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David Bowie (June 12, 1970) “Memory Of A Free Festival” Single Review – UK Publication

  • Writer: David Bowie
    David Bowie
  • Jun 12, 1970
  • 2 min read

Highly critical review of David Bowie’s single “Memory of a Free Festival Part 1 & Part 2” (Mercury Records).

PUBLICATION: 

Date: June 12, 1970

Country: United Kingdom Section / Pages: Single Review

Title: DAVID BOWIE: “Memory Of A Free Festival”


THE STORY 

The reviewer harshly criticises both parts of the single. Part 1 is dismissed as a tedious, unpleasant experience evoking the worst aspects of open-air festivals. Part 2 is described as a “long rambling, repetitive piece of nonsense” and a “giant hen-up”, despite noting some energetic guitar work reminiscent of Peter Frampton.



CONTEXT AND NOTES 

This review appeared shortly after the release of the single, taken from Bowie’s 1969 self-titled album. At this stage in his career, Bowie was still struggling for mainstream success (pre-Ziggy Stardust). “Memory of a Free Festival” was inspired by the 1969 Beckenham Free Festival that Bowie helped organise. Critical reception to his early material was often mixed or negative before his glam breakthrough.


FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS

Event: Single Review

Era: Pre-Glam / Space Oddity Era (1970) Tone: Harshly negative, sarcastic, dismissive

Photography: N/A (text-only review)


“the whole conception is a giant hen-up”


WHAT THE CLIPPING SHOWS

Newspaper clipping featuring two columns of a scathing review of Bowie’s “Memory of a Free Festival” single. Classic early 1970s UK music press typography with visible aging.


RELATED MATERIAL

  • David Bowie (June 10, 1972) “Bowie at his best” – Album Review – NME (UK)

  • David Bowie (June 17, 1972) “The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust” Advertisement – Record Mirror (UK)

  • Tyrannosaurus Rex (May 31, 1970) Mushroom Promotions Advert – Evening Sentinel (UK)

Also see tabs at the foot of this post.


All magazine scans, photographs and original text excerpts remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This entry is a transformative, non-commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference.

David Bowie, David Bowie Scrapbook, Memory of a Free Festival, 1970



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