ‘1984’ (3:21) and retooled his whole show. The result, 2. ‘Rebel Rebel’ (2:42) on Wednesday, was disappointing. Mr 3. ‘Moonage Daydream’ (5:10) Bowie’s theatrics last summer may have 4. ‘Sweet Thing’ (8:48) had their problems – shapelessness, SIDE TWO erratic pacing, pretension. But, at least there were some striking moments, and 1. ‘Changes’ (3:36) Can we get an image 2. ‘Suffragette City’ (3:46) everything snapped along crisply, both of this. 3. ‘Aladdin Sane’ (4:58) dramatically and musically. 4. ‘All The Young Dudes’ (4:19) On Wednesday, the proceedings led off 5. ‘Cracked Actor’ (3:29) with a lame half-hour by Mr Bowie’s band and mostly black back-up singers. When SIDE THREE the star finally appeared, he seemed to be 1. ‘Rock’n’Roll With Me’ (4:19) attempting to humanize his previous 2. ‘Watch That Man’ (4:23) space-mutant image. But he looked self- 3. ‘Knock On Wood’ (3:08) consciously uncomfortable without 4. ‘Diamond Dogs’ (6:34) routines to act out, and he was in hoarse SIDE FOUR voice indeed. The old songs were mostly 1. ‘Big Brother’ (4:11) unsuccessful, mannered and erratically Recorded live at the Tower Theatre, ABOVE: Bowie selected the cover 2. ‘The Width Of A Circle’ (8:14) distorted in phrasing. The four new songs Philadelphia with the assistance of image from Dagmar’s photos of 3. ‘The Jean Genie’ (5:19) appeared to be attempts at something a Record Plant the Philadelphia concerts. He 4. ‘Rock’n’Roll Suicide’ (4:49) famously remarked to Allan bit more conventional and direct, In a bid to get the album to the top of Jones in 1977 that “it looks as if although the sound system and Mr “It was my ecstatic pleasure and great the UK charts in its first week, David Live I've just stepped out of the grave. Bowie’s vocal state made a real judgment honour to be accompanied by some of was priced at £3.78 for two months That's actually how I felt.” of them impossible. the finest musicians I have ever worked before reverting to the usual two LP RIGHT AND OPPOSITE: Radio with. Also eternal thanx to my friends price of £4.88. City Music Hall. The tour was back and fans at the Tower for your in New york after only three wonderfulness. love on ya! Bowie 74.” Tom Nolan (Rolling Stone) months, revamped as a soul revue. Rather than serving as a welcome All songs by David Bowie except introduction to or summation of David SELECTED REISSUES ‘Rock’n’Roll With Me’ (Bowie/Peace)/ Bowie’s oeuvre, this two-record live T LP Rock Concert (abridged to ‘Knock On Wood’ (Floyd/Cropper) album lumps together the several facets one disc) (RCA 1979). Tony Visconti: Producer of his music into a thin, samey oneness. T LP At The Tower Philadelphia Tony Visconti/Edwin H Kramer: Any power these 16 originals had can (reissue of above) (RCA 1982). Mixers/Electric Lady Studios, only be guessed at from hearing these New York City, New York, USA cursory versions. The backing is one- T 2 CD (remastered with bonus tracks) Earl Slick: Guitar dimensional, mixed into a flat canvas to (Ryko/EMI 1990). highlight Bowie’s presence, and despite Herbie Flowers: Bass 1. Band intro (0:09) extended solos, the band does not 2. ‘Here Today, Gone Tomorrow’ Gui Andrisano/Warren Peace: establish an engaging identity. Bowie is (Satchell/Robinson/Webster/Harris/ Backing Vocals centre-stage all the way and the thinness Bonner/Middlebrooks/Jones) (3:32) Michael Kamen: Electric Piano/ and flaccidity of this outing are, in large 3. ‘Time’ (5:19) Moog/Oboe part, due to his often perfunctory, slurred, T 2 CD (remastered with bonus tracks Tony Newman: Drums and hurried vocals. Instead of providing and original running order restored) Pablo Rosario: Percussion for a more intimate performance, the live OCTOBER (EMI 2005). THURSDAY 31 David Sanborn: Alto Saxophone/Flute setting has only brought out Bowie’s #LIVE 1. ‘Here Today, Gone Tomorrow’ Richard Grando: Flute/ more unfortunate theatrical mannerisms; Radio City Music Hall (Satchell/Robinson/Webster/Harris/ Baritone Saxophone any magic these may have worked in New York City Bonner/Middlebrooks/Jones) (3:40) Mike Garson: Piano/Mellotron person is, on platter, only so much heavy New York, USA 2. ‘Space Oddity’ (6:27) breathing. Bowie also indulges the Keith Harwood: Live Recording 3. ‘Panic In Detroit’ (5:41) greater weakness of taking himself too Superviser 4. ‘Time’ (5:21) Showco: Live Sound seriously. When ‘Changes’ is framed like a Dagmar (uncredited): Photographer Watergate prophecy, you figure you’re hearing Bowie on the wrong night. Dick Cavett wonders what Bowie Bowie (1994) MSOCIALISING Michael Nicholson SUNDAY 3 NOVEMBER MONDAY 4 NOVEMBER TUESDAY 12 NOVEMBER is drawing with his cane. It was horrendous. I had no idea where I At the after-show party at the NOVEMBER #LIVE M I (The Boston Globe) BELOW: ‘young Americans' with SOCIALISING CHART was, I couldn’t hear the questions. To Gramercy Park Hotel, Bowie entertained ‘1984’ was the first echo of the David Sanborn, Earl Slick, Pablo Radio City Music Hall Bowie turned up at the party ‘DAVID LIVE’ FRIDAY 1 this day, I don’t know if I bothered David Johansen, Tony Visconti, Wayne outrageously staged productions of the # Rosario and Carlos Alomar. New York City after southern rock guitarist UK Chart Entry No.17 LIVE answering them, I was County and others with sturgeon and past, but it was only an echo with merely New York, USA Richard ‘Dickie’ Betts’ concert at US Chart Entry No.30 Radio City Music Hall Dom Perignon, telling them about his harsh lights played on the audience and a After a series of scathing reviews of Radio City Music Hall. New York City After the interview Bowie played a plans for the New Year. In January the stage light casting an immense shadow Wednesday’s opening night, Bowie THURSDAY 14 ! New York, USA medley of early Sixties R&B covers: new album would be released, and he of Bowie on the simple white backdrop to rallied to deliver a show that Mick WEDNESDAY 6 NOVEMBER SATURDAY 16 NOVEMBER ‘Footstomping' (The Flares) and planned to tour Brazil for three weeks suggest a totalitarian presence. Then back Farren had nothing but praise for. #LIVE #LIVE SATURDAY 2 NOVEMBER ‘I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister with Geoff MacCormack, taking a to the mundane with ‘Footstomping’ and Public Hall Music Hall #LIVE Kate’ (The Olympics), where Ava Cherry Mick Farren (NME) boat to Caracas then going overland by the new ‘When You Rock’n’Roll With Me’. Cleveland Boston % TELEVISION took the spotlight. All reports seemed to agree that the first Land Rover to Brazil, visiting Amazon It took the exuberant ‘Jean Genie’ to Ohio, USA Massachusetts, USA Radio City Music Hall Before it went to air, the end of the early stagings in the five-night stint were villages along the way. get the unusually sedate audience New York City on the abject side of rotten. On the Sunday Peter Gelzinis moving, albeit rather nonchalantly, broadcast tape was wiped, so the medley NOVEMBER New York, USA FRIDAY 8 (The Boston Herald) was never shown, nor was ‘Can You Hear night, however, Bowie finally pulled it # toward the stage, and some monumental LIVE His impression of a nightclub singer was ‘THE DICK CAVETT SHOW’ Me’, which Bowie also performed. The together and staged one of the finest live crashing guitar to keep things going, War Memorial Auditorium tailored to an audience of 4,500. His white ‘1984’/‘Young Americans’/ interview/ band’s introduction music and Cavett’s rock spectaculars that New York has been but ‘Suffragette’ and ‘Rock’n’Roll Suicide’ Buffalo made-up face and luminous eyes made ‘Footstomping’ (Collins)–‘I Wish preamble have also since been erased. treated to in years. The phenomenon of finished things off nicely for the encore New York, USA you think of Joel Grey’s caricature in I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate’ Although the ‘Footstomping’ medley David Bowie fronting what amounts to of ‘Diamond Dogs’ featuring a wardrobe Cabaret, there was still that glamorized (Piron) medley/‘Can You Hear Me’ an avant-garde soul show is a strange change to an army fatigue outfit with a was never officially released, it MONDAY 11 NOVEMBER thing to watch. It's also a joy. [122] decadence to his swagger. He also kept circulates via bootlegs and online. I red belt and a polo mallet accessory. Following Dick Cavett’s preamble SINGLE RELEASED everyone off guard musically for a while. (“I’m explaining this for the square T Broadcast: December 5 (ABC). ‘Changes’ (2:32)/ ‘Changes’ and ‘Sorrow’ took on the new johns at home”), Bowie swept on to ‘Andy Warhol’ (3:03) T ‘Footstomping’ (audio) released on flavour of soulish show tunes, while a ABOVE: The after-show party at the stage to perform ‘1984’ and US (RCA 74-0605) new song ‘Young Americans’, sung with a The interview was somewhat stilted, Rarest One Bowie (Golden Years 1995). the Gramercy Park Hotel with ‘Young Americans’ live with the band. Chart Peak No.41 big acoustic guitar slung at his waist, was with Bowie being more nervous and T ‘Young Americans’ released on Ava Cherry (left) and Tony #LIVE a chaotic blend of Elvis and Watergate all evasive than ever. Dick Cavett attempted Best Of Bowie DVD (EMI 2002). At that point he was still intending Visconti (right). to keep the tone upbeat and casual, but to do The Blue Bird with Liz Taylor, Capital Center rolled up in a cha-cha close. LEFT: Deep on conversation with T ‘1984’/ ’Young Americans’/ Bowie’s obsessive fiddling with the cane followed by a tour of Europe, beginning Landover David Johansen. interview released on Dick Cavett’s betrayed his agitation and inability to in April, and a tour of England in May. Maryland, USA Rock Icons (Shout Factory 2005). converse on a normal level. T Young Americans (EMI 2007). MSOCIALISING Sciaky and Springsteen watched the concert and afterwards Bowie celebrated the completion of Young Americans with a private party at Le Club Artemis, during which Philadelphia police entered the bar looking for under-age drinkers. Bowie (1997) Springsteen came down to hear Patti Brett (1999) what we were doing with his stuff. The bars close at 2am, and it was a He was very shy. I remember sitting in quarter after three and we were still the corridor with him, talking about in the bar. It was a private party, but the his lifestyle, which was very police raided it and started taking Dylanesque – you know, moving from David away! There’s actually a town to town with a guitar on his photograph of all the cops in leather back, all that kind of thing. Anyway, jackets leading him down the steps. he didn’t like what we were doing, He had this big green mohair fur coat I remember that. At least, he didn’t and this little red beret and sunglasses, express much enthusiasm. I guess he looked like a little Christmas tree! he must have thought it was all kind He was very calm. Everyone else in the of odd. I was in another universe at bar was freaking out. the time. I’ve got this extraordinarily They were arresting everyone in the strange photograph of us all – I look bar and the bar staff were sneaking like I’m made out of wax. [324] people out the back door. Nothing ever ABOVE: Leaving Artemis nightclub, came of it though. He wasn’t charged As Visconti worked, Bowie told MONDAY 25 NOVEMBER and I think they were doing it more for Springsteen how he and MacCormack assisted by Philadelphia’s finest. #LIVE “Why, everyone knows that I’m at show. It was just so funny to see these saw his set at Max’s in February 1973, Spectrum Theater least 52.” tons of police coming in as if we were and since then Springsteen had Philadelphia these horrible people who needed been the only American artist he had Around 7am Bowie asked Carl Paruolo Pennsylvania, USA controlling, and then them escorting wanted to cover. to play the whole track from start to ‘John, I’m Only Dancing (Again)’/ him down the steps. [004] finish, twice. After the second listen, MONDAY 18 NOVEMBER WEDNESDAY 20 ! ABOVE: Sigma Sound Studios SUNDAY 24 NOVEMBER ‘Young Americans’/‘Fascination’/ with Philadelphia DJ Ed Sciaky L Bowie (1987) he nodded and said, “That’s it. It’s done.” #LIVE SUNDAY 24 NOVEMBER RECORDING ‘Right’/‘Win’/‘It’s Gonna Be Me’/ When Bowie and his entourage and Bruce Springsteen. I didn’t want to play [‘It’s Hard To As if on cue, the Sigma Kids outside Spectrum Theater L RECORDING Sigma Sound Studios ‘Can You Hear Me’ attempted to leave, Ava Cherry led Be A Saint In The City’] to him because started applauding and calling up at Philadelphia Sigma Sound Studios Philadelphia the way. The captain blocked her path NOVEMBER the studio windows. After the scathing reviews of the previous Pennsylvania, USA THURSDAY 21 Pennsylvania, USA I wasn’t happy with it anyway. And I Philadelphia Monday’s concert were attributed to saying, “If you ain’t got no proof of your A Rock Dreams exhibition opened was out of my wig. I just couldn’t relate T Pennsylvania, USA Bowie was working on a cover of ‘John, I’m Only Dancing (Again)’ age, siddown, miss!” She turned away After the immediate sell-out of the at Star Gallery, 465 West Broadway, to him at all. It was a bad time for poor sound, Visconti was asked to Bruce Springsteen’s ‘It’s Hard To Be A released as a single in 1979. and Bowie stepped forward. “You don’t 16,000-seat Spectrum, a second night ‘yOuNG AMERICANS’ ALBuM New York. Seventy-two of the 116 us to have met. I could see that he was conduct a more thorough soundcheck Saint In The City’ which he had started T ‘After Today’ released on actually believe that I’m not at least was booked for the 25th. The concert ‘John, I’m Only Dancing (Again)’ paintings featured in Guy Peellaert’s thinking, “Who is this weird guy?” to ensure a better show. In a backstage in late 1973, and hoped to get Sound + Vision (Ryko 1989). 21 years of age? Incredible! That’s quite was plagued by sound problems, which ‘Can You Hear Me’ (version 2) book were offered for sale with prices And I was thinking, “What do I say to interview with Disc magazine, Mike Garson only increased the audience’s hostility Springsteen involved. Earlier in the revealed the album, titled Fascination, flattering, actually. Why, everyone ‘After Today’ (version 1/slow tempo) from $1,500 to $2,500. Sales of the normal people?” [159] T ‘It’s Hard To Be A Saint In The City’ week, Tony Visconti called Philadelphia knows that I’m at least 52.” to The Garson Band who opened the ‘Fascination’ book had already reached 200,000 released on Sound + Vision (Ryko 1989)/ was complete, consisting of seven tracks. DJ Ed Sciaky at WMMR and asked Throughout it all, Bowie signed show with an eight-song set. ‘Win’ even before publication. As the night wore on, Ed Sciaky Best Of 1975/1979 (EMI 1997). him if he could get Springsteen into autographs and chatted cheerfully Meanwhile in New York, Tony ‘It’s Hard To Be A Saint In The City’ watched Bowie recording his vocal Matt Damsker Ingrassia’s play Fame (a comedy based the studio. (Philadelphia Bulletin) with the kids. One young girl who was Tony Visconti/Harry Maslin: for ‘Win’. Mick Rock (2007) on Marilyn Monroe’s life) opened at Sciaky got in contact with In general, it works, and last night’s detained offered Bowie her body Producers I recall asking Bowie why he never Springsteen, who caught a bus from “when I get out of jail”. [245] The Golden Theatre on Broadway – and Ed Sciaky (2002) released this great cut. He told me audience seemed won over by the Bowie booked more time at Sigma to New Jersey to Philadelphia, where closed after one night, a resounding He’d sing three lines, then have the that Springsteen didn’t respond when fast-paced opening segment, which rework some of the songs with the Soul Ed and Judy Sciaky found him critical failure. It reportedly left MainMan engineer play them back, keeping the he’d sent a copy to him; presuming this features the five vocalists (in various Tour line-up. Luther Vandross had been “hanging with the bums in the station”. $250,000 in the hole, adding to DeFries’ first line every time. It was spectacular, meant he wasn’t keen, Bowie decided combinations) warming up with an financial woes and Bowie’s anger towards performing his song ‘Funky Music (Is A At midnight he arrived at Sigma. watching him work like a painter, to can the whole thing. [260] affecting program of some new Bowie Part Of Me)’ as part of The Garson him. Ingrassia had been the mastermind hitting every line the way he wanted. songs – thoroughly funky vehicles – as behind Pork, the cast of which formed Band’s opening set. Bowie took the . [301] well as a powerful version of The Supremes’ the nucleus of MainMan in 1971. song and reworked it with new lyrics as ‘You Keep Me Hangin’ On’ and Geoffrey ‘Fascination’. When Bowie asked his MacCormack’s fine solo handling of Bruce TUESDAY 19 NOVEMBER permission, Vandross replied, “You’re Springsteen’s ‘Growin’ Up’. Unfortunately, #LIVE David Bowie. I live with my mother. Of Bowie’s voice has not been able to Civic Arena course you can change the lyrics!” withstand so much recent touring, and Pittsburgh his edge was considerably blunted by Pennsylvania, USA raw, uneven and generally strained singing. [108] WEDNESDAY 27 NOVEMBER MSOCIALISING DECEMBER Mid South Auditorium Memphis SUNDAY 1 Tennessee, USA #LIVE The Omni GEORGE HARRISON Atlanta The night before he played the same Georgia, USA venue, Bowie went to see Willie Weeks The last show and the only and Andy Newmark playing in George performance of ‘Win’ on the tour. Harrison’s tour band and visited backstage. Bowie and Harrison TUESDAY 3 DECEMBER reportedly “didn’t hit it off that well”. L RECORDING Record Plant George Harrison (1974) New York City All I really meant was what I said. I New York, USA pulled his hat up from over his eyes and said, “Hi man, how are you, ‘yOuNG AMERICANS’ nice to meet you” – pulled his hat up ‘Win’ and said, you know – “do you mind if I ‘Fascination’ have a look at you, to see what you are ‘Right’ because I’ve only ever seen those dopey ‘Somebody Up There Likes Me’ pictures of you.” [339] Tony Visconti: Producer Harry Maslin: Engineer After a while, an unfamiliar voice asked, ABOVE: May Pang and John Lennon, Bowie (1978) THURSDAY 28 NOVEMBER Kevin Herron/David Thoener: # “Who is it?” Visconti identified himself who offered Bowie advice The funniest part about it was LIVE Tape Operators and the door was opened by Beatles concerning his impecunious state that I’d been talking about his music Mid South Auditorium and how to break free from aide-de-camp Neil Aspinall. He saw and what he should do and what he Memphis Defries’s management. Lennon emerging from the bathroom shouldn’t and what his music did and Tennessee, USA LEFT: The Record Plant, New york. with May Pang – they had been worried what it didn’t, and at the end of the Bowie called up Harry Maslin, an BELOW: Bowie on The Dick Cavett it was the police, as a drug bust Show. conversation he turned to me and – engineer at Record Plant in New York, would destroy his chances of getting I hope it was in jest, but I have a feeling to arrange another Young Americans a green card. Bowie (1976) it wasn’t – he said, “You wait till you session. Bowie was hoping to finish the As requested, Visconti chatted with We don’t have a lot to talk about. We’re hear my next album.” album in time to spend Christmas in Lennon while Bowie sat on the floor not great friends. Actually, I think he I thought, “Oh no, not from you, London. drawing on a sketchpad. After a while, hates me. We went back to somebody’s please! Not that, anything but that!” Lennon asked Bowie, “Do you have house after some gig at a club. We had all I don’t know whether I was in the SATURDAY 30 NOVEMBER gone to see someone, I can’t remember correct state to appreciate him, but it # another one of those sketchpads?” LIVE and they began drawing caricatures of who, and Dylan was there. I was in a very, was the first and last time I ever Municipal Auditorium each other. The ice broken, Bowie and sort of… verbose frame of mind. And I met him. [308] Nashville Lennon began to see each other socially just talked at him for hours and hours, Tennessee, USA and whether I amused him or scared him and Lennon offered him advice on THURSDAY 5 DECEMBER Marc Bolan, on the road in Detroit, told the pitfalls of management – he was in or repulsed him, I really don’t know. I % TELEVISION Chris Welch, “Next year I’m hoping to litigation with Allen Klein at the time. didn’t wait for any answers. I just went on The Dick Cavett Show broadcast (ABC) make a film with David Bowie. I’ll be Bowie wanted to leave DeFries but he and on about everything. And then I said directing and he’ll be writing the script. didn’t know how. He had assumed that good night. He never phoned me. [101] The film will be a science fiction story, Tony Visconti began mixing the he needed someone to deal with the and we’ll probably write it between us. album and adding overdubs. During business and the contracts. We really want to work together. this time Bowie ran into John Lennon “I’ve been hanging out a lot with him who was also at Record Plant, Bowie (1976) lately, and we’d like to do a concert finishing the mixes on his covers album John sorted me out all the way down together, just the two of us with Rock’n’Roll. Bowie invited him over the line. He took me to one side, sat me acoustic guitars, to recreate the and later called Visconti at the studio. down and told me what it was all about. atmosphere of the old days. We did a “John Lennon’s coming to my suite at I realised that I was very naïve. [085] tour of England together, years ago. the hotel tonight and it would be great Yeah, David’s fine. He’s pretty ‘up’ at the if you could be there to buffer the MSOCIALISING moment – like me, working on the meeting between us.” Visconti was Dana Gillespie began a week of shows road.” [315] happy to help out – he was keen to at Reno Sweeney in New York. One night meet John Lennon – and he turned up Bowie dropped in with Bette Midler and LEFT: George Harrison, 1974. at Sherry Netherlands and knocked. bumped into Bob Dylan, who was in town Bowie and the ex-Beatle got off looking at artwork for Blood On The Tracks. on the wrong foot in Memphis. Bowie (1980) I recreated the set for Diamond Dogs – this was in the Pierre Hotel in MID"DECEMBER New York – and I built three or four-foot high buildings out of clay on tables. L MIXING Some were standing up, others were With the album sessions now crumbling and I took the camera and considered complete, Visconti took the put a micro-lens on it, zooming down master tapes and left for London. the streets in between the tables. Passing through Kennedy Airport, I tried animation out and had all Visconti stopped to buy chewing gum. these characters; the whole thing is so At the departure gate he realised he bizarre I’m going to put it together and had left the tapes by the shop counter put it out as a cassette. And as it’s silent and ran back to find them still there. – there’s a few bits of strange music on Back in London, Visconti added string it but nothing much else; mainly I used arrangements to ‘Can You Hear Me’ and the Diamond Dogs album as a backing ‘Who Can I Be Now?’ at George Martin’s track… Air Studios. He mixed the album at You know, I wanted to make a film of Good Earth Sound House with the aid of Diamond Dogs so passionately, so badly; an 18-page telegram of mixing ideas I really wanted to do that, I had the Bowie sent from New York. whole roller-skating thing in there. We The album’s track list at this stage: had no more cars because of the fuel problems – which was super stuff to look SIDE ONE back on and say yes, I thought that then 1. ‘John, I’m Only Dancing (Again)’ – and these characters with enormous, 2. ‘Somebody Up There Likes Me’ rusty, sort of organic-looking roller- 3. ‘It’s Gonna Be Me’ skates with squeaking wheels that they SIDE TWO couldn’t handle very well. Also I had 1. ‘Who Can I Be Now?’ groups of these cyborg people 2. ‘Can You Hear Me’ wandering around looking so punky it’s 3. ‘Young Americans’ LATE DECEMBER MONDAY 23 DECEMBER going to be a lovely tape to put out. I 4. ‘Right’ M want to write some new music for it L RECORDING SOCIALISING though: a piece of music accompanied L MIXING Over dinner at the Sherry Netherlands by a sort of strange black-and-white Record Plant Bowie told Mike Garson, “I want you vision. [189] New York City to be my pianist for the next 20 years.” New York, USA Garson visited Bowie the next day to exchange Christmas presents – TUESDAY 31 DECEMBER ‘yOuNG AMERICANS’ ALBuM the last he saw of Bowie for many years. Bowie spent New Year’s Eve at home David Bowie/Harry Maslin: Producers Ten years on, Garson recalled the with Zowie. He intended to take Zowie Harry Maslin: Engineer revolving door of musicians in Bowie’s to see the fireworks in Central Park but the weather kept them indoors, Kevin Herron/David Thoener: career: “The joke had been, ‘When it’s where they continued to play with the Tape Operators my time, David, just let me know.’” [013] video equipment instead. Bowie called Harry Maslin back into the Bowie was moved from the Sherry studio to add more overdubs and to Netherlands to the slightly less remix all the tracks (except ‘Young expensive Pierre Hotel, where he kept Americans’, which Visconti had already two suites (at $700 a week) – one for mixed and delivered to RCA to release living in, the other made into a as the new single). studio, where he immersed himself in making films of the scale models of Hunger City.

ABOVE AND OPPOSITE: Another cover concept for Young Americans devised by Bowie and photographer Steve Schapiro.