đź“° Aquila + David Bowie - Advert : Jul. 1970
- David Bowie
- Jul 17, 1970
- 3 min read
A rare early concert advertisement for David Bowie performing at the intimate Fickle-Pickle Club in Southend, just months before his major breakthrough with “Space Oddity” reissues and the shift toward glam.
David Bowie live at the Fickle-Pickle Club — an intimate early solo show.
Melody Maker
Date: July 17, 1970
Length: 2 min read
đź“° Key Highlights
• David Bowie (billed alongside Aquila) at The Cricketers Inn, Southend
• Intimate club gig at the Fickle-Pickle Club on Friday, July 17th
• Next week’s attraction: Status Quo with lights by Colored Rain
• Captures Bowie in his pre-glam, folk-rock/early solo artist phase
• Classic small-venue 1970 music paper gig listing
đź“° Overview
Published on July 17, 1970, this small advert promotes one of David Bowie’s low-key club performances during a transitional period in his career, shortly after the initial success of “Space Oddity”.
đź“° Source Details
Publication / Venue: Melody Maker
Date: July 17, 1970
Format: Concert advertisement
Provenance Notes: Original 1970 Melody Maker gig listing.
đź“° The Story
The advert announces David Bowie appearing live with Aquila at the Fickle-Pickle Club in Southend-on-Sea. It reflects Bowie’s active gigging schedule in smaller venues as he built his reputation before the full Ziggy Stardust era took off.
đź“° Visual Archive
Simple, bold text-based newspaper advert with large “AQUILA + DAVID BOWIE” lettering on a plain background, typical of 1970 club listings.
đź“° Related
For more similar posts, check out the tags at the bottom of the page.
đź“° Closing Notes
This July 1970 Melody Maker advert is a fascinating early glimpse of David Bowie on the road — playing small clubs and building toward the stardom that would explode the following year.
đź“ť Copyright Notice
All magazine scans, photographs, and original text excerpts referenced in this entry remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This Chronicle entry is a transformative, non-commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference. No ownership of the original material is claimed or implied.
David Bowie performed at The Fickle Pickle Club, a notable live music venue in Westcliff-on-Sea, next to The Cricketers Inn. The performance was part of Bowie’s early career during his Man of Words/Man of Music tour.
Performers: David Bowie: Billed as a solo act but backed by his band Hype, which included guitarist Mick Ronson, bassist Tony Visconti, and drummer Mick "Woody" Woodmansey. The gig was advertised as the "Debut of David Bowie with Harry The Butcher," reflecting the transitional naming of his backing band before settling on "Hype."
Aquila: Another band on the bill, though specific details about their performance or setlist are not widely documented in the provided sources.
Venue: The Fickle Pickle Club, also known as The Venue or formerly Club Riga, was located at 288 London Road, next to The Cricketers Inn, with the entrance on Milton Road. This venue has a storied history, having hosted iconic acts like David Bowie, Thin Lizzy, and Status Quo.
Historical Context: This gig occurred during a formative period for David Bowie, as he was developing his glam rock persona and sound. The performance was significant enough to be noted in local music history, with Bowie being invited during this show to perform at a charity event for Shelter on August 1, 1970.
Setlist: While the exact setlist for July 17, 1970, is not fully detailed in the sources, a related performance by Bowie with Hype around that time included songs like "The Width of a Circle," "Janine," "Wild Eyed Boy from Freecloud," "Unwashed and Somewhat Slightly Dazed," "Fill Your Heart," "I’m Waiting for the Man," "The Prettiest Star," "Cygnet Committee," and "Memory of a Free Festival." It’s likely some of these tracks were performed at The Fickle Pickle Club.
Cultural Significance: The Fickle Pickle Club is celebrated for its role in the early careers of major artists. The venue continues to be a vibrant spot for live music, with a legacy tied to performances like Bowie’s. An advertisement from the time also highlights the club’s prominence, noting Bowie’s appearance the week before a Status Quo gig on July 24, 1970.
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