Thursday, October 16, 2008

Looked a Lot Like Che Guevara


War Child, an international organization aiding war orphans / children in war zones, aims to release Heroes, an album of covers matching modern chippie bands with hip singers and bands of the 1960s and 1970s, in 2009. The title alludes to David Bowie's classic 1977 song (and album) "Heroes," recorded in Berlin during the Cold War.

Which reminds me that when I saw David Bowie's show at Detroit's State Theatre in 1997, it did not seem possible that this would be part of his last complete world tour (subsequently, a heart attack and angioplasty in 2003 forced him to significantly moderate his schedule).


September 22, 1997, Earthling tour: Bowie looked like a sprightly guru. I remember him hopping around at one point in bare feet. He was in top form, totally excellent.

Even from Bowie's playlist, one can glimpse his core interests and über coolness.

Songs included:

Always Crashing In The Same Car
Queen Bitch
The Supermen
Waiting For The Man (Velvet Underground)
My Death
The Jean Genie
Panic in Detroit
I'm Afraid Of Americans
Look Back In Anger
Seven Years In Tibet
Battle For Britain
The Man Who Sold The World
Fashion
Stay
Under Pressure
Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)
Dead Man Walking
V2-Schneider
White Light/White Heat (Velvet Underground)
O Superman! (Laurie Anderson)
All The Young Dudes
Moonage Daydream

[In 2007, The State Theatre was rechristened The Fillmore Detroit; way back -- certainly before I moved to Detroit in 1997 -- it was also known as The Palms, and The Palms' State Theatre].

Today's Rune: Defense.

6 comments:

the walking man said...

Ashes to Ashes, funk to funky...Saw Bowie 1974 Philadelphia

Joe said...

One of the empty spots in my musical life is not having ever seen David Bowie. That's a great playlist.

Charles Gramlich said...

"I'm afraid of Americans" is a great song, for suer.

Johnny Yen said...

"Ziggy Stardust" was one of the first albums I ever bought. Made me a huge Bowie fan, which I still am. Like Bubs, I've never gotten to see him.

Johnny Yen said...

BTW, if I had his supermodel wife Iman waiting for me at home, I'd probably find an excuse not to tour. Though that activities probably not going to help his heart problems.

t-o-n said...

Oh, man. Seriously, one of the single greatest shows I ever saw was the pre-tour for that album:

http://ahistoryofbadtaste.blogspot.com/2008/10/bowie-cap-ballroom.html