“Atomic Sunrise stream flickers on me”
The Radar section of Saturday’s Independent newspaper in the UK (Jan 26), has a double-page spread regarding an event that took place in London forty three years ago.
Of course we’re talking about the birth of Glam Rock and the performance by David Bowie’s “new electric band”, The Hype, during the week long Atomic Sunrise festival at the Roundhouse in Chalk Farm between 9 and 15 March 1970.
Three songs of the band’s performance on March 11 1970 were captured on film and have finally surfaced to be screened forty three years to the day at the very venue they were originally filmed.
Sadly the accompanying sound has been lost over the years and the tracks have now been dubbed, albeit pretty convincingly, with other Hype sessions from the time.
Here’s a bit from the Radar article…
“But for many, what will excite most about the film is the unique footage of The Hype, filmed just weeks before Bowie recorded The Man Who Sold The World with their bassist, Tony Visconti, acting as producer. Here, we see the birth of the classic rock’n’roll partnership between Ronson and Bowie, the essential axis that made up the Spiders from Mars, in glorious 16mm vintage colour. Given the media’s shock and awe surrounding the release of Bowie’s first single in 10 years, “Where Are We Now?”, and the forthcoming exhibition of his costumes at the V&A, the poignancy and vibrancy of this early footage rescued from oblivion is worthy of real celebration.”
Read the full piece online at independent.co.uk.
You can also enjoy a sneak preview of the Bowie footage on YouTube and if you’re quick you may just snap up one of the few remaining tickets for the two March screenings at The Roundhouse.