A Reality Tour
(Page 9 of 14)


Perth Concert: March 1, 2004

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The last David Bowie concert in the southern hemisphere took place in Perth.

It was an outdoor show - the first since Wellington (at the beginning of the down under leg of the A Reality Tour).






For some years prior, the western metropolis had been suffering from an absence of medium to large sized concert venues. The Perth Entertainment Centre (which Bowie played in 1978 and again in 1983) was by this time laying in an abandoned and decrepit state.

In the first announcement of dates, it appears that Bowie and Dainty were going to skip Perth altogether but a few weeks into the initial tickets sales for other Australian shows, a resolution was reached. A tract of parkland in the Perth CBD - the Supreme Court Gardens - would now be adapted for the event.




Set up progress for David Bowie Perth concert. Photo by Stevee.




Ticket provided by Leanne Ebbs. 


 


Writing for the Western Australian, Simon Collins reported:

"We were all on our feet, as the ageless, rock icon swaggered out to the front of stage."


"New Killer Star, from his newest and 23th studio album, Reality, was a hit with the audience - as were most of the new songs. Pablo Picasso and Looking for Water maintained the energy levels of his 1970s material, while the plaintive The Loneliest Guy echoed the tone of his 1969 classic, Space Oddity."


According to our man on the scene, Stevee, the audience managed to pass the sing-a-long challenge of 'China Girl' - Bowie pointing out that the second gig in Melbourne - and Perth - were the only two places in the world that could do it. Reportedly, a girl at the front fainted when Bowie touched her hand.




Bowie - Perth concert, 2004.
Photo by Tim from Perth







At one point, Bowie cracked a joke about Brian Eno playing Satan in the new Mel Gibson directed movie, Passion.

Bowie also thoroughly embarrassed Sterling Campbell by thrusting his hips at him.

He also joked with the huge crowd of people that had gathered on the other side of the fence, in a park by the river, listening for free. He called the payed audience "the legitimates" and them "the illegitimates".





The final down under show was also signaled by a large shooting star that blazed across the night sky.

Many people at the concert let out a gasp of surprise and after the concert, Paul Dempsey (from the support act, Something For kate) reported the moment to Bowie for which he responded:

"Paul, if you work hard enough, you'll get your own shooting star someday".




Personnel


David Bowie:

Vocals, Guitar, Harmonica

Earl Slick:
Guitar

Gerry Leonard:
Guitar

Gail Ann Dorsey:
Bass, Backing Vocals

Sterling Campbell:
Drums

Mike Garson:
Piano

Catherine Russel:
Guitar, Percussion, Backing Vocals




Concert Set Up (by Steve)


Concert Pictures (by Steve)





Concert Pictures


The following page depicts some of the further action that took place. If you see one of your photos uncredited, please email me and I will rectify immediately.









Press Articles


The following day, Perth's main newspaper - The West Australian - featured a front page article. Several other news articles appeared in other publications. Thanks to I Love Deniro and Stevee for these scans:











Bootleg


A bootleg capturing the entirety of the Perth concert has also emerged. It is known as All Along The Bell Tower:



DISC 1

1. Intro - 3:17
2. Rebel Rebel (Bowie) - 3:30
3. New Killer Star (Bowie) - 5:02
4. Fame (Bowie/Lennon/Alomar) - 4:27
5. Cactus (Black) - 2:42
6. I've Been Waiting For You (Young) - 3:53
7. All The Young Dudes (Bowie) - 3:26
8. China Girl (Bowie/Pop) - 4:55
9. The Loneliest Guy (Bowie) - 4:24
10. The Man Who Sold The World (Bowie) - 4:15
11. Pablo Picasso (Richmond) - 4:32
12. Hallo Spaceboy (Bowie/Eno) - 5:24
13. Sunday (Bowie) - 6:33
14. Heathen (The Rays) (Bowie) - 6:25
15. Band Intro - 1:33
DISC 2

1. Life On Mars? (Bowie) - 5:03
2. Looking For Water (Bowie) - 3:41
3. Quicksand (Bowie) - 5:21
4. Days (Bowie) - 3:28
5. White Light, White Heat (Reed) - 4:18
6. Ashes To Ashes (Bowie) - 5:39
7. I'm Afraid of Americans (Bowie) - 5:31
8. Heroes (Bowie/Eno) - 6:29
9. Changes (Bowie) - 3:48
10. Try Some Buy Some (Harrison) - 4:33
12. Five Years (Bowie) - 4:09
13. Suffragette City (Bowie) - 3:38
14. Ziggy Stardust (Bowie) - 3:39


 

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