David Bowie (February 28 1970) Hype at the Basildon Arts Centre – Advert
- David Bowie
- Feb 28, 1970
- 2 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
Publication: Scrapbook Date: 28 February 1970
Country: United Kingdom
Section / Page: One‑Page Advert Format: Psychedelic Concert Promotion
Overview
A vivid, psychedelic one‑page advert announcing David Bowie’s electric band Hype at the Basildon Arts Centre, marking one of the earliest public appearances of Bowie’s new theatrical, electrified direction. The advert captures Bowie in transition — no longer the folk‑leaning singer of 1969, not yet the glam icon of 1972, but an artist experimenting boldly with sound, costume, and performance.
“Hype — with High Tide, Iron Maiden, and the Grommit Light Show.”
What the Clipping Shows
• Full‑page psychedelic advert with swirling colours, underground‑press typography, and a helmet‑shaped title design. • Bold announcement of Hype — Bowie’s short‑lived electric band with Tony Visconti and Mick Ronson.
• Venue: Basildon Arts Centre, Essex.
• Support acts: High Tide and the other Iron Maiden (the pre‑Harris underground group). • Ticket prices: 7/- advance, 8/6 on the night.
• Mention of the Grommit Light Show, signalling a multimedia, arts‑lab‑style performance.
• Layout typical of 1970 countercultural posters — dense text, hand‑drawn shapes, and a DIY aesthetic.
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• David Bowie – Glam Slam Guide
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• THE PRETTIEST STAR – Single: Mar. 1970
• Additional entries listed in the scrapbook tag index
The Story Behind It
Early 1970 was a moment of rapid reinvention for Bowie. Fresh from the success of “Space Oddity,” he was restless, searching for a new artistic identity. Hype was his first attempt at a fully electric, theatrically costumed rock band — a prototype for the glam personas that would soon define his career.
Formed with Tony Visconti and Mick Ronson, Hype blended electric rock with theatricality, humour, and costume. Their performances were chaotic, colourful, and deliberately provocative — a world away from the introspective folk of 1969.
The Basildon advert reflects this shift: • Psychedelic design language • Underground‑press visual style • Arts‑lab sensibility • Multimedia ambitions via the Grommit Light Show
The inclusion of Arts Lab cards ties the event directly to Bowie’s Beckenham Arts Lab, where he was exploring new forms of performance and community‑driven creativity. This advert is a rare surviving document of Bowie on the cusp of transformation — the moment the seeds of Ziggy Stardust were first being planted.
© Copyright Notice — Scrapbook (February 28 1970)
All original advertising artwork and text remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This scrapbook entry is a transformative, non‑commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference.
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