DAVID BOWIE announced today that he will wrap up nearly four months of national and overseas touring?encompassing stadiums, arenas and amphitheaters?with seven truly intimate shows in the Northeast.
Dubbed the ?New York City Marathon Tour,? BOWIE will perform 5 different nights in 5 different venues in each of New York?s 5 boroughs. In following the route of the New York City Marathon, BOWIE will commence the tour October 11 in Staten Island. The trek will then move over the Verrazano Bridge to Brooklyn, down the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway to Queens, over the Queensboro Bridge heading north into The Bronx, and back across the Hamilton Avenue Bridge to Manhattan. The tour will conclude just two weeks before the running of the actual New York City Marathon.
?The last time I came through the Northeast it was on the Area 2 Tour,? said BOWIE. ?We played in amphitheaters which are usually a good distance from the major cities. Marathon courses are strategically planned to bring the runners to the streets. I would like to repay the fans that traveled so far to see me by bringing my show to them. But most importantly, I could get home from all the gigs on roller skates.?
With venues ranging in size from 300 to 2,900, the fans will get to see BOWIE as never before.
After the whirlwind tour of New York City, BOWIE will perform one-night-only shows at Philadelphia?s Tower Theatre (October 21) and Boston?s Orpheum Theatre (October 23). Both venues have capacities under 3,000, giving BOWIE fans a unique intimate evening like they?ve never had before.
Tickets go on sale Friday, October 4. There will be a special pre-sale of tickets to BowieNet members, his online community at davidbowie.com.
These shows will come directly on the heels of DAVID?s in-progress overseas trip, which includes an October 2 performance at London?s Carling Apollo (formerly the Hammersmith Odeon), site of BOWIE?s final ZIGGY concert in 1973.
BOWIE?s performances have been hailed for their blend of classics and songs from his critically acclaimed HEATHEN album (ISO/Columbia), which achieved 15 top 15 debuts around the world, including the U.S. and earned him a Mercury Prize nomination in the U.K. The album features the song ?Everyone Says Hi,? which will be released to radio in America in early October.
Here are some recent live quotes from the press:
?BOWIE?seemed every bit as rejuvenated on stage as he does on his new Heathen album. Equally important, the six songs from the new album held their own in that classy company?reassurance that BOWIE remains a vital artist who?s not depending on the oldies to hold fans? attention.?
–Robert Hilburn, LOS ANGELES TIMES, 8/15/02
?His impressive performance proved that BOWIE is still a performer to be reckoned with and also made a case for Heathen, as tunes such as ?Slip Away? and ?Cactus? held their own beside ?Breaking Glass? and ?Heroes.??
–Steven Mirkin, DAILY VARIETY, 8/15/02
?DAVID BOWIE has been putting on some of the best shows of his recent career.?
–Isaac Guzman, NEW YORK DAILY NEWS, 8/5/02
??a hot set of his own that deftly combined classics, newer tunes and a few obscure album cuts? He sounded sensational, as did his tight backing band? Newer tunes such as the winsome acoustic pop number ?Everyone Says Hi??fit in with ease.?
–Sarah Rodman, BOSTON HERALD, 8/4/02
The ?New York City Marathon Tour? dates:
Fri 10/11 Staten Island The Music Hall at Snug Harbor
Sat 10/12 Brooklyn St. Anne?s Warehouse
Wed 10/16 Queens Queens College Golden Center
Thu 10/17 Bronx Jimmy’s Bronx Cafe
Sun 10/20 Manahattan Beacon Theatre
Mon 10/21 Philadelphia The Tower Theatre
Wed 10/23 Boston Orpheum Theatre