David Bowie - The Last Five Years

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It was a good watch. Very sad at the end although never really learnt anything new. Amazing how much work he was doing towards the end
 


DeLonge said:
It was a good watch. Very sad at the end although never really learnt anything new. Amazing how much work he was doing towards the end
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I've told this story on here before about him but I'll tell it again.

I know a lad from Chester le Street. He is called Alex Lowes and he has become one of the most famous DJ's musical entrepreneurs in the UK and Croatia. He started off DJ'ing in Newcastle and from being about 17 or so he used to take me along with another crowd, Frankie Lucas et al all around the clubs and bars in the city. We got in everywhere for nowt just because we were with Alex. One of the places we used to go late 70's was Julie's on the Quayside when it first opened up. you had to know someone to get in and it was full of all the beautiful people; the hip and the trendy from the Newcastle University Art places and stuff like that. some cracking lasses.

Bowie played at the City Hall circa 1978 and me and my mates couldnt get tickets for it. Sold out instantly. I therefore got a call from Alex and we ended up in Julie's where he was DJ'ing. Nothing special was gong on that night, maybe 100 people in the place.

The two bouncers on the door were The Ford Brothers from Birtley/Low Fell. Alex knew them well and I got to know them.

Anyway we were sitting in Julie's and two big lads walked in and went over to talk to the Ford's. I distinctly remember one was white, one was black and they were both f***ing giants. All 4 of them walked outside and i thought that there must be trouble outside and the 4 of them were going outside to sort it out.

I didnt anticipate what would happen next.

The four of them walked back in about 5 minutes later and the two lads were minding Bowie. In he walked. He'd been on at the City Hall and as was his custom at that time, think he was living in Berlin at the time, Bowie would hunt out the underground clubs. Bowie walked over and sat not 6 feet from me, ordered a glass of water/orange and just sat for an hour or so unwinding and listening to the music. A couple of people came over and asked for his autograph but of course in those days - no mobile phones - so I dont think any pictures were ever taken of this event. In true NE style no one bothered him and he was allowed to just pass the time unhindered.

After an hour he got up and left.

i have no idea how many people are still alive who witnessed that event. Some might not even remember it unless reminded such is the passage of time.
 
Just finished watching it there, I wasn't a massive fan but there is no disputing his talent. One of my favourite songs of all time is "Lets Dance", for which I'm truly thankful for ! Great documentary, really interesting - RIP David Bowie :cry:.
 
look out piano said:
Just finished watching it there, I wasn't a massive fan but there is no disputing his talent. One of my favourite songs of all time is "Lets Dance", for which I'm truly thankful for ! Great documentary, really interesting - RIP David Bowie :cry:.
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Bowie and Elton John were my first musical heroes from the age of about 10. I bought their early records from Bandparts, a record shop at the top of Leith Walk in Edinburgh when I lived there. Although I love all sorts of music eg Vandross, Franklin et al Bowie and Elton john have always been firm favourites of mine. Its a shame that it was reported that the two of them fell out with each other, no doubt over something trivial.

Two of England's favourite sons.
 
My Boy Harry said:
I've told this story on here before about him but I'll tell it again.

I know a lad from Chester le Street. He is called Alex Lowes and he has become one of the most famous DJ's musical entrepreneurs in the UK and Croatia. He started off DJ'ing in Newcastle and from being about 17 or so he used to take me along with another crowd, Frankie Lucas et al all around the clubs and bars in the city. We got in everywhere for nowt just because we were with Alex. One of the places we used to go late 70's was Julie's on the Quayside when it first opened up. you had to know someone to get in and it was full of all the beautiful people; the hip and the trendy from the Newcastle University Art places and stuff like that. some cracking lasses.

Bowie played at the City Hall circa 1978 and me and my mates couldnt get tickets for it. Sold out instantly. I therefore got a call from Alex and we ended up in Julie's where he was DJ'ing. Nothing special was gong on that night, maybe 100 people in the place.

The two bouncers on the door were The Ford Brothers from Birtley/Low Fell. Alex knew them well and I got to know them.

Anyway we were sitting in Julie's and two big lads walked in and went over to talk to the Ford's. I distinctly remember one was white, one was black and they were both f***ing giants. All 4 of them walked outside and i thought that there must be trouble outside and the 4 of them were going outside to sort it out.

I didnt anticipate what would happen next.

The four of them walked back in about 5 minutes later and the two lads were minding Bowie. In he walked. He'd been on at the City Hall and as was his custom at that time, think he was living in Berlin at the time, Bowie would hunt out the underground clubs. Bowie walked over and sat not 6 feet from me, ordered a glass of water/orange and just sat for an hour or so unwinding and listening to the music. A couple of people came over and asked for his autograph but of course in those days - no mobile phones - so I dont think any pictures were ever taken of this event. In true NE style no one bothered him and he was allowed to just pass the time unhindered.

After an hour he got up and left.

i have no idea how many people are still alive who witnessed that event. Some might not even remember it unless reminded such is the passage of time.
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Excellent story mate - gotta be honest like I would have pestered the fck out of him. Did you get his autograph?
 
My Boy Harry said:
I've told this story on here before about him but I'll tell it again.

I know a lad from Chester le Street. He is called Alex Lowes and he has become one of the most famous DJ's musical entrepreneurs in the UK and Croatia. He started off DJ'ing in Newcastle and from being about 17 or so he used to take me along with another crowd, Frankie Lucas et al all around the clubs and bars in the city. We got in everywhere for nowt just because we were with Alex. One of the places we used to go late 70's was Julie's on the Quayside when it first opened up. you had to know someone to get in and it was full of all the beautiful people; the hip and the trendy from the Newcastle University Art places and stuff like that. some cracking lasses.

Bowie played at the City Hall circa 1978 and me and my mates couldnt get tickets for it. Sold out instantly. I therefore got a call from Alex and we ended up in Julie's where he was DJ'ing. Nothing special was gong on that night, maybe 100 people in the place.

The two bouncers on the door were The Ford Brothers from Birtley/Low Fell. Alex knew them well and I got to know them.

Anyway we were sitting in Julie's and two big lads walked in and went over to talk to the Ford's. I distinctly remember one was white, one was black and they were both f***ing giants. All 4 of them walked outside and i thought that there must be trouble outside and the 4 of them were going outside to sort it out.

I didnt anticipate what would happen next.

The four of them walked back in about 5 minutes later and the two lads were minding Bowie. In he walked. He'd been on at the City Hall and as was his custom at that time, think he was living in Berlin at the time, Bowie would hunt out the underground clubs. Bowie walked over and sat not 6 feet from me, ordered a glass of water/orange and just sat for an hour or so unwinding and listening to the music. A couple of people came over and asked for his autograph but of course in those days - no mobile phones - so I dont think any pictures were ever taken of this event. In true NE style no one bothered him and he was allowed to just pass the time unhindered.

After an hour he got up and left.

i have no idea how many people are still alive who witnessed that event. Some might not even remember it unless reminded such is the passage of time.
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Great story. Thanks for sharing - couldn't imagine being that close to him. Wouldn't know what to do with myself :lol:
 
DeLonge said:
Great story. Thanks for sharing - couldn't imagine being that close to him. Wouldn't know what to do with myself :lol:
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Bizarre one like. Its not until afterwards you think that you should have done this and you should have done that, but at the time of course youre half cut and capable of very little. He looked just like he did on the telly but you knew that you were in the presence of someone with huge charisma and presence. Its a wonderful story that has long been forgotten in the annals of time. Half of the people might not even have known that he was in.
 
JAZZMANB said:
Unfortunately his voice is on it which in later years sounded like a bad impression of him
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Age makes no difference these days with all the effects and alterations you can add and make in the studio. The vocals throughout the record are fascinatingly brilliant, particularly so on the title track.
 
dangermows said:
Age makes no difference these days with all the effects and alterations you can add and make in the studio. The vocals throughout the record are fascinatingly brilliant, particular on the title track.
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Eh ? Have you heard Elton John lately ?.Later Bowie is nothing like early Bowie, he became a stars in their eyes version for me .Like to watch live stuff because his band was amazing but wouldn't listen to studio stuff
 
JAZZMANB said:
Eh ? Have you heard Elton John lately ?.Later Bowie is nothing like early Bowie, he became a stars in their eyes version for me .Like to watch live stuff because his band was amazing but wouldn't listen to studio stuff
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Point is, they can do anything with a vocal in the studio, so the artist is obviously happy with how it sounds. The vocals on blackstar were altered purposely to sound almost supernatural for example.
 
dangermows said:
Point is, they can do anything with a vocal in the studio, so the artist is obviously happy with how it sounds. The vocals on blackstar were altered purposely to sound almost supernatural for example.
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My point is his later stuff sounded pretentious, judging by the description you give Black star followed that pattern .It's just preference ,I can't get past that no matter how good the music or noble the concept
 
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