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David Bowie in Birmingham

lowart

lowart

proper brummie kid
Does anyone have recollections of any of these performances by Bowie?

1965
June 19 - Gay Tower Ballroom (as Davy Jones & The Lower Third)

1966
Jan 19 - Cedar Club (as David Bowie & The Lower Third)
March 5 - promo visit to Cranes Record Store

1968
December - two dates at The Arts Club (as 'Feathers')- both cancelled, one on the 12th, the other?

1969
February 15 - Town Hall supporting Tyrannosarus Rex
October 10 - Town Hall supporting Humble Pie
October 19- Rebecca's

Thank you!
 
Hi lowart, times past this thread by, shame, but I worked at the Town Hall and saw those two concerts, he came back later and did his Ziggy thing there twice I think, although my memories are clouded a little:)
 
David Bowie at Cranes (Priory Ringway) on 5th March 1966:
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Vivienne14 said:
Yes I saw him in early 1970s at the Town Hall. He was the most entertaining performer I'd ever seen. Saw him a few times, his shows were fantastic, he never disappointed. Such a sad loss to music. Viv.
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I was at that Gig. It was fantastic. IIRC, was it just after Ziggy Stardust had come out?
 
Think it would have been 1972 when I saw him at the Town Hall. Nerve - racking boilerman - I think visual presentation was incredibly important to him. I later lived in south London where Bowie lived for a while. Our local library had a display of his early things, one of which was a green school blazer which he'd transformed by painting stripes all over it ! He also performed an early outside concert there at the bandstand in the recreation ground. When he passed away it became a shrine to him.
 
Bowie at the Town Hall in 1972 (photos by Mick Rock who like boilerman was new to the job). Mick shot his very first images of David backstage and then continued to photograph the fledgling Ziggy throughout the show. The pair clicked immediately, and Mick travelled back to Haddon Hall with David. Here’s Mick...
“Backstage at Birmingham Town Hall, 17th March. The first pictures I ever took of David. I didn’t know how to shoot a live concert then, so there is a certain looseness of framing. It was actually through David that I learnt how to shoot live: I could see him night after night and still be inspired to take great pictures. That evening we met, we returned to London together. David was buzzing after the gig and we went back to his home where I interviewed him. Sitting up in the dead of night, David had plenty to say, and I was very impressed by him.”
Mick recorded the interview and produced features for both Rolling Stone and Club International, utilising excerpts from their exchange and images from the show.

1745047771130.png 1745047809308.png1745047861487.png
 
John L said:
Bowie at the Town Hall in 1972 (photos by Mick Rock who like boilerman was new to the job). Mick shot his very first images of David backstage and then continued to photograph the fledgling Ziggy throughout the show. The pair clicked immediately, and Mick travelled back to Haddon Hall with David. Here’s Mick...
“Backstage at Birmingham Town Hall, 17th March. The first pictures I ever took of David. I didn’t know how to shoot a live concert then, so there is a certain looseness of framing. It was actually through David that I learnt how to shoot live: I could see him night after night and still be inspired to take great pictures. That evening we met, we returned to London together. David was buzzing after the gig and we went back to his home where I interviewed him. Sitting up in the dead of night, David had plenty to say, and I was very impressed by him.”
Mick recorded the interview and produced features for both Rolling Stone and Club International, utilising excerpts from their exchange and images from the show.

View attachment 200951 View attachment 200952View attachment 200953
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Great photo's and memories John, thanks for digging them out. Salubrious, dressing rooms eh?:laughing:
 
Apparently he also performed at the University of Birmingham School of Education on 20 May 1966 .... with the Buzz, supporting a band called the Escorts.
Here are a couple of photos from events in the original post ....

5 March 1966 : Crane's music shop in Colmore Circus, promoting his single "Can't Help Thinking About Me"
Bowie Crane's 5 March 1966.jpg

19 October 1969 : Rebecca's in Severn Street
Bowie Rebecca's 19 October 1969.jpg
 
BrummieGeoff said:
Apparently he also performed at the University of Birmingham School of Education on 20 May 1966 .... with the Buzz, supporting a band called the Escorts.
Here are a couple of photos from events in the original post ....

5 March 1966 : Crane's music shop in Colmore Circus, promoting his single "Can't Help Thinking About Me"
View attachment 200957

19 October 1969 : Rebecca's in Severn Street
View attachment 200958
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Jeez, that first photo.....how far ahead of the game was he then. A proper individual influencer,. Thanks BrummieGeoff, thats a great memory. Oh, and The Escorts, I cant remember how I know the name:oops:
 
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It's hard to believe, but authoritative Bowie fan sites say that David Bowie and the Riot Squad played at the Charde Guest House on Mackadown Lane, Kitts Green on 26 April 1967. The guest house still appears to be there with the same name. Has anyone heard about this gig? Or maybe DB and the band just stayed there overnight??
 
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BrummieGeoff said:
It's hard to believe, but authoritative Bowie fan sites say that David Bowie and the Riot Squad played at the Charde Guest House on Mackadown Lane, Kitt's Green on 26 April 1967. The guest house still appears to be there with the same name. Has anyone heard about this gig? Or maybe DB and the band just stayed there overnight??
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I wonder if it was actually the Mackadown pub the band played at?
I know bands played there in the mid/late 60s as I went there a couple of times.
 
A Sparks said:
Not the same building, this photograph by William Dargue was the Mackadown pub I remember ( now demolished, a Lidl now occupies the space)...
View attachment 201028
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No it's not the same building, first Pic is the guest house still on Mackadown Lane. What I should have made clear is Bowie would probably have played the pub (2nd Pic) not the guest house (1st Pic) as guest house too small.
 
1299 said:
No it's not the same building, first Pic is the guest house still on Mackadown Lane. What I should have made clear is Bowie would probably have played the pub (2nd Pic) not the guest house (1st Pic) as guest house too small.
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Ah thanks...yes, I think we are probably right!
 
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