1972 was a big year for David Bowie. The musician had donned his alter-ego, Ziggy Stardust, and set out to take over the world of rock ‘n’ roll. Sept. 22, 1972, was the start of his first American tour since the release of The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. Where’d he start the tour? Right here in Cleveland.
And he came back in November to play the show we’ve embedded below.
The Spiders from Mars — Mick Ronson on guitar, Trevor Bolder on bass, Mick “Woody” Woodmansey on drums and Mike Garson on keys — rounded out the lineup during these concerts. This one here is a solid show, and the audio embedded below holds up well 42 years after the gig.
Here’s music journalist legend Jane Scott, writing shortly before her death:
“He sailed over; he won’t fly, his wife said. Orange-haired Bowie, one of the most important figures of ’70s rock, seemed a little awkward at an earlier press conference, but after his smash show, he eluded his security guards and was eager to talk about coming shows. We reporters sensed that a star was born that night.”
Here’s our roundup of other vintage audio/video from around Cleveland:
AC/DC at World Series of Rock at Cleveland Municipal Stadium in 1979
Smashing Pumpkins in Tremont in 1991
Queens of the Stone Age at Euclid Tavern in 1999
Warren Zevon at the Odeon in 2000
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band at the Agora in 1978
The Grateful Dead at Richfield Coliseum in 1990
Peter Frampton at the Agora, 1974
Bob Marley at the Agora in 1975
Kiss at the Agora in 1974
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band at Richfield Coliseum in 1978
Metallica at the Agora in 1983
An earlier version of this post misidentified the month of the show embedded here.
This article appears in Dec 3-9, 2014.
Fondly remember this show.
First, remember the WMMS overnight dj (Billy Bass?) looping Suffragette City into a 30-minute never-ending tune? We HURT ourselves mindlessly dancin’ to that one!
How about the poster of Bowie on his knees giving Ronson a psuedo-blow job?
It all added up to, “WHO in the HELL are ‘DESE guys?”; and can they REALLY rock?
As I remember the show, the crowd wasn’t really turned on until the end of Suffragette City, and even then there was a split-second of non-reaction from the crowd at the end of the tune. I saw Bowie give Ronson a quick “deer-in-the-headlights” look, like “We’re NOT coming across!”. Of course, it was the fact that we were ALL blown away, momentarily-stunned by the power of the group (and particularly, Mick Ronson wipin’ the stage with his shredding!). The crowd literally EXPLODED, with a spontaneous standing “O”, which delayed the start of the next tune.
Rest In Rhythm David…….thank-you so very much.
Like Miles Davis……David Bowie seemed to push his collaborators to amazing artistic heights – that they could never again achieve on other stages.
This was from my recording of David Bowie at Public Hall… He asked me to turn the recorder off when he did DRIVE IN SATURDAY, I didn’t. This recording was made with a AKG D1000E microphone, memorex tape and a sony recorder. I sat 4th row center with my mom and dad, Dr. & Mrs Skrha. A great time was had by all. Love you David… RIP.
Thank-YOU Joe Ray….absolutely gobsmacked that this even exists……you have made today just a bit easier to take.
Keep on chooglin’!