The play is based around David Jones, born on the same day with same real name of his hero. He looks for other connections between themselves but his delusional lifestyle sends him spiralling downwards in the opposite direction from the rising star. He ends up facing his own Rock n Roll Suicide.
Performed at The Hawth Studio Theatre
Tuesday 23 – Thursday 25 April 2013
Writer’s note:
‘Write what you know about’, it is said. And, if there’s one thing I know anything about, it’s David Bowie, ’72 – ’77. If only that was an O Level!
I was consumed by the man as were so many other teenagers. I followed his every twist and turn from Ziggy through to The Thin White Duke. I studied how he stood, practiced his smile in the mirror and of course learnt the lyrics to the songs. This play though is not about Him and it’s not about me.
It’s a cautionary tale about where aimlessness and fantasy can lead. My thanks to Jo for having the faith to put the play on, to David for translating what was in my head into a show and the cast for researching the era and bringing it all to life.
Director’s note:
…a crash course for the ravers
In the late 1970s I saw David Bowie at the Wembley Arena. I mean I really saw David Bowie at the Wembley Arena. It was the last night of his Thin White Duke world tour.
A friend of mine organised the stewards for gigs like this and for years I had gone along to check the tickets at Gate 22B for various concerts-Floyd, The Eagles, The Faces, Genesis, The Moody Blues (whose support act was, erm…John Denver), Wings, Stone the Crows (remember them!)
….basically any Rock Gods I could see I was there.
We had to sign on at around 3 ready for the doors opening around 6. We were all having a cup of tea about 3.30 in the small dressing room when there was a knock at the door. A mate of mine opened up and there was Bowie asking if it was all right if he could use the toilet as “one of the band had thrown up in his.”
After the shock of seeing him so close we all kind of Wooodstocked-up and thought yeah right on, man… heavy ….bet he was throwing up cos of all the booze, drugs, and endless sex that obviously was going on 24/7 on the road with the Great One.
“Nah-not really. We all went for a curry last night and I think it just didn’t agree with him.”
OK …… Around 4 he started rehearsing and was very unhappy that during one song the guitarist was not really doing what he wanted. “Can you do it like this …” and Bowie picked up the guitar and played it perfectly. This was the last concert of a world tour and he was still seeking perfection. We watched in awe and suddenly they finished and the doors opened and 10,000 Ziggys, Thin White Dukes, Lad- in-Sanes and Cracked Actors piled in. He played for 3 hours with no support and just one short break.
I never met the other David Jones but wished I could have shared a swift half (or 10) …we have a lot in common.
