Gigs Page (May 6 1972) New Musical Express

Overview

This NME page from May 6 1972 presents a collage of live‑music adverts and concert listings across Britain, capturing the full sweep of the early‑’70s touring circuit. At the top left, David Bowie and The Riders are billed at Hemel Hempstead Pavilion for Sunday 7 May, marking one of Bowie’s transitional live appearances between Hunky Dory and the forthcoming Ziggy Stardust era.

Other visible adverts include major names from rock, jazz, and folk:

• Roy Orbison at the Royal Albert Hall (Tuesday 9 May)

• Kris Kristofferson (Wednesday 10 May)

• The Corries (Monday 8 May)

• Count Basie & His Orchestra

• Marvin Welch & Farrar with Acker Bilk

• Vinegar Joe and Pink Fairies

• Edgar Broughton Band with Gillian MacPherson

• Country Joe McDonald

• Peter Sarstedt

• The Kinks

• Beach Boys

• Curved Air (Alexandra Palace benefit 

  concert for Cyrenians, Sunday 7 May)

The layout is dense and typographically varied — a mosaic of boxed ads, venue headers, and bold artist names typical of NME’s gig‑page design in 1972.

Publication: 

 New Musical Express  

Date: May 6 1972

Country: United Kingdom Section / Pages: Concert Listings / 

Live Adverts

Title: David Bowie and Others – National Gig Guide (May 6 1972)

NME Gigs Page – May 6 1971, featuring David Bowie and other touring  acts.

Visible Listings and Highlights

David Bowie and The Riders

• Venue: Hemel Hempstead Pavilion

• Date: Sunday 7 May 1972

• Context: Part of Bowie’s spring appearances ahead of the Ziggy Stardust tour launch.

Royal Albert Hall Series

• Roy Orbison – Tuesday 9 May

• Kris Kristofferson – Wednesday 10 May

• The Corries – Monday 8 May

Other Notable Acts

• Count Basie & His Orchestra

• Marvin Welch & Farrar / Acker Bilk

• Vinegar Joe / Pink Fairies

• Edgar Broughton Band / Gillian MacPherson

• Country Joe McDonald

• Peter Sarstedt

• The Kinks

• Beach Boys

Design Notes

The page’s visual rhythm — alternating black boxes and cream‑background listings — mirrors the energy of Britain’s live scene in May 1972. Bowie’s placement among jazz, folk, and progressive acts underscores his crossover appeal at the time, bridging pop and underground audiences.

Related Material — NME Gigs Page 

(May 6 1972)

• Associated Entries: T. Rex – Metal Guru Advert (NME May 6 1972), NME Charts Page (May 6 1972)

• Additional tour and promotional material listed in the archive index

Sources — NME Gigs Page

 (May 6 1972)

• Publication data sourced from NME archive records (1972)

• Concert information verified from visible advert content

© Copyright Notice — NME Gigs Page (May 6 1972)

All magazine artwork, photographs, logos, and original text excerpts 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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