📰 Mott, Bowie at Festival Hall – News : Jun. 1972
- David Bowie
- Jun 10, 1972
- 3 min read
A short, excited news item announces that Mott The Hoople will join David Bowie as special guests for a major benefit concert at London’s Royal Festival Hall on Saturday, July 8.
The piece highlights the charitable cause — Friends of the Earth’s “Save the Whale” campaign — and notes practical details including support from the JSD Band and Kenny Everett as compere.
This June 1972 NME report captures the exact moment when Bowie’s rising Ziggy-era stardom and Mott The Hoople’s growing reputation converged for a landmark charity event that would become one of the defining nights of early glam rock.
đź—ž New Musical Express
đź“… Date: June 10, 1972
⏱ Length: 3 min read
đź“° Key Highlights
• David Bowie to headline a special benefit concert at London’s Royal Festival Hall
• Mott The Hoople confirmed as special guests
• Event scheduled for Saturday, July 8, in aid of Friends of the Earth’s “Save the Whale” campaign
• JSD Band as support act with Kenny Everett as compere
• Tickets priced from 50p to £2
đź“° Overview
Published in the June 10, 1972 issue of New Musical Express, this brief news piece reports on the forthcoming charity concert featuring David Bowie and Mott The Hoople. The event was organised to raise funds for Friends of the Earth’s campaign to protect whales, reflecting the emerging link between rock stars and environmental causes in the early 1970s.
đź“° Source Details
Publication / Venue: New Musical Express
Date: June 10, 1972
Format: News item
Provenance Notes: Verified directly from the preserved magazine page; typical short NME news column with bold headline and accompanying live photograph of Ian Hunter.
đź“° The Story
The article announces that Mott The Hoople will appear as special guests when David Bowie stars at a benefit concert at the Royal Festival Hall on July 8. All proceeds will go to Friends of the Earth to support their “Save the Whale” campaign. The JSD Band will open the show, and Kenny Everett will compere the evening.
Tickets are priced accessibly from 50p to ÂŁ2, making the event open to a wide audience. The piece positions the concert as a significant moment, bringing together two of the most exciting acts of the emerging glam scene for a worthy cause.
A striking black-and-white live photograph of Ian Hunter performing with dramatic intensity accompanies the text, visually linking Mott The Hoople’s raw energy to the event.
đź“° Visual Archive
Black-and-white live photograph of Ian Hunter of Mott The Hoople on stage, captured mid-performance with expressive pose and microphone. The image sits prominently above the headline, emphasising the live power of the announced bill.
Caption: Ian Hunter of Mott The Hoople featured in the NME news item announcing the Festival Hall benefit concert with David Bowie, June 10, 1972.
đź“° Related Material
See tabs at foot of page
đź“° Closing Notes
This June 1972 NME announcement marks an important early intersection of glam rock and environmental activism. It shows David Bowie and Mott The Hoople joining forces for a high-profile charity gig that would become legendary — one of the key nights that helped cement the theatrical, socially conscious spirit of the Ziggy era.
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.
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