David Bowie's Band, Simon Le Bon, La Roux, Gary Oldman & Others Gather For Birthday Celebration
1/9/2017 by Gil Kaufman
David Bowie's friends, fans and former bandmates gathered on Sunday night (Jan. 8) to celebrate what would have been the rock icon's 70th birthday. Among those participating were La Roux, Keane's Tom Chaplin, Duran Duran's Simon Le Bon and members of Spandau Ballet. The three-hour charity show at the Brixton Academy in London came on the first anniversary of Bowie's death and was hosted by Bowie's friend, actor Gary Oldman.
Also taking the stage, according to an NME report, were Def Leppard singer Joe Elliot, Mr. Hudson, the London Community Gospel Choir and an all-star roster of former Bowie collaborators, including guitarist Earl Slick, pianist Mike Garson and bassist Gail Ann Dorsey. Highlights included Oldman singing "Dead Man Walking" and "The Man Who Sold the World," as well as La Roux taking on "Golden Years," Chaplin's "Life on Mars," Elliot singing "All the Young Dudes" and Le Bon's take on "Let's Dance."
A group of 130 Bowie fans also gathered at London's Olympic Studios for a group meditation to commemorate Bowie's birthday, just two days before the first anniversary of the singer's death at age 69. The Brixton gig was one of a series organized by Bowie's former bandmates that will also include a gig on Tuesday (Jan. 10) at New York's Terminal 5, as well as the Wiltern in Los Angeles on Jan. 25 and the Tokyo Dome City Hall in Tokyo on Feb. 2.
The setlist, according to NME (check out videos from the event below):
"Dead Man Walking" – Gary Oldman
"Rebel Rebel" – Bernard Fowler
"Sorrow" – Gary Oldman and Joe Sumner
"Five Years" – Gaby Moreno
"Golden Years" – La Roux
"Lady Grinning Soul" – Holly Palmer
"The Man Who Sold The World" – Jeremy Little and Gary Oldman
"Diamond Dogs" – Bernard Fowler
"Life On Mars" – Tom Chaplin
"Wild Is The Wind" – Gaby Moreno
"Young Americans" – Gail Ann Dorsey & The London Community Gospel Choir
"Ashes To Ashes" – Angelo Moore
"Win" – Bernard Fowler & The London Community Gospel Choir
"All The Young Dudes" – Joe Elliot & The London Community Gospel Choir
"Fame" – Adrian Belew
"Fashion" – Alex Painter
"Sound And Vision" – Adrian Belew
"Changes" – Tony Hadley
"Rock And Roll Suicide" – Bernard Fowler
"Where Are We Now" – Holly Palmer
"Stay" – Bernard Fowler
"Aladdin Sane" – Gail Ann Dorsey
"Space Oddity" – Gail Ann Dorsey
"Starman" – Mr. Hudson
"D.J.’/’Boys Keep Swining" – Adrian Belew
"Ziggy Stardust" – Angelo Moore
"Moonage Daydream" – Angelo Moore
"Suffragette City" – Joe Elliot
"Heroes" – Bernard Fowler
ENCORE:
"Loving The Alien" – Catherine Russell
"Jean Genie" – Bernard Fowler
"Let’s Dance" – Simon Le Bon & The London Community Gospel Choir
"Under Pressure" – Joe Sumner, Catherine Russell & The London Community Gospel Choir
A video posted by marnslondon (@marnslondon) on