*”Barbican Theatre”-EC3 & Tony Visconti’s ‘All Star Band’- perform their “Best of Bowie”.

Posted on by Posted in 'Live' Music, Music, People .
On Sunday 13th March, London Shoes ha a great night at the Barbican Theatre-London EC2  – when I went with the bruv-in-law Vince to see Tony Visconti’s ‘All Star Band’ perform their ‘Best of Bowie’ set.
Tony Visconti (76) was a long time close friend and musical collaborator of David Bowie, having played bass on Bowie’s 1971 released “The Man Who Sold the World” album – and then went on to produce and have a hand in the production of 13 of his albums – as well as producing many other top artists inc Marc Bolan and his Tyrannosaurus Rex and then T.Rex, in their early 1970’s heyday (Bowie and Bolan being the main contributors to the ‘soundtrack’ of my youth ).
We’d actually bought tickets for this gig, a couple of years back – but then of course, the Covid pandemic came along and scuppered those plans – Eventually this Barbican event was finally rearranged for Sunday 13th March 2022.
London Shoes had never really adventured deep into the heart of the City’s Barbican district before, so I felt that this gig was worthy of a blog publication.
The history of the Barbican is an interesting one, and is a Shoes blog topic in its own right – as it is totally unique and unlike any other area/district of London.
The Barbican emerged from a vast, WW2 bomb-flattened area on the northern edge of the City of London was developed in 1962 through to 1982, and it marked significance in architectural and town planning.
The word Barbican comes from the Latin word ‘Barbecana’ which meant a fortified outpost or gateway, and outer defence of a city or castle – and of course, remnants of the old Roman ‘London Wall’  can be found all around today’s Barbican district.
Within the massive Barbican Centre is the Barbican Theatre  – and when it was opened in 1982, theatre experts described it as “the finest medium-sized house to be built in Britain since the war and, by international standards, one of the greats”.
Anyway – back to Tony Visconti’s All Stars “Best of Bowie” gig at the Barbican Theatre.
Visconti’s ‘All Star Band’ included Visconti on bass – Glen Gregory formerly of Heaven 17, on vocals – guitarist James Stevenson, formerly of the Alarm – guitarist Paul Cuddeford, who has played with everyone from Tom Jones to Bob Geldof-Cat Stevens-McFly-Paul Young – Jessica Lee Morgan-multi-instrumentalist and daughter of Tony Visconti and Mary Hopkin, who those of a certain age will be aware, had a massive hit with ‘Those Were the Days’ plus many more – Smiley, the former Alarm drummer and Jeanette Mason on piano & keyboards.
I’d actually seen this band line ‘live’ twice before in its previous incarnation (2019 & 2020) when they were called ‘Holy Holy’, and had legendary ex Spider from Mars drummer ‘Woody Woodmansey’ thumping the tubs (the only surviving member of Bowie’s ‘Spiders’)– but as Woody was not part of this current tour, there was clearly some legal requirement to change the band’s name.
Anyway – the band knocked out a brilliant 2hr set of Bowie material from his Man Who Sold the World – Hunky Dory – Ziggy Stardust –Aladdin Sane – Diamond Dogs albums, plus selected classics from later albums – the ‘set-list’ for the night was:-

Intro – Warszawa – (instrumental from the Low album)

The Width of a Circle – (The Man Who Sold the World – album)

Lady Grinning Soul – (Aladdin Sane – album)

Ziggy Stardust – (Ziggy Stardust & the Spiders from Mars – album)

Time – (Aladdin Sane – album)

Quicksand – (Hunky Dory – album)

Changes – (Hunky Dory – album)

Ashes to Ashes – (Scary Monsters-Super Creeps – album)

All the Madmen – (The Man Who Sold the World – album)

Wild Eyed Boy from Freecloud / All the Young Dudes / Oh You Pretty Things – (a medly from the David Bowie and the Hunky Dory – albums)

Boys Keep Swinging – (the Lodger – album)

Space Oddity – (the David Bowie – album)

The Man Who Sold the World – (The Man Who Sold the World album)

Starman – (Ziggy Stardust & the Spiders from Mars – album)

Heroes – (Heroes – album)

Rock ‘n’ Roll Suicide – (Ziggy Stardust & the Spiders from Mars – album)

Life on Mars –  (Hunky Dory – album)

Moonage Daydream – (Ziggy Stardust & the Spiders from Mars – album)

Encore:

Where are we now? – (The Next Day – album)

Rebel Rebel – (Diamond Dogs – album)

Suffragette City – (Ziggy Stardust & the Spiders from Mars – album)

 From the very opening bar of ‘Width of a Circle’ the opening track of Bowie’s 1970 released album ‘The Man Who Sold the World’ – the entire Barbican Theatre audience (of mainly a certain age) – were up off their seats, singing and dancing along from the very opening number.🎼💃🕺
A great night was had by all – just the tonic required – especially for all these rearranged gigs that are now out there.😉👍
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See below, the full gallery of photos taken to support this blog

Me – at Barbican tube station – on the Metropolitan / Circle / Hammersmith & City lines -on a standard tube map – and the nearest station to the Barbican Theatre

The Barbican emerged from a vast, WW2 bomb-flattened area on the northern edge of the City of London was developed in 1962 through to 1982, and it marked significance in architectural and town planning.

The unique Barbican district of the City of London

Me – mooching around the Barbican district of The City

Me – outside the Barbican Theatre

The ‘Barbican Theatre’ within the Barbican Centre – London EC3

Inside the Barbican Centre building where the Barbican Theatre is located.

The re-arranged ‘Tony Visconti All Stars ‘Best of Bowie’ tour – cancelled in 2020 because of the Covid pandemic

Me & bruv-in-law Vince at the Barbican – pre-gig

The Barbican Theatre stage – pre-gig

The Tony Visconti All Star Band take the stage at the Barbican Theatre – and launch into “The Width of a Circle” – from Bowie’s 1970 released ‘The Man Who Sold the World” album.

Tony Visconti All Star Band in full swing – from l to r:- Paul Cuddeford – Jeanette Mason – Jessica Lee Morgan – Smiley – Gen Gregory – Tony Visconti & James Stevenson

Tony Visconti ‘All Star Band’ – knock out their ‘Best of Bowie’ set – on the Barbican Theatre stage

Tony Visconti ‘All Star Band’ – knock out their ‘Best of Bowie’ set – on the Barbican Theatre stage

Jessica Lee Morgan & Paul Cuddeford – on stage

Vocalist and front man Glen Gregory – strutting his stuff

Tony Visconti ‘All Star Band’ – knock out their ‘Best of Bowie’ set – on the Barbican Theatre stage

Glen Gregory and drummer Smiley – on the Barbican Theatre stage

Glen Gregory – strutting his stuff

Tony Visconti ‘All Star Band’ – knock out their ‘Best of Bowie’ set – on the Barbican Theatre stage

The great Tony Visconti – on stage at the Barbican Theatre

Tony Visconti’s biography – published in 2007. A much read book within my ‘music heroes’ collection of books.

Another shot of the great Tony Visconti – on stage at the Barbican Theatre

Tony Visconti ‘All Star Band’ – coming to the end of their ‘Best of Bowie’ set – on the Barbican Theatre stage

Me – & the bruv-in-law Vince – having enjoyed an excellent night of musical entertainment and nostalgia – provided by the ‘Tony Visconti-All Star Band’ – performing their ‘Best of Bowie’ set at the prestigious Barbican Theatre-London EC3

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