When David Bowie Came to Ealing

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Archive material unearthed and memories of Ziggy Stardust

Music lovers have been sharing memories of David Bowie following the shock announcement of his death from cancer at the age of 69 on Sunday January 10.

Amongst the massive amount of archive that's appeared over the last few days is mention of The Ealing Club.

In 1973 Bowie had made a promotional radio programme for the cover album Pin Ups, and it was then he spoke about his visit:

'' I’d already been up Ealing Broadway to see Alexis Korner’s Blues Incorporated, and that’s when he had a killer line-up with Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker, Cyril Davies and Spike Heatley on bass, Graham Bond on organ and alto with of course John Baldry on vocals. I think most London art school students found themselves carted up there some time or other. Viv Andrews and Dick Taylor for sure. Dick was at Sidcup forming The Pretty Things with Phil after he got chucked out of the Stones. Phil was pretty electric and cleared most halls in about 15 minutes.''

Bowie appeared at both the Hammersmith Odeon and the Shepherd's Bush Empire at various stages of his career, and those gigs are still vividly remembered by his fans.

Amanda Rose, who was house photographer at the Shepherd's Bush Empire at the time of his concert there in August 11 1997, wrote on her blog: " RIP David Bowie.

" Deeply shocked and saddened to hear the music world has lost another legend.

" I’d been house photographer at London’s Shepherds Bush Empire for a little over a year when I had the opportunity to photography David Bowie performing there.

" It was the one and only time I got to photograph him.

Unfortunately, the agency I was submitting to at the time, somehow lost my negatives, so all I have are a few very very low res scans and some very fond memories."

You can see more of Amanda's treasured photos of the gig on her blog.

You can also see much of David Bowie's performances at the Empire on August 11 and 12 1997, recorded by fans in the audience, on YouTube.

David Bowie also performed at the Hammersmith Odeon - now the Eventim Apollo - on three occasions - on July 3, 1973, almost exactly ten years later on June 30, 1983 and again on October 2, 2002.

This last concert was part of a tour supporting the album Heathen and also included all the songs from the album Low. The 1983 concert, meanwhile was part of the Serious Moonlight tour.

But it is the gig from 1973 that fans are mostly remembering today, as that was the last gig he ever played as Ziggy Stardust. And poignantly, one of the songs he played that night was a cover of Jacques Brel's La Mort - My Death.

Again, you can see a video of this performance on YouTube.

Among those remembering this show were sports broadcaster Nick Feinberg ‏@thehonestnick:
"My first ever concert...David Bowie, Hammersmith Odeon 1973...RIP."

Christina Hollis recalled ‏@ChristinaBooks: " I remember when the end of Ziggy Stardust (at the Hammersmith Odeon, IIRC) was the only news all next day on BBC Radio1. RIP David Bowie."

And James Barlow tweeted ‏@jgbarlow2010: " #DavidBowie RIP. I'm lucky enough to have been to his farewell Ziggy Stardust gig at the Hammersmith Odeon in 1973. I'll never forget it."

 

Do you have any Bowie memories to share? Discuss on the forum.

If you have any local Bowie events planned, contact editor@ealingtoday.co.uk to get listed.

January 13 2016