Ziggy Stardust at Newcastle City Hall, June 1972. : Image © Ian Dickson
…watching the young advance in all electric
Ziggy live in 1972 : NME : 02/02/02 In this week’s NME, a double page spread is devoted to a look back at the gigs which inspired the bands taking part in this year’s NME Carling shows. The Pet Shop Boys are asked “What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?” and Neil Tennant answers : “David Bowie at Newcastle City Hall on the Ziggy tour, June 1972. The venue was half-empty. He was electrifying. He dedicated a song to me and my friends, saying, ‘This song is for the strange people in the audience’.” There is a review of this gig, written at the time, online here at The Ziggy Stardust Companion, which includes the following :- “David Bowie is one of the great enigmas of music. But he showed that he is also one of the great entertainers when he opened at Newcastle’s City Hall last Friday. Armed with his own fine vocals and stage presence, an immaculate sound system, a light show and above all the best rock band I have seen or heard for years, he took the audience by storm.” Anyone for a time machine?
Elephant Man : Playbill Online : 01/30/02 The stage play of The Elephant Man is returning to Broadway, with the opening date set as 04/14/02 (previews from 03/26/02). Kate Burton will play Mrs Kendal, opposite Billy Crudup’s John Merrick. You can read more about this latest revival, here. The definitive interpretation of the lead role in this play has already been given of course. David played the part from 29th July 1980 to 3rd January 1981. Reviews from that time include :- “shockingly good” – New York Post, “wordless and unmoving, he is nevertheless an electric presence.” – Rolling Stone, and “Bowie.. had the audience.. in the palm of his hand.” – BBC. You can read more, here.
Kooks : The Independent : until 02/23/02 Julie Verhoeven the illustrator and fashion consultant who, according to The Independent “should get a medal for service to the industry”. She has, since the late Eighties, not only researched and designed for some of the world’s most renowned names, she has transformed their ideas into immaculately drawn fairytale figures. She has now turned to a far more personal project: a celebration of her favourite records. An exhibition of the results, which comprise her interpretations of, among others, Kooks by David Bowie, Fat Bottomed Girls (Queen), Add It Up (Violent Femmes), and Good Times Roll (The Cars) is at Mobile Home, 42 Theobalds Road, London WC1 (020-7405 7575), until 23 February 2002. Again, more online, here.
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