RockonTour.net
the Single Source for the Concertphile

 

Alive at BBC Radio Theatre
David Bowie's exclusive BBC concert

by Timothy Tilghman

    David Bowie is an extraordinary artist. His chameleon ability to reinvent himself time and time again as fashions, trends, and music tastes change is simply astounding. The British icon returned before BBC microphones to perform at a special gig recorded for radio broadcast.

    BBC Radio Theatre, London, June 27, 2000 was released as a limited edition disc in February 2001. 130 Bowie fans were selected lottery-style to attend this intimate club gig, arriving from all over the globe from Australia, Canada, Europe, Japan, and the United States.

    Bowie is supported by Sterling Campbell on drums, Gail Ann Dorsey on vocals, bass and guitar, Mike Garson on keyboards and piano, Emm Gryner on vocals and keyboards, Earl Slick on guitar, Holly Palmer on vocals and percussion, and Mark Plati on bass and guitar.

    "Wild Is The Wind" has such a lush presentation in it's performance, one could almost mistake it for a studio rendition. "Ashes To Ashes", from Scary Monsters, is a humorous mini-music drama. The lyrics hearken back to the character of Major Tom introduced in 1969's "Space Oddity". The burping bass line adds an edge to this version.

    Bowie includes a tremendous update of "The Man Who Sold The World". His BBC performance has a much richer sound than Nirvana's 1994 Unplugged In New York release. "Fame" was a major breakthrough smash hit for Bowie in 1975, co-written by the late John Lennon. Although this live rendition may have a slower tempo than the original #1 single, the new arrangement here has a distinct funky bounce to it.

    Bowie delivers a decisively tough sounding version of "Cracked Actor". The naughty lyrics conjure comical imagery as the sound swells and swirls in intensity, supported by soaring vocals and stinging guitar work. "I'm Afraid Of Americans" is a quirky song that translates into a tour de force live.

    "Let's Dance" begins with a completely new arrangement, featuring a gentle acoustic guitar intro. After Bowie's tender vocal passage, the song crashes into a powerful rocker. Many of the selections found on BBC Radio Theatre feature modern material from Bowie's extensive career.

    David Bowie previously recorded for BBC Radio from May 1968 through June 1972. A double disc set, Bowie At The Beeb, collects examples of those broadcasts from that earlier period. However, this new disc is an outstanding artifact of one of Britain's top male performers.

RockonTour   Issue #9
Concert Fan   Concertphile@yahoo.com

RockonTour.net - the Single Source for the Concertphile © 2002 RoT
RockonTour