David Bowie (September 25, 1971) – “David Bowie And The Spiders From Mars’ First Show” Feature - Friars Club, Aylesbury
On September 25, 1971, David Bowie performed at the Friars Club in Aylesbury in a concert now remembered as the first live appearance of the group that would soon become known as The Spiders From Mars. Featuring Mick Ronson, Trevor Bolder and Woody Woodmansey, the performance marked a pivotal moment in Bowie's career and provided an early glimpse of the band that would help define the Ziggy Stardust era.
Date: September 25, 1971
Country: United Kingdom
THE STORY
David Bowie appeared at the Borough Assembly Hall in Aylesbury for his first performance at the Friars Club on September 25, 1971. The evening opened with Bowie accompanied only by guitarist Mick Ronson, performing "Fill Your Heart", "Buzz The Fuzz", "Space Oddity" and "Amsterdam". The intimate opening section allowed Bowie to introduce new material and establish rapport with the audience before expanding the line-up.
Bassist Trevor Bolder and drummer Woody Woodmansey then joined Bowie and Ronson on stage for the next section of the show. Together they performed "The Supermen", "Oh! You Pretty Things" and "Eight Line Poem".
The concert was notable as Bolder's first live appearance with Bowie, creating the first stage line-up that would soon evolve into The Spiders From Mars.
For the final part of the performance, pianist Tom Parker joined the group. The expanded line-up performed "Changes", "Song For Bob Dylan", "Andy Warhol", "Queen Bitch", "Looking For A Friend", "Round And Round" and an encore of "I'm Waiting For The Man".
The audience response grew increasingly enthusiastic throughout the evening, culminating in a triumphant conclusion that left Bowie convinced of the possibilities that lay ahead for both himself and his new band.
CONTEXT AND NOTES
The concert took place before the release of Hunky Dory and several months before the emergence of Ziggy Stardust. Bowie had originally been due to share the bill with America, although the group withdrew from the engagement. He received a fee of £150 for the appearance, while the venue was filled to capacity with approximately 250 attendees.
The performance would later gain legendary status as the first live appearance of the band that became The Spiders From Mars. Bowie returned to Aylesbury on subsequent occasions, including the launch of the Ziggy Stardust Tour in January 1972. Later recollections describe the concert as a defining moment when Bowie recognised the potential scale of his future ambitions and the strength of the newly assembled group.
FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS
Event: First live performance of the band that became The Spiders From Mars
Era: 1971 pre-Ziggy Stardust era
Tone: Historic and transformative
Photography: No photographs supplied within the source material
NOTES
• David Bowie's first performance at the Friars Club, Aylesbury
• The first live appearance featuring Bowie, Mick Ronson, Trevor Bolder and Woody Woodmansey
• Early performances of material later associated with the Hunky Dory and Ziggy Stardust eras
SOURCES Discogs, 45 World, Wikipedia, www.aylesburyfriars.co.uk
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