Month: September 2002

We could do it, we could do, we could do it…

As we mentioned on the MBs, within a nanosecond of yesterday’s Radio1 announcement, ‘Everyone Says ‘Hi” has entered the UK Top 40 at number 20. I’m sure you’ll all want to join me in congratulating David on what is his 37th Top 20 single, a feat that means he has now had a Top 20 placing in five different decades! The placing also means that TOTPs are more likely to play the song on this Friday’s show.

There are plans for a European release of the single next month, in the following formats:

European Single CD tracklist:
01 Everyone Says ‘Hi’ (Radio edit)
02 Safe

European Maxi CD tracklist:
01 Everyone Says ‘Hi’ (Radio edit)02 Safe
03 Baby Loves That Way
04 Sunday (Tony Visconti mix)

Meanwhile Canada has a unique single release, out today, in the shape of ‘I’ve Been Waiting For You’. Here’s the CD tracklisting for this release:

Canadian Single CD tracklist:
01 I’ve Been Waiting For You
02 Sunday
03 Shadow Man

It’s just a hunch, but I have a feeling that the nationality of the song’s author probably has something to do with this release.

Last night they loved you

Without further ado, we bring you this report from SusanS as she pauses to check her email between Berlin and Paris.

David thrilled the Berlin audience last night with a stomping 31 song set. He entered the stage to a huge roar wearing a stunning deep blue suit and tie and was soon teasing the crowd with hints that it was going to be a long night. The show contained five new additions to the tour:- ‘Look Back In Anger’, ‘Moonage Daydream’, ‘Survive’ , a beautifully reworked ‘Rebel Rebel’ and ‘Alabama Song’ (which he announced as a song he sang at breakfast every morning in his Berlin apartment :-).

He delighted us all with a selection of hits and ‘Heathen’ tracks in the opening section before leaving the stage for a mega-fast costume change. He returned in his lovely black suit and announced he would be doing the entire ‘LOW’ album. This brought such a cheer that he smiled and jested that he was glad everyone knew it 🙂 As if that was not a big enough treat, he left the stage promising to do yet more songs; returned in a gorgeous long black coat..and gave us another 9. He was really rocking. ‘Hallo Spaceboy’ was so full of drive that I thought I had broken my nose on the man in front (ouch).

David and the band gave a powerful, energetic and inspirational performance throughout. If the post show fan get-together in the ‘pub across the road’ can be used as a guide then this show may go down as a big tour favourite. Everyone seemed overjoyed and kept commenting on the ‘amazing’ sound quality. It was nice to see Mark Plati too. He came across and chatted with some of us before joining his guests 🙂

Thanks to all for a wonderful show. Onward to Paris then 🙂

SusanS

(Apologies for the picture quality folks.. I was too far away)

Set List

Life On Mars?
Ashes To Ashes
Cactus
Look Back In Anger
China Girl
Slip Away
Fame
I’m Afraid Of Americans
5:15 The Angels Have Gone
I’ve Been Waiting for You
“Heroes”
Heathen (The Rays)

Warszawa
Speed of Life
Breaking Glass
What In The World
Sound And Vision
Art Decade
Always Crashing In The Same Car
Be My Wife
A New Career In A New Town
Subterraneans

Rebel Rebel
Moonage Daydream
Survive
Alabama Song
Afraid
Everyone Says Hi
Hallo Spaceboy
Let’s Dance
Ziggy Stardust

(Thanks a lot SusanS)

:))

Not only is it the last show of the tour…

OK, as I said in yesterday’s news and on the message boards, the original Meet & Greet competition that I proposed earlier in the week (09/19/02 NEWS: BOWIE RETURNS TO HAMMERSMITH FOR LONDON SHOW) hasn’t proved very popular, and will not now go ahead. I’m going to keep this new one nice and simple so that nobody has to purchase anything, and any BowieNetter can enter. You are competing for two pairs of tickets to see David in concert, and two pairs of Meet & Greet places for David Bowie’s Hammersmith show on October 2nd.

I’m going to revert to the tried and tested answer a simple question technique… and here it is:

David Bowie is set to play the Hammersmith Carling Apollo on Wednesday October 2nd. This is the same venue that he retired Ziggy at back in July 1973, when the venue was known simply as the Hammersmith Odeon. The concert was captured for posterity by legendary film maker D.A. Pennebaker, and was recently re-issued for theatrical release.

But, the released version of the film is incomplete, due to the fact that a guest artist who performed with Ziggy and The Spiders on the night, is allegedly unhappy about his appearance in the film, particularly the width of his flares! This chap was in a famous band in the Sixties, whose songs David has released versions of in the past. All I need to know from you is the title of one of those songs that David has released? Yep, it’s that easy!

All the usual rules apply but here they are yet again, just in case:

As ever, please be sure to provide proof of a BowieNet account…either e-mail your entry from your BowieNet account, or supply your BowieNet user name, if you mail from a non BowieNet account.

If possible please provide a telephone number in case we need to contact you urgently.

No duplicate entries please… duplicate entries will only be accepted if you are worried that a previous e-mail wasn’t sent properly.

Only enter if you can DEFINITELY attend the show.

Send your answer to me at TotalBlamBlam@DavidBowie.com with a subject line of: I want to meet David on October 2nd.

The contest will end at midnight UK time on Wednesday night, and the winners will be notified on Thursday morning, after we have checked the validity of their BowieNet account. Please keep an eye on BowieNet for the winners names in case there are e-mail problems. Good luck to each and every one of you.

And we’ll drink if we don’t go down…

I have been reading your concerns on the Message Boards regarding ticket availability for the Bowie show at the Carling Apollo on Wednesday October 2nd. Being as resourceful as you are, it seems you are finding out things that I’m still not able to announce because of the “contractual issues” I mentioned recently. I noticed on the MBs that at least one BowieNet member (k1gpw) has managed to glean some information from the ticket agent, that, as silly as it must now seem to you, I’m still not able to mention!

What I can tell you is that, after some debate on the message boards, and due to the limited availability of BowieNet tickets, our allocation will be sold one ticket per member. The good news about these tickets is that we have been promised seats in the front of the house. Of course the BowieNet allocation isn’t the only chance you have to get tickets for this show…

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CarlingLive website

There will be several competitions running with chances to win tickets, and I would suggest that you become a member of the CarlingLive website for this very reason. Not only are they running a competition to win tickets, but they also have a competition for a meet and greet with David. Click on the above image to take you to the site, where you will need to sign up before you can enter.

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Carling TXT 2 WIN

For those who enjoy a drink in the London area, there is also the “chance to win tickets and meet the man himself everytime you buy a pint of Carling” via an instant win “TXT 2 WIN” card system… Again, see the CarlingLive website for more details, and a list of the ten bars participating in the promotion.

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The Independent and CarlingLive

Details of yet another promotion are printed in this morning’s Independent newspaper in the UK. In conjunction with CarlingLive, this competition asks the impossible: “What is the name of Bowie’s latest album?”. And your reward for such a taxing question? The chance to win one of 50 pairs of tickets, with one pair winning a meet and greet with David in the Carling VIP room.

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BowieNet Meet and Greet competition

Earlier in the week I announced an upcoming BowieNet meet and greet competition. (09/19/02 NEWS: BOWIE RETURNS TO HAMMERSMITH FOR LONDON SHOW) As I said in my piece, the original idea was “to reward a couple of fans that bought all three ‘Everyone Says ‘Hi” CD singles.” This competition was my idea and not some cynical marketing ploy… it truly was aimed at people who had already bought the single.

But nothing ever runs smoothly it seems. In my naivety I had neglected to take into account UK gaming and licensing laws. I was informed thus: “If you have to buy the 3 CDs to be entered, this is a lottery, not a prize draw or competition and it is illegal in the UK unless you apply for a licence.” (Thanx Ads)

As if that wasn’t enough of a problem, it seems a few of you have bought the singles especially for the competition. So what to do? Well I’m obviously going to have to reset the competition so that is fairer for everybody, and legal! Come back tomorrow for details of the new competition.

In the meantime, there may be some of you that have bought the singles for the competition that don’t actually want these CDs… hard to imagine, but it’s possible. If you fall into this category, please contact me with details of your purchase (where, when etc) including a scan of your receipt. Not quite sure what I’m going to do about this one yet, but I have a nasty feeling it’s going to cost me a few pounds! 🙁

So, if you are unhappy with your purchase, please send your details to me at TotalBlamBlam@DavidBowie.com with a subject line of “I don’t like these CDs, what are you going to do about it Blammo!” I’m praying I don’t get too many responses, so please be gentle.

Don’t ask me how it’s done…

Tonight at 10:25pm, BBC ONE broadcasts David’s interview with Parkinson that a few BowieNetters were able to attend the recording of in London on Thursday. It’s a great interview that really is worth stopping up for, but only if you’re allowed to watch stuff after the 9:00pm watershed. Here’s the blurb from the BBC site:

Michael Parkinson begins this new series in style as he chats to Tom Hanks, one of Hollywood’s most popular actors. Music icon David Bowie performs his new single live in the studio. Strong language.

As most of you know, David performed ‘Life On Mars?’ as well as ‘Everyone Says ‘Hi”, and they were really quite emotional versions of both. The interview itself was absolutely fascinating, and David talked quite freely about his formative years and early musical influences. Without giving too much away, subjects lurched from parental effects on the psyche, Little Richard, Tubby the Tuba, Earnest Luft – the boy soprano, Philip Larkin and much more.

David hinted that Parky put him in mind of his father due to a very similar Yorkshire lilt in their voices, and this really did seem to unnerve David at times. Elsewhere he admitted that as much as he is keen to receive affection, he doesn’t always find it easy to show it towards others. As I say, it’s a great interview and a rare glimpse at another side of DB.

The pictures I have posted here are both from rehearsals earlier in the day, but for the interview proper David wore a green and orange turtle neck by Agnès B, and black trousers and boots by Dior. The sixty minute programme is broadcast in stereo.

Oh don’t lean on me man, cause you can’t afford the ticket…

The CarlingLive website has now been updated with information on ticket sales. (See earlier story below) Here is the latest straight from the horse’s mouth to avoid any Chinese whispers:

Tickets for this one-off gig at the new Carling Apollo, Hammersmith are on sale from 10am on Saturday 28th September, priced £45 each, and will only be available in person from the box office of the Carling Apollo, Hammersmith. Tickets will not be available to buy through any other outlet* and will be strictly limited to a maximum of two tickets per person.

Carlinglive.com will also be selling 250 tickets right here** from Tuesday 01st October at 10am. Tickets will be priced £45 each (plus booking fee) and strictly limited to two per person. Make sure you register now so you can buy tickets when they come on sale on Tuesday morning.

* “Tickets will not be available to buy through any other outlet” – Excepting BowieNet of course.

** “right here” being Carlinglive.com, obviously.

Click on the image above to take you to the page, I think this will only work if you have already registered. Even though the Carling site is in the public domain, you obviously have a better chance of getting tickets via this route if you don’t help to broadcast this information outside of BowieNet. This information is not on our free site… No, really it isn’t! };-)

Fashions may change, heaven knows…

We are delighted to confirm that David Bowie will be playing “one or two songs” at the 2002 VH1/Vogue Fashion Awards which take place at New York’s Radio City Music Hall on October 15th. The show will be broadcast on VH1 in the USA at 9.00PM ET/PT on the day, and is usually repeated frequently over the following few weeks.

You can check out this page at VH1 for more details of the show. The page also has a link to a competiton in which you can win:- Hotel and airfare for you and a guest, tickets for you and a guest to the awards and even the chance to be a paparrazi and take pictures on the red carpet.

David is no stranger to the awards and had a lot of fun presenting the award for Fashion Designer of the Year to Stella McCartney in 2000 (10/23/00 NEWS: STELLAR PERFORMANCE FROM DAVID AT VH-1/VOGUE FASHION AWARDS). And who could forget the 1996 awards where he premiered ‘Little Wonder’ in THAT ‘Union Jack’ coat?

The VH1 news item, announcing this year’s show, includes this quote “Snazzy suits, booty shorts and shamanic coats of many colors are the likely fashion statements to be made when David Bowie, Pink and Santana perform.” Let’s cross our fingers for the ‘booty shorts’… 😉

:))

Back To Where You’ve Never Been…

We are very proud to be able to finally confirm that David will perform at the Carling Apollo in Hammersmith on Wednesday October 2nd. The legendary venue is probably remembered best by most Bowie fans as The Hammersmith Odeon, the venue that witnessed Ziggy’s retirement and David Bowie’s return ten years later for the Brixton charity concert in 1983.

A limited number of tickets will be made available to BowieNetters shortly before the tickets go on general public sale. Please do not call Hammersmith for any further information as they will most likely not only deny that there is a Bowie show, but it may also jeopardise our chances of getting information early in the future. We are actually posting this earlier than we should anyway, which is why it’s not available on the free site.

I know most of you were hoping for more specific information than this, but due to that evil condition known as “contractual issues” our hands are tied. We are simply not allowed to give you any more than this right now. We will post more information as soon as we are able, but that won’t be until later next week now. As ever with these situations, it is in your interest to keep the information we do post regarding this show within the BowieNet community.

Meet and Greet competition… coming up!

Watch this space for your chance to win one of two pairs of tickets for the Hammersmith show, including a meet and greet with the man himself. A little hint here is that the competition is a chance to reward a couple of fans that bought all three ‘Everyone Says ‘Hi” CD singles. We will be asking for photographic evidence of ownership of the CDs in the shape of a picture of each entrant holding the CDs… So get out your Instamatic and your CDs and get clicking quickly. More details to follow shortly.

I believe in magic, angel for life

Tomorrow is a very special day for two BowieNet members who met right here in our chatroom. Lindzay and La La Linda will pledge their love as one in Howell, Michigan, at 2.00pm.

Here are a few words from Lindzay:-

Linda and I have been David Bowie fans for many years not realizing that one-day we would meet and things, as they do, would lead to our decision to marry. After a wonderful time together including a trip to New York and attending the Tibet House Concert and a whole bunch of other cool happenings (like knocking back White Russians with the one and only Patsdragon), we knew that we would be ideally suited and, of course, found each other cute.

We feel we owe BowieNet some praise and, indeed, if you make the most of the community you can make some cool friends and maybe find a soul mate, even.

Linda and I thank our friends on BowieNet for their support and participation in our wedding ceremony and those that are guests and all of the others who have been our well wishers.

I’m sure you will all want to join me in wishing Linda and Lindzay a joyful wedding day and a very happy future life together.

:))