David Bowie (May 19 1973) Bowie Blows It! – Cover

Publication: Melody Maker

Date: May 19 1973

Country: United Kingdom Section / Page: Front Cover Feature Format: Live Performance Report  / Photographic Cover

Overview

A dramatic Melody Maker front cover capturing David Bowie and Mick Ronson mid‑performance at London’s Earls Court. The headline “Bowie blows it!” teases the chaotic opening night of Bowie’s 1973 British tour — a spectacle of sound issues, theatrical excess, and glam‑rock electricity. The image, shot by Barrie Wentzell, immortalises the duo’s athletic stage chemistry as Ziggy Stardust’s reign neared its end.

David Bowie and Mick Ronson – Earls Court performance cover, Melody Maker,  May 19 1973.

“‘Watch That Man’ – or ‘We can’t go on meeting like this!’ The athletic couple, of course, are David Bowie and Mick Ronson.”

What the Clipping Shows

• A full‑page black‑and‑white photograph of Bowie standing over Mick Ronson, both in glittering costumes, guitars raised in mid‑performance. • The Melody Maker masthead in red and white dominates the top, with sub‑features on Strawbs, Wings, and Liza Minnelli. • The right column details Bowie’s tour itinerary — Dundee, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Norwich, Romford, and more — alongside commentary on the Earls Court show. • The layout exemplifies Melody Maker’s early‑’70s design: bold headlines, dense text, and kinetic imagery that captured the pulse of British rock.

The Story Behind It

By May 1973, Bowie’s Aladdin Sane tour had reached its British climax. The Melody Maker cover story reports on the Earls Court concert — a landmark event marred by technical difficulties but remembered for its sheer theatrical ambition. Eighteen thousand fans witnessed Bowie and The Spiders from Mars deliver a set that blurred the boundaries between rock concert and performance art. The article describes the sound problems, the band’s frustration, and Bowie’s determination to push through, reflecting both the triumph and tension of his Ziggy era. Despite the headline’s provocation, the feature ultimately underscores Bowie’s magnetism and the spectacle that defined his 1973 stage persona.

Related Material

• David Bowie (May 12 1973) Aladdin Sane – Album Action Feature   • David Bowie (Apr 7 1973) Drive‑In Saturday – Single & Tour Advert   • David Bowie (May 1973) Is Aladdin Still Sane? – Cover Feature   • Additional entries listed in the scrapbook tag index

Source Details

Publication: Melody Maker Date: May 19 1973 Format: Front Cover Feature / Live Performance Report Provenance Notes: Original 1973 magazine cover documenting David Bowie’s Earls Court concert and UK tour dates

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© Copyright Notice — David Bowie (Melody Maker, May 19 1973)

All original magazine photographs, 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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