1987 Glass
Spider Tour
The Glass Spider Tour was designed as the most extravagant rock spectacle since Bowie's 1974 Diamond Dogs Tour.
The
stage set involved a breathtakingly preposterous "Spider Environment":
a network of scaffolding and catwalks, dwarfed by a 50-foot high spider
whose glowing body and illuminated legs framed the split-level stage.
Bowie
with Carlos Alomar, Kooyong Stadium, Melbourne - 21/11/87.
The tour had initially commenced on May 30 in Rotterdam, however, it's extensive script involving stage actors and dancers had been scaled down by the time it reached Australia.
The Australasian leg of the tour was marked by 15 concert dates - considerably more than either "Low and Heroes" or the "Serious Moonlight" tour. Although Adelaide, Perth, Wellington and Christchurch were not scheduled, the cities of Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne fans were treated to multiple gigs.
In the case of Sydney, ticket demand sustained an incredible 8 nights at the Entertainment Centre - Bowie's longest stay at any one venue on any one concert tour - a record he has not equalled or broken since.
Sydney
also included a duet with guest guitarist Charlie Sexton. Bowie appeared
visibly invigorated at the chance to bring a tougher guitar sound to the
show and it was also the first time in many moons that he had picked up
an electric guitar on stage.
Bowie
with Charlie Sexton, Sydney Entertainment Centre
The
eight Sydney shows, saw the recording of the official "Glass Spider" tour
video, directed by David Mallet, and produced by Anthony Eaton.
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David
Bowie "Glass Spider":
Glass Spider / Day-In Day-Out / Bang Bang / Absolute Beginners / Loving The Alien / China Girl / Rebel Rebel / Fashion / Never Let Me Down / Heroes / Sons Of the Silent Age / Young Americans / The Jean Genie / Let's Dance / Time / Fame / Blue Jean / I Wanna Be Your Dog / White Light White Heat / Modern Love. |
The
four Melbourne gigs kicked off at Kooyong Stadium on the 18th of November.
And it was a blistering first night performance. Unfortunately, nearby
residents compained about noise, and as a result, sound levels were adjusted
for the following nights. When Bowie announced this to the crowd on the
second night, there was a long "booooo" in rightful protest to the residents!
Bowie's
walks to his Mercedes before the second gig at Kooyong.
On
the Wednesday at Kooyong Stadium, Melbourne, Bowie played "Time" in his
gold suit while on the Saturday show, he substituted this for "I Wanna
Be Your Dog".
Kooyong
Stadium (21/11/87) - Bowie and Melissa Hurley during the third song "Bang
Bang" in which he pulled her up on stage and danced with her.
The final show at Kooyong, saw much of the usual Spider set and production abandoned due to high winds and heavy rain. As a result, this gig was unique as Bowie performed only with his band and not with the accompaning dancers that normally appeared on the tour.
Bowie
and the band stayed at Melbourne's Hilton Hotel.
Five days after the final Melbourne gig, Bowie performed the last show of the tour in Auckland.
At the end of the tour, the "Glass Spider" stage set was ceremoniously burnt in New Zealand. "We just put it in a field and set fire to it" said David.
Bowie also went on a holiday in Australia with his then girlfriend, Melissa Hurley.
During
the course of the Australian leg of the tour, Bowie was given tape by Sarah
Gabrels by one of the PA's. It was a tape of demos by her husband Reeves,
and within a matter of days it had sent Bowie in a new direction - one
which he would later acknowledge as the oath to his salvation as an artist.
