BIRTHDAYS
1933: John Mayall
1944: John Alder a.k.a. Twink (The Fairies / The In Crowd / Tomorrow / Santa Barbara Machine Head / Pretty Things / Pink Fairies / Stars / Hawkwind / Fallen Angels / The Rings)
1947: Ronnie Montrose
1951: Barry Goudreau (Boston)
EVENTS
1969: The Beatles scored their 18th No.1 on the US singles chart with “Come Together” / “Something”.
1978: David Bowie performed his ‘Low & Heroes’ concert at QEII Park, Christchurch ~ I was there!
2001: Death of legendary musician / Beatle, George Harrison [aged 58].
2016: Death of New Zealand singer, Ray Columbus [aged 74].
2023: Death of guitarist / songwriter, Scott “Top Ten” Kempner, of The Dictators & Del-Lords [aged 69].
I will never forget the David Bowie show in Christchurch, on 29 November, 1978 (my first outdoor concert). A schoolboy at the time, my friend Pete and I caught the bus up from Dunedin and stayed at his Aunty’s place that night.
Opening with the eerily atmospheric “Warszawa”, it looked at first as if Bowie was conducting the band, but he was actually hidden in the shadows, playing clavinet. Then “Heroes” kicked in and from here on we were treated to one of the finest two hour musical performances I have ever witnessed. The stark lines of white fluorescent lighting was incredibly effective and David owned the stage with his charismatic presence and rich, earthy voice. Most of the songs from ‘Ziggy Stardust’ album got played, as of course were many tracks from his latest two albums, ‘Low’ & ‘Heroes’ ~ all excellent indeed! The song that most impressed me though was “Station to Station”, opening the second part of the concert with wailing guitars and train noises (created on keyboards) shaking the ground. Another of the many highlights was “Jean Genie”, and “Suffragette City”, with Bowie kicking high in the air at crescendo. The encore of “TVC15”, “Stay” and “Rebel Rebel” completed a magnificent concert!
