David Bowie

Bowie and fellow artist and friend, Laurie Anderson, have collaborated on a contribution to the “I LOVE NEW YORK – Crossover of Contemporary Art” exhibition opening at the Museum Ludwig in Koln, Germany November 6, 1998-February 1, 1999. The work is called ‘LINE’ and consists of 20 drawings created ‘mysteriously’ by the two artists. Details and photos to follow shortly.

The Smashing Pumpkins, Nine Inch Nails, The Cure, Marilyn Manson, ScottWeiland, Puff Daddy, Seal, Public Enemy and The Wallflowers–all of theseartists are united by the influence of DAVID BOWIE, via his past and presentmusical explorations.

BOWIE keyboardist Mike Garson has just been tapped to tour with the SmashingPumpkins in Europe and will also play on the forthcoming album from Nine InchNails (a connection that was made during 1995’s DAVID BOWIE/Nine Inch Nailstour), while Garson and BOWIE guitarist Reeves Gabrels will both play onSeal’s next album. Gabrels likewise recently played on The Cure track “SorryWrong Number” and performed with the band at a special gig in Los Angeles (amusical union that began when the two met at BOWIE’s 50th birthday show atMadison Square Garden where Smith joined BOWIE onstage for two songs). What’smore, Gabrels is working on an upcoming project with Public Enemy.

Meanwhile, The Wallflowers presently have the most added single in thecountry with their rendition of “Heroes”–from BOWIE’s 1977 album of the samename–on the Godzilla soundtrack. Also due out is “Golden Years”–fromBOWIE’s 1976 LP Station To Station–revamped by Marilyn Manson for the openingcredits of the upcoming MTV/Paramount film Dead Man On Campus. And accordingto a recent item in New York magazine, Manson has said, “I’m going to becomethe next Ziggy Stardust.” Another favorite BOWIE track–“Let’s Dance,” thetitle track from his 1983 smash album–was sampled by Puff Daddy in his recenthit single “Been Around The World.”

In addition, Scott Weiland has talked about his musical and stylistic BOWIEinfluences in many interviews, pointing out that his video for “Barbarella”was directly inspired by BOWIE’s character in the 1976 Nicolas Roeg classicThe Man Who Fell To Earth.

Most illuminating of all recent BOWIE ties may be the fact that he placed #7in VH-1’s Top 100 Artists Poll, which was voted upon by his peers.

Without a doubt, at the end of millennium BOWIE continues to exert a hugeinfluence on contemporary music and pop culture. In the words of one critic,”other artists are trying to catch up to where he’s already been.”

So where is BOWIE going next? A live album is on tap for the fall, with anew studio album set for spring 1999. BOWIE also continues to break newground on the Internet with his online art gallery at www.bowieart.com, wheremany of his works are available for viewing and sale.

DAVID BOWIE is once again utilizing modern technology in a ground-breakingfashion. As of December 15, BOWIE put two of his most popular works up forsale on the Internet exclusively through the International Bowieart Website.The lithographs are an intense self-portrait, plus a vivid composition of IggyPop, which captures the true maniacal character of the legendary rocker.

BOWIE has been at the forefront of Internet developments since 1992, and infact was the first artist of his caliber to release a single (?Telling Lies?)via this medium (in 1996). The Bowieart site can be accessed via the followingaddress: www.bowieart.com

Prices of the lithographs are as follows:

Head of J.O.* signed $320Head of J.O. unsigned $110

D Head–V 1995/1997 signed $240D Head–V 1995/1997 unsigned $80

*James Osterberg (aka Iggy Pop)

BOWIE, who is currently on the U.S. charts with his single “I?m Afraid OfAmericans”–featuring vocals and a remix by Trent Reznor–said of the venture:”I want to reach a wider spectrum of people with certain multiples that Imake. The gallery shows have been extremely good but the Internet is the wayto get attention of the people who may not have access to many gallery shows.If we get a good response to this idea, I will be showing work by otherartists who may not be getting a fair crack of the whip.”

BOWIE has established a serious reputation in the art world as an Artist andWriter, as well as Publisher. 1996/1997 exhibitions included a showing at theBlaise Thorens Gallery (Basel, Switzerland), the first Florence Biennale(Florence, Italy) and an installation at the ICA (London, England). Plans for1998 include a major exhibition at the Marconi Gallery in Milan, Italy.BOWIE?s most recent published articles include interviews with legendarymaster Balthus; Tracy Emin; and the late Roy Lichtenstein, plus overviews ofDamien Hirst?s first New York Show; the Basquiat retrospective at theSerpentine Gallery in London; and South Aftica?s first Biennale.

Meanwhile, Blimey, the critically acclaimed art book by Matthew Collings andpublished by BOWIE?s 21 Company, is already in its second printing and willbe released in the U.S. early next year.

DAVID BOWIE SELECTED BIOGRAPHY 1994-98

CURRENT PROJECTS1998Milan, Geo Marconi Gallery. March-June (touring)

RECENT EXHIBITIONS

1997London, ICA, 60th Anniversary Auction Including Appel, Bowie, Chapman,Chadwick, Christo, Hirst, Paolozzi, Riley, Smith, Turk, Viola, Wallinger,Whiteread. 6/23/97

London, Milestones, Royal College of Art and various locations. 1/21-2/16/97

London, Jibby Beane ART97, Business Design Centre, 1/15-1/19 January

1996London, Jibby Beane, Through the Looking Glass (collaboration with DavidD?Angelis). 12/97

Florence, Biennale di Firenze–New Persona/New Universe–Statione Leopolda.9/21-12/15/97

Basie, Daniel Blaise Thorens Fine Art Gallery AG, David Bowie.5/25-7/7/97

London, ICA, Incarcerated with Artaud and Genet, Installation by David Bowie.5/31-6/2

1995Montreux, Montreux Jazz Festival. David Bowie–Paintings, Prints andSculpture. 7/7-7/22

Bristol, Amolfini Gallery, David Bowie/Damien Hirst collaboration, MinkyManky. 7/17-30

London, Gallery in Cork Street, David Bowie–New Afro Pagen and Work 1975-96,4/18-29

London. Christie, Manson and Wood, Imperial Cancer Research Auction.February.

1994London, Berkeley Square Gallery, Minotaur Myths & Legends, 11/17-12/3

London, Flowers East, Bosnia War Child, 9/27-10/9/97

COMMISSIONS

1995 Montreux Jazz Festival Poster. Previous commissioned Artists includeDavid Hockney, Jean Tinguely, Niki de Saint Phalle and Keith Haring.

PUBLIC & PRIVATE COLLECTIONS

Florida, Jacksonville Museum of Modern Art.Manchester, Whitworth Museum.London, Saatchi Collection.

LITERATURE

Interview magazine, D. Bowie–Interview with Roy Lichtenstein, December 1997Modern Painters, D. Bowie–It?s Art Jim but as We Know It (Interview withTracy Emin), Autumn 1997 Raygun: Out of Control, D. Bowie–The Closing Down:Interviews with Tony Oursler, Yoko Ono and Roy Lichtenstein. England, 1997Booth Gibbons Editions. Interview magazine, D. Bowie–Jibby Beane the ArtMachine, December 1996 Dazed and Confused, D. Bowie–Fashion: Turn to the leftBowie in conversation with Alexander McQueen, December 1996Telegraph, D. Bowie–Fashion Victims, Florence Biennale, October 5, 1996Modern Painters, D. Bowie–Stop Press: Death Row Damien Delights, summer 1996The Independent, Death, passion and contradiction, by Bowie and Hirst, June15, 1996 Evening Standard, D. Bowie–Bowie on Kossoff, May 31, 1996Modern Painters, D. Bowie–Basquiat?s Wave, Spring 1996 Q Magazine, D.Bowie–The Beautiful, It Won?t Rap, She Won?t Dance, Very Tricky Piece,October 1995Modern Painters, D. Bowie–The Cleanest Work of All (Johannesburg Biennale),Summer 1995 Q Magazine, D. Bowie–The Diary of Nathan Adler (Text andillustrations by D. Bowie), winter 1994 Modern Painters, D. Bowie–Balthus thelast legendary Painter, Autumn 1994

THE DAVID BOWIE EARTHLING CONCERTWILL BE HOSTED BY N2K?S ROCKTROPOLISAND VIRGIN RECORDS

In his continued exploration and utilization of the Internet, DAVID BOWIE is inviting listeners from around the globe to experience one of his shows with his first-ever live cybercast Wednesday, October 1, emanating from Boston?s Orpheum Theatre. The event will kick-off with a live fans-only chat at 8:30pm (eastern), followed by BOWIE?s live concert.

Currently in the midst of his six-week North American “Earthling Tour,” BOWIE has been selling out concerts across the country, adding second and third shows in some cities, while inspiring one raveaccolade after another. Richard Cromelin noted in The Los Angeles Times: “His artistic reinvigoration was reflected in the performance, whose sonic force, richness and dynamism captured the complexity and inventiveness of the new material–which brings BOWIE?s preoccupation?s with technology, alienation andspiritual fragmentation to bear on ?90s culture–and enlarged it to a grand scale,” while Kevin Williams? review in the Chicago Sun Times began with the line: “To simply say DAVID BOWIE tore it up Friday night lacks the eloquence sufficient to convey how awesome he was…”

During BOWIE?s performance, the on-line audience may chat with fellow fans in Rocktropolis? Buzz Cafe, as wellas pre-order BOWIE?s new EP, the Bowie/Brian Eno-penned “I?m Afraid Of Americans,” one of the stand-out tracks on his EARTHLING album. This EP–due out October

14 on Virgin Records–features five remixes by NINE INCH NAILS and one by England?s Rupert Parkes, also known as Photek. BOWIE?s back catalog will available for purchase, while fans may also participate in an “Earthling” competition whereby concert-goers can win merchandise.

BOWIE has participated in several massive Internet events including his 50th Birthday Chat which was hosted by 50 different DAVID BOWIE websites from around the world and the Internet-only release of his single “Telling Lies,” which prompted an unprecedented registered 300,000 downloads.

Meanwhile, for those who miss this cybercast the first time around, it will be rebroadcast twice the following day on October 2 at 9am (eastern) and 2pm (eastern), enabling fans in Europe and Japan to hear it during prime hours.

BOWIE?s concert will be broadcast in both Real Audio, Real Video, and NetShow and VDO. All helper applications andtools necessary to view the concert will be made available at the site several days in advance of the cybercast.

“He kicked it into high gear with an opening fusillade of old favorites–‘Quicksand,’ the Velvet Underground’s ‘Waiting For The Man,’ ‘Jean Genie,’ ‘Panic In Detroit’–but he then reversed direction and built the heart of the set around his newest music. That’s something that few of his contemporaries are willing to do during a summer touring season increasingly given over to nostalgia…His artistic reinvigoration was reflected in the performance, whose sonic force, richness and dynamism captured the complexity and inventiveness of the new material–which brings BOWIE’s preoccupation’s with technology, alienation and spiritual fragmentation to bear on ’90s culture–and enlarged it to a grand scale.” LOS ANGELES TIMES Richard Cromelin 9/12/97
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“He performed six songs from EARTHLING in the 21-song show, and they were among the freshest and liveliest of the lot. He mixed new songs like ‘I’m Afraid of Americans,’ ‘Looking For Satellites,” “Dead Man Walking” and “Little Wonder” with reworked versions of some of his best-known songs–‘Jean Genie’ done as a blues, ‘Stay,’ slowed down to a syrupy flow, ‘Under Pressure’ given a brilliantly stark treatment with bassist Gail Ann Dorsey nailing the vocal part originally sung by Freddie Mercury…The superb audio production transformed the five-piece band into a glistening glass highway of sound…At the center of all this stood BOWIE, chipper and eager to please…Under the close inspection afforded by the Warfield, he seemed to glow and grow stronger as the two-hour show went on.” SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE Joel Selvin 9/11/97
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“Backed by a talented, experienced four-piece band…BOWIE balanced his newer material with plenty of classic, some of them reworked but all delivered with force and pride.” SEATTLE TIMES Patrick MacDonald 9/8/97
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“Long adept at taking the nascent pop trends and adapting them to his own ends, BOWIE is now mining the various dance music subgenres known collectively as electronica, using the machinelike propulsion of digital samples, drum loops and synthesized sonic atmospheres to bring new excitement and cultural relevance to his big bag of rock ‘n’ roll tricks…the approach works well, even when he’s adapting older songs to newer methods. Sunday night’s two-hour show included plenty of classic BOWIE, some in electrified clothing.” THE PORTLAND OREGONIAN Marty Hughley 9/10/97
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“Rock’s grand chameleon has returned as a stripped-down rocker with a rhythm-heavy show that coalesces bright spots from the glam and disco days with his current techno forays…BOWIE’s great success here is stepping through all the electronic bleats and crunching with elements of humanity.” DAILY VARIETY Phil Gallo 9/12/97
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“At 50, BOWIE rocks harder than guys half his age. He continues to stretch in all musical directions, effortlessly incorporating techno, dance and rock riffs into his music. A commanding presence onstage, BOWIE worked the crowd through a handful of numbers from his latest release, Earthling…The show’s highlight was a powerful version of the BOWIE-Queen collaboration ‘Under Pressure,’ which nearly stopped the show.” HOLLYWOOD REPORTER Marc Pollack 912-14/97
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“His excellent two-hour set mixed beloved classics with more adventurous new songs.” SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS Brad Kava 9/10/97
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“BOWIE is close to being a few steps ahead of his contemporaries (and progeny) once again. Further greatness lies just around the corner.” THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER (CA) Ben Wener 9/15/97
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“If you have tickets to the DAVID BOWIE concerts next week, don’t sell them for whatever the scalpers offer. If you don’t have tickets, offer big money. BOWIE’s concert Tuesday night at the Warfield is right up there with the top shows of the year. The chameleon can rock. BOWIE could sell out much larger venues such as the Shoreline Amphitheatre without a moment’s notice. Seeing him at the Warfield, with its 3,300-person capacity, may be a once-in-a-lifetime treat. You get to watch his face as he laughs through ‘Fashion,’ striking poses with self-irony that would be lost if projected on a large video screen. You get to watch him doing his little, shake your hips, mini-BOWIE-dances that still catch the eye…What seemed most evident about Tuesday’s show was that BOWIE was having a whole lot of fun.” SAN FRANCISCO EXAMINER Craig Marine 9/11/97
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“He not only had confidence, BOWIE was confidence, charming the crowd silly with his passionate belting, toothy grins and cockney between song asides…Backed by a wailing four-piece band starring his Tin Machine guitarist Reeves Gabrels and ‘Aladdin Sane’ keyboardist Mike Garson. BOWIE galloped through mostly new material including the infectious ‘Little Wonder,’ the revelatory aging manifesto ‘Dead Man Walking,’ and the sultry ‘Seven Years in Tibet,’ during which he traded his 12-string acoustic guitar for a saxophone.” NEWS PILOT (South Bay, CA) Corey Levitan 9/13/97
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“To simply say DAVID BOWIE tore it up Friday night lacks the eloquence sufficient to convey how awesome he was…In what can be described as the ultimate surprise event, fans won ‘Blind Date’ tickets in a raffle to see an unnamed performer at an undisclosed venue…When the curtain rose, the place went up for grabs. The emotion from the pleasantly shocked music lovers turned this show into a love-in…And don’t think he didn’t feel it. Feeding off the energy, BOWIE displayed genuine joy…as he effortlessly pulled together material from his prolific career.” CHICAGO SUN-TIMES Kevin Williams 9/22/97
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“DAVID BOWIE is suddenly hip yet again…he proved during his eclectic two-hour, 22-song set, rock music has come full circle once more, and rediscovered BOWIE…Instead of meandering aimlessly through a predictable set of greatest hits, BOWIE instead built historical bridges that united rock’s past and future…Forget that ‘rock’s elder statesman’ stuff. By the time BOWIE concluded by leading a sing-along coda to ‘All The Young Dudes,’ it was apparent that musically, he fits in as much now as ever. Smiling, dancing and laughing the entire evening, BOWIE’s clearly at his peak when he tries to please himself.” CONTRA COSTA TIMES (Walnut Creek, CA–outside San Francisco) Dave McCoy 9/11/97
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“BOWIE’s no longer the young dude, but the currency of his new music and the relevance of his older stuff make him a still-formidable performer.” CHICAGO TRIBUNE Greg Kot 9/22/97

Inspired by the vibe and intimacy of playing ballrooms last fall on the EastCoast while recording his critically acclaimed “Earthling” CD (Virgin) inNYC, David Bowie is set to launch a six-week North American tour September 6that will bring him to clubs, ballrooms and theaters through October 18.

This news comes on the heels of the cutting-edge rocker’s triumphantin-progress U.K. and European tour this summer where he’s been headliningfestivals and special club gigs alike, including two sweaty and electrifyingnights at London’s Hanover Grand, both of which sold out in minutes.

Bowie and his band–guitarist Reeves Gabrels, bassist Gail Ann Dorsey,keyboardist Mike Garson and drummer Zachary Alford–will kick things offSeptember 6 in Vancouver, with dates to follow in Los Angeles at theUniversal Amphitheatre on September 13, San Francisco’s Warfield on September15 and 16 and at the Edge in Miami on October 7, to cite a few.

“A volatile musical cocktail: shrieking sonic maelstroms, poignant ancientballads, deep jungle grooves, startling duets.” That’s how the San FranciscoChronicle described DAVID BOWIE’s spectacular50th birthday concert.

Billed as “DAVID BOWIE and FRIENDS: A Very Special Birthday Concert,” thesold-out New York show and benefit forSave The Childrenwill air as a Pay Per View television event Saturday, March 8 at 9:00 PM ET/6:00 PM PT and11:30 PM ET/8:30 PM PT, with other replays through March 15. A portion ofthe proceeds from this Pay Per View event will also benefitSave The Children.

The two-hour-plus 24-song show, directed by Tim Pope, finds DAVID BOWIEbacked by his band–guitarist Reeves Gabrels; keyboardist Mike Garson; bassist Gail Ann Dorsey and drummer Zachary Alford–and joined by an arrayof truly special guests at different points throughout the concert:Frank Black(former leader of thePixies),Smashing PumpkinsBilly Corgan,Foo Fighters,Lou Reed,Robert Smith of theCure andSonic Youth.

Writing in the New York Daily News, Jim Farber said the show “kept one eyefirmly on the future. Instead of simply serving up dewey-eyed rehashes ofsounds from eras dead and gone, BOWIE–aided by an ornery mix of musicalfriends–shook classic numbers to their core. He also devoted roughlyone-third of the show to recent and brand new material.”

At the show, BOWIE opened up with the first single from his newly releasedVirgin albumEARTHLING, “Little Wonder,” whose “arrangement had the feel andsound of many of his classics,” wrote the New York Post’s Dan Aquilante. Fromthere, BOWIE was joined by Frank Black for “Scary Monsters” and “Fashion.” Foo Fighters came onstage for Outside’s “Hallo Spaceboy” (which featuredthree drummers including the Fighters’ frontman Dave Grohl) and EARTHLING’s”Seven Years In Tibet.” Next: Robert Smith joined for EARTHLING’s “The LastThing You Should Do” and the Hunky Dory chestnut “Quicksand,” performedacoustically with both BOWIE and SMITH on vocals and guitars. Later,feedback heroes Sonic Youth charged into EARTHLING’s “I’m Afraid ofAmericans.” Bowie brought Lou Reed onstage, introducing him as “the King ofNew York,” launching into Hunky Dory’s “Queen Bitch,” the VelvetUnderground’s “I’m Waiting For The Man” and “White Light White Heat” andReed’s “Dirty Boulevard.” Billy Corgan came on for the BOWIE classic “AllThe Young Dudes” and “The Jean Genie,” playing guitar and singing. BOWIEclosed the show intimately, singing “Space Oddity” alone, as 14,500 fanscheered him on.

“I always promised myself that I wouldn’t be on a stage playing rock musicwhen I’m 50,” Dave Grohl told Rolling Stone. “But when I see DAVID BOWIE sohappy and alive, and still so creative, I’m like, ‘I don’t want to stop.'” And Billy Corgan commented to Rolling Stone, “On the one hand, he’scelebrating his body of work tonight, but he’s also saying, ‘Look, I’m stillhere. This isn’t an oldies act.'”

“I wouldn’t have expected to have such an appetite for life at this point,”BOWIE himself told the New York Daily News. “I had assumed, like romanticpoetic heroes, that I would burn it all out. But nothing has been quenched. I’m still feeling fiery.”

SAVE THE CHILDREN is a non-profit,non-sectarian, non-political international development and relief organizationfounded in 1932. It isdedicated to making lasting, positive change in the lives of disadvantagedchildren throughout the United States and in 40 developing nations. For morethan 60 years, Save The Children has been a leader in early childhoodeducation, economic opportunity, preventive health care and emergencyresponse. Today, their programs reach 1.5 million children and their familiesthroughout the world.

DAVID BOWIE started his 50th year with a bang-up birthday concert January 9 at Madison Square Garden and he’ll continue to make his presence felt with the release of Earthling February 11 on Virgin Records. The first single “Little Wonder” is now hitting airwaves across the U.S., while thevideo, directed by Floria Sigismondi, has already been added to both MTVand VH-1.

BOWIE will support the release of his new album with performances on Saturday Night Live (Feb. 8) and the Tonight Show ( Feb. 11). Also look for a special radio broadcast syndicated nationally via Album Network Feb. 6-9 (with an exclusive interview, in-studio acoustic performance and a live-track from the birthday concert at Madison Square Garden), as well as a March 8 Pay-Per-View television event billed as “DAVID BOWIE and FRIENDS–A Very Special Birthday Concert.” In addition, BOWIE will be honored in Los Angeles Feb. 12 when he is presented with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

As for the Pay-Per-View “BOWIE and Friends–A Very Special Birthday Concert,” all profits will benefit Save The Children (a non-profit, non-sectarian, non-political international development and relief organization). This critically acclaimed sold-out show features BOWIE performing songs from throughout his career, as well as seven new songs from Earthling. Joining BOWIE and his band on stage throughout different periods of the evening were Frank Black, Billy Corgan (Smashing Pumpkins), Foo Fighters, Lou Reed, Robert Smith (The Cure) and Sonic Youth. According to Dave Ford in the San Francisco Chronicle: “Bowie’s two-hour-plus, 24 song show…was a volatile musical cocktail: shrieking sonic maelstroms, poignant ancient ballads, deep jungle grooves, startling duets. It was enough to please even the most hardened skeptic in an audience spanning a quarter century in age and fashion spread from dyed-hair-and-pierced-whatevers to his-and-hers Banana Republic.”

Earthling has already been garnering rave reviews including one from Mark Kemp in Rolling Stone, which states: “On Earthling, Bowie lets the songs tell the story…the tracks on Earthling are linked only by the power of the turbocharged guitars, the energy and intensity of the skittering drum-and-bass rhythms, the spiritual technological tug of war in the lyrics and Bowie’s signature baritone croon…it certainly captures the mood of contemporary popular culture–from the anguish of American industrial rock to the ecstasy of British dance music.”

In other BOWIE related news, Earthling rated high on MTV On Line’s “Sonic Stew” in the record of the month section, whereby “Little Wonder” is among the featured tracks. According to this week’s scores, Bjork was 1.3, Pigeonhead was 1.2, Aphex Twin 1.3 and BOWIE was 4.9 (out of a possible 5).BOWIE’s forthcoming itinerary is as follows:

Saturday, February 8: Performance on Saturday Night Live (NBC)

Tuesday, February 11: Performance on the Tonight Show (NBC)

Wednesday, February 12: BOWIE will receive his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, with a ceremony commencing at 11:30am in front of the Hollywood Galaxy Theatre/Hollywood Entertainment Museum, 7021 Hollywood Boulevard.

Wednesday, March 8: “BOWIE and Friends–A Very Special Birthday Concert” will premiere on Pay-Per-View at 9pm (ET)/6pm (PT)

Stay tuned for further developments…

Show will be seen March 8 as a pay-per-view TV special

“I have no idea where I’m going from here, but I promise I won’t bore you,” said David Bowie onstage at his 50th birthday concert at Madison Square Garden in New York (Thursday, January 9). With such special guests as Frank Black, Smashing Pumpkin Billy Corgan, Foo Fighters, Lou Reed, Robert Smith of The Cure and Sonic Youth joining him for different songs throughout the 24-song performance, the sold-out show (a benefit for Save The Children) will be seen as a pay-per-view special March 8 – just a few weeks after the February 11 release of Bowie’s new Earthling album on Virgin.

Writing in the New York Daily News, Jim Farber said the show “kept one eye firmly on the future. Instead of serving up dewey-eyed rehashes of sounds from eras dead and gone, Bowie – aided by an ornery mix of musical friends – shook classic numbers to their core. He also devoted roughly one-third of the show to recent and brand new material.”

Also toasting Bowie at the show and a post-concert dinner hosted by his wife Iman at the downtown space of Julian Schnabel – who directed Bowie as Andy Warhol in the film Basquiat – were a wide variety of names: Beck, Moby, Courtney Love, the former Prince, Charlie Sexton, and Fred Schneider; actors Matt Dillon, Matthew Modine, Jeffrey Wright, Christopher Walken, and Michael Wincott; and fashion’s Donna Karan and Naomi Campbell.

At the show, Bowie opened up with Earthling‘s forthcoming single “Little Wonder,” whose “arrangement had the feel and sound of many of his classics,” wrote the New York Post‘s Dan Aquilante. From there, Bowie was joined by former Pixies founder/vocalist Frank Black for “Scary Monsters” and “Fashion.” Foo Fighters came onstage for Outside‘s “Hallo Spaceboy” (which featured three drummers including the Fighters’ frontman Dave Grohl) and Earthling‘s “Seven Years in Tibet.” Next: Robert Smith joined Earthling‘s “The Last Thing You Should Do” and the Hunky Dory chestnut “Quicksand,” performed acoustically with both Bowie and Smith on vocals and guitars. Later, feedback heroes Sonic Youth charged into Earthling’s “I’m Afraid of Americans.” Bowie brought Lou Reed onstage, introducing him as “the King of New York,” launching into Hunky Dory‘s “Queen Bitch,” the Velvet Underground’s “Waiting For The Man” and “White Light White Heat” and Reed’s “Dirty Boulevard.” Billy Corgan came on for the Bowie classic “All The Young Dudes” and “Jean Genie,” playing guitar and singing. Bowie closed the show intimately, singing “Space Oddity” alone, as 14,500 fans cheered him on.

After the show, Billy Corgan told Lisa Robinson of the New York Post: “When I was 10 years old, growing up in the Midwest, I bought David’s Ziggy Stardust album. I really believed he was an alien. I always have been a fan, and still am a fan.”

Uninterested in resting on his previous achievements, David Bowie keeps moving forward. “More than most performers his age, Mr. Bowie has repeatedly staked his career on the new,” noted Jon Pareles in his New York Times review of the show. “In the new songs Mr. Bowie sang, he uses jungle as an overlay of double-time energy and implacable noise, revitalizing what might have been stately arena anthems. With Reeves Gabrels on guitars, who filled spaces with screeches and siren notes, and Mike Garson on keyboards, sprinkling shards of Romantic piano grandeur, the band revamped some old songs – notably “The Man Who Sold The World,” now a haggard dub-reggae confession – and subtly updated others.”

The Boston Globe‘s Jim Sullivan observed: “The startling triumph of this set was that Bowie’s new material is his strongest in years. He’s got hyper-fast “Jungle” rhythms snaking in and out of these resplendant melodies, making the music both edgy and immediately accessible.”

Summing up the evening was Dave Ford of the San Francisco Chronicle, calling the show “a volitile musical cocktail: shrieking sonic maelstroms, poignant ancient ballads, deep Jungle grooves, startling duets.”

JANUARY 9 AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN; PROFITS GOING TO SAVE THE CHILDREN

As DAVID BOWIE prepares to release his new album Earthling February 11 on Virgin, he will celebrate his 50th birthday January 9 with a very special benefit concert at Madison Square Garden with profits going to Save The Children. Special guests who will be joining Bowie for this auspicious event (held one day after his actual birthdate on January 8) include Frank Black, Foo Fighters, Lou Reed, Robert Smith of The Cure and Sonic Youth, plus opening guests Placebo. These artists will all be joining Bowie onstageperforming songs from throughout his acclaimed career.

Tickets go on sale Monday, December 16 and are priced at $35.00 and $50.00.

Save The Children is a non-profit, non-sectarian, non-political international development and relief organization founded in 1932. They are dedicated to making lasting, positive change in the lives of disadvantagedchildren throughout the United States and in 40 developing nations. For more than 60 years, Save The Children has been a leader in early childhood education, economic opportunity, preventive health care and emergency response. Today, their programs reach 1.5 million children and their families throughout the world.