Monday 3rd July 2023 was quite a date in popular music history – as it marked the 50th Anniversary of a now legendary concert held at the then named ‘Hammersmith Odeon’. The concert being the final date of the ‘David Bowie and the Spiders from Mars’ 1973 World Tour
This specific tour started in February the previous year (1972) when it was originally comprised of string of provincial venues to promote Bowie’s April 1972 released album ‘The Rise & Fall of Ziggy Stardust & the Spiders from Mars’.
I was lucky enough to attend one of the earlier gigs of this tour – at the ‘Rainbow Theatre’ Finsbury Park – a gig that went down in Bowie history because of the theatrics he introduced for that show plus the inclusion of the Lindsay Kemp dance troupe on stage performing alongside Bowie and the band.
The ‘Ziggy Stardust’ record very soon became Bowie’s breakthrough album – and Bowie’s popularity and the demand for tickets, went ballistic – with venues selling out almost instantly. As a result, loads more dates were added to the tour which soon became a World Tour, taking in America / Japan.
Bowie’s ‘Ziggy’ character became a massive influence on Bowie followers and teenagers of both genders – and and after a year of touring the ‘act’, it was quite evident that Bowie himself had become ‘Ziggy’ – a classic example of ‘art reflecting reality’.
Anyway-this last performance of the 1973 World Tour was obviously an immediate sell out-and it was even more special as it was being filmed by the famous film maker/director ‘D A Pennenbaker’-the man who, a decade earlier, produced the now legendary ‘Dont Look Back’ film, which captured the trials and tribulations of Bob Dylan, when he toured the UK in 1963
This Hammersmith Odeon (now known as the Eventim Apollo theatre) event generated a lot of pre-gig interest and media attention – as if it was known that something special was gonna happen – and it did – because before he launched in his ‘Rock n Roll Suicide’ encore – Bowie stepped up to the mic and announced to the audience ‘This is the last show we will ever do’ – a comment which sent all the Bowie fans and the music press, into complete meltdown.
Apparently, this announcement was a total shock to the Spiders bassist ‘Trevor Bolder’ and drummer ‘Woody Woodmansey’ – who had played on Bowie’s last 3 albums and had toured the world with him. They had no idea that they were suddenly out of work.
It transpires that Bowie felt he was totally and dangerously caught up in his ‘Ziggy’ character – and the only way to break free from it was to ‘quit’ the Ziggy merry-go-round and go in a completely different musical direction – which he did, and continued to do throughout the rest of his musical career.
The film of this ‘final’ concert “Ziggy Stardust & the Spiders from Mars” was eventually released in 1979 – visually capturing the whole essence of Bowie’s ‘Ziggy’ period.
Anyway – on the 3rd July 2023 – exactly 50 years from the date of the ‘Final’ concert – and at exactly the same venue (although now under a different name) – a much
publicised global premier of the digitally remastered “Ziggy Stardust-Motion Picture” film event took place, and my London Shoes were fortunate to get hold of a couple of tickets.
The screening of the film was syncronised with selected cinema’s throughout the UK – but the Hammersmith Odeon event had a few special additional bonuses.
Preceding the showing of the re-mastered film, 3 people who were heavily involved in that night of 3rd July 1973 – notably:- Woody Woodmansey (the Spiders drummer) – Geoff McCormack (percussionist with the Spiders) and Mike Garson (pianist with the Spiders) – were introduced to an appreciative packed house.
Then – to warm up the audience even more – long time Bowie pianist ‘Mike Garson’ played a medley of Bowie song opening on the piano – replicating the very same medley that he played 50 years ago, at the start of the ‘Final’ concert. It was a beautiful moment and very emotive – and at the end Mike Garson received a thoroughly deserved standing ovation from the audience.
Following that little musical interlude, the Q & A session continued – this time with the likes of ‘Suggs’ (from Madness) – Richard E Grant (actor) – Don Letts (early Punk pioneer) & Ken Scott (producer of Bowie’s Hunk Dory/Ziggy Stardust/Aladdin Sane albums) – all recalling their involvement with Bowie at that time and his influence on their lives/careers.
After all that, it was time for the screening of the digitally re-mastered “Ziggy Stardust & the Spiders from Mars-Movie”.
I had obviously seen the film many times in the past, but not for the past couple of decades – but it was great to watch it through once again, this time with the inclusion of the guest appearance by legendary, and recently deceased guitarist ‘Jeff Beck’ – who allegedly, didn’t give his consent to be included in the original film, because he wasn’t ‘happy’ with the trousers he wore that night (how true that is….who knows).
What was amazing about this 50th Anniversary event, is that it was like being at a ‘live’ gig – because at the end of every song performed on the screen, the audience were up out of their seats – cheering and clapping and whooping along in a frenzy – as if Bowie and the band were physically in front of them.
So – in conclusion, this 50th Anniversary event was a great night out – a wonderful experience – well worthy of a Shoes blog – and for me, to still be ‘around’ half-a-century on from the original event, and to be able to be there in person and enjoy it – made me happy and grateful.
If you ever get the chance to see the digitally re-mastered film, I would recommend you watch it, as you don’t have to be a Bowie fan to appreciate the ‘power’ of Bowie and his Ziggy persona, at that particular moment in time. Its well worth viewing.
Hope you enjoyed this review and hope that the accompanying photos help bring the story to life.
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See below the entire gallery of photos taken to support this David Bowie related blog
3rd July 2023 – the crowds starting to gather late afternoon at the old Hammersmith Odeon venue (now called the Eventim Apollo) – for the 50th Anniversary Global Premier of the re-mastered “Ziggy Stardust-the Movie”
The promo for the 3rd July 2023 50th Anniversary event
Punters entering the Hammersmith Odeon (ie Eventime Apollo) for the ’50th Anniversary – Ziggy Stardust Global Premiere’
The same scene outside the Hammersmith Odeon – 3rd July 1973 – 50 years ago to the day – that David Bowie performed the ‘Final’ gig of his 1973 World Tour
The front cover of the ‘David Bowie World Tour 1973’ official programme (my original copy that I found up in my loft)
The official promo poster for the 3rd July 1973 gig
The Hammersmith Odeon (now renamed the Eventim Apollo) doors open for the ’50th Anniversary’ event
Inside the Hammersmith Odeon – pre-event
Inside the Hammersmith Odeon – pre-event
Me – inside the old Hammersmith Odeon – pre-event
Looking in at the big screen – pre-event
All the old Bowie fans starting to take their seats, eagerly awaiting the big Anniversary event
Me – and my bruv-in-law Vince – take up our seats inside the old Hammersmith Odeon – awaiting the 50th Anniversary event
A packed house for the 50th Anniversary event
Woody Woodmansey (drummer) – Mike Garson (piano) – Geoff McCormack (percussion) – who were in the Spiders from Mars band that evening on 3rd July 1973……are introduced to an appreciative audience, pre-the 3rd July 2023-50th Anniversary event
David Bowie with Spiders drummer ‘Woody Woodmansey’ – back in 1973
David Bowie with pianist ‘Mike Garson’ – back in 1973
David Bowie with Spiders percussionist ‘Geoff McCormack’ – a year after the ‘Final’ Ziggy event on 3rd July 1973
3rd July 2023 – the audience eagerly awaiting the commencement of the evenings activities.
Me – inside the old Hammersmith Odeon – during the 50th Anniversary ‘Ziggy Stardust’ event.
The pre-film screening Q&A session – with Mike Garson – Ken Scott – Don Letts – Suggs – Richard E Grant
The Q&A compere with Bowie pianist ‘Mike Garson’
Ken Scott – Don Letts – Suggs – Richard E Grant – answering questions in the pre-film Q&A session
The panel of ‘special’ guests – answering questions in the pre-film Q&A session
Don Letts & Suggs – answering questions in the pre-film Q&A session
The panel of ‘special’ guests – answering questions in the pre-film Q&A session
Suggs & Richard E Grant– answering questions in the pre-film Q&A session
Ken Scott & Don Letts having a laugh during the pre-film Q &A session
Me – inside the old Hammersmith Odeon – during the 50th Anniversary ‘Ziggy Stardust’ event.
To warm up the audience even more – long time Bowie pianist ‘Mike Garson’ played a medley of Bowie song opening on the piano – replicating the very same medley that he played 50 years ago,
Mike Garson – on the big screen -performing his medley at the 50th Anniversary event
Long time Bowie pianist Mike Garson – on the big screen -performing his medley at the 50th Anniversary event
With the Q&A session over – the audience await the screening of the global Premiere of the digitally re-mastered ‘Ziggy Stardust the Movie’ of the ‘Final’ Ziggy gig
‘Angie Bowie’ (David Bowie’s then wife back in 1973) – features in the opening of the re-mastered film
The re-mastered ‘Ziggy Stardust the Movie’ – shown at the 50th Anniversary event
The re-mastered ‘Ziggy Stardust the Movie’ – gets underway at the 50th Anniversary event
Attending this event prompted me to rummage around in my loft in search of an old David Bowie scrapbook that I put together way back in 1973 when I was an enthusiastic 16yr old Bowie fan. This was just one of the pages that captured the July 1973 Hammersmith Odeon ‘Final’ gig event.
The re-mastered ‘Ziggy Stardust the Movie’ – gets underway at the 50th Anniversary event
Attending this event prompted me to rummage around in my loft in search of an old David Bowie scrapbook that I put together way back in 1973 when I was an enthusiastic 16yr old Bowie fan. This was just one of the pages that captured the July 1973 Hammersmith Odeon ‘Final’ gig event.
The re-mastered ‘Ziggy Stardust the Movie’ – gets underway at the 50th Anniversary event
Attending this event prompted me to rummage around in my loft in search of an old David Bowie scrapbook that I kept back in 1973 when I was an enthusiastic 16yr old Bowie fan. This was just one of the pages that captured the July 1973 Hammersmith Odeon ‘Final’ gig event.
The re-mastered ‘Ziggy Stardust the Movie’ – gets underway at the 50th Anniversary event
Attending this event prompted me to rummage around in my loft in search of an old David Bowie scrapbook that I put together way back in 1973 when I was a enthusiastic 16yr old Bowie fan – and one page of this scrap book actually captured the original write-up of the 3rd July 1973 concert
A bit of ‘merch’ I bought at the 50th Anniversary event.
Me – 3rd July 2023 – inside the old Hammersmith Odeon – during the 50th Anniversary Ziggy Stardust event
Fans mooch around on the Hammersmith Eventim Apollo (once Hammersmith Odeon) concourse – following a great night’s entertainment.
Some great memories – I was at the ‘provincial’ Preston Guild Hall gig 😁 a couple of years before moving to London.
I have the original 1973 Hammersmith Odeon gig promo poster – on a t-shirt