Glad I Saw 'Em #1 - David Bowie

@teamfreak16 (43421)
Denver, Colorado
November 8, 2018 1:24pm CST
Glad I Saw 'Em. It's a musical series about musicians that I was lucky enough to see in concert, because they are now deceased. Thankfully, we are at the finish (I say "thankfully" because that means that a lot of musicians are still around.) #1 in the series is the legendary David Bowie (1947-2016.) In 1987, David Bowie conceived a massive (overblown, according to critics) stage show, which would become the Glass Spider Tour, which was built around his album from that year, Never Let Me Down. The stage alone was huge: four stories high, over which hung a giant glass spider. There were two stages, which bunnyhopped each other. As Bowie performed in one city, the other stage was being assembled in the next. There were "in character" dancers/backup singers, and the band included long-time guitarist Carlos Alomar, bassist Carmine Rojas, and, on lead guitar, Peter Frampton. (After the tour, critics suggested that Bowie consider making his concerts "more intimate," to which the singer replied something like "What am I supposed to do? Come out in a bathrobe with a cup of coffee?" The tour hit Denver that summer, with The Outfield and Duran Duran in tow, and a group of us scored tickets. And it was a total blast. I have a great story about a gallon of booze, my gay hairdresser and I and a couple of hefty girls and some marijuana, but I'll save that for some other time. Because what matters is that I got to see David Bowie in concert, and it ranks #2 on my Best Concerts list. And I really never got the chance to see him again. I couldn't swing it. I desperately wanted to see Bowie's tour with Nine Inch Nails, for instance, but I missed out. So I am left with my Glass Spider memories. I've linked to the opening from the tour, although it wasn't filmed in Denver (I believe it was London.) You'll see that it was theatrical as hell. Overblown? Probably. Awesome? Hell yes! And then some! (Info verified by Wikipedia)
7 people like this
5 responses
@dgobucks226 (34371)
14 Nov 18
Sounds like a terrific experience. Musically Bowie always was ahead of the curve so to speak. I imagine The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars tour was also something to see. He was an 'artiste' in the truest sense of the word!
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
14 Nov 18
I've seen the Ziggy Stardust concert movie on cable. Awesome!
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
15 Nov 18
@dgobucks226 - I love live music. What can I say?
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (34371)
14 Nov 18
@teamfreak16 Yes, me too! I'm jealous you got to see him. You have seen many good ones over the years
1 person likes this
@Ronrybs (17844)
• London, England
8 Nov 18
I only really came to like Bowie in the late 90s, so at lot of the time I seem to be discovering his work.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
8 Nov 18
That's a lot of work to discover!
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
8 Nov 18
@Ronrybs - It's never too late to "discover" something!
2 people like this
@Ronrybs (17844)
• London, England
8 Nov 18
@teamfreak16 It is a bit strange, having lived through it but only now getting interested. Same for Punk, got interested in about 10 years back
2 people like this
• Preston, England
14 Nov 18
that is a guy I'd love to have seen too
1 person likes this
• Preston, England
15 Nov 18
@teamfreak16 yes, that once is special in itself no doubt
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
15 Nov 18
I would have loved to have seen him again, but it never worked out. At least I did get to see him though.
1 person likes this
@amadeo (111948)
• United States
8 Nov 18
you had quite a life there Scott.I envy you seeing all of this.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
8 Nov 18
I have definitely seen a lot of great bands.
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
8 Nov 18
Bowie was more than a concert but a theatrical experience and that was part of being Bowie.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
8 Nov 18
This was definitely theatrical. Like watching a Broadway show in many ways.
1 person likes this