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bowiedownunder.com |
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| Back in Sydney, Bowie and the band again stayed at the Sebel Town House at Elizabeth Bay. In it's day, the Sebel was Australia's most recognised celebrity hotel. |
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| Left and centre : Bowie relaxing at The Sebel. Photos sent in by Tim from Perth. Right: The Sebel today - Australia's premier rock n roll hotel has now been remodeled into apartments. | ||
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the night of their arrival, Dennis Davis and Roger Powell jammed with Bette Midler's
band in nearby King's Cross. The gig took place at the Manzil Room which was a popular live venue and the 'in place' back in the 70s. The following evening, Bowie, Coco and Sean Mayes saw Bette Midler live at the State Theatre. "It was a marvelous, hilarious and dazzling show. I was amazed how Bette had managed to get familiar with all the local jokes and put-downs" said Sean. |
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Bette Midler in Australia, 1978. | Peter Frampton was also in town and Bowie visited
"He's very friendly. Just as sweet as he used to be in school!". The two Sydney shows took place at the former Showgrounds which was situated right next to the Sydney Cricket Ground. |
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| Now the site of Sydney's Fox Studios (right), The Sydney Showgrounds was originally host to the annual Royal Easter Show. It held several rock concerts through the years such as Led Zeppelin in 1972 (25,000 attended), ABBA (1977), KISS (1980) and the annual Big Day Out festival (1992-97). The venue hosted four Bowie concerts (two in 1978 and two again in 1983). According to austadiums, by the late 90's, the showground was no longer needed and the venue was bulldozed. The main members stand has been kept and converted into offices. | ||
| The first Sydney show was reportedly subdued, but the final one was a stunner - and one of the best of the whole tour. |
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Sydney 1978. Photo sent in by Tim from Perth |
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Sydney 1978. Ticket set in by Bruce Carter. Photos sent in by Tim from Perth. |
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the second encore, Bowie returned to the stage alone. Leaning on the
mic stand, rapturous noise broke
over him like heavy surf. "What would you do if I sang out of tune! NO!!!" He then started singing along to a beer commercial: "I feel like a Tooheys, I feel like a Tooheys, I feels like a Tooheys or two"....."We'll be back next year, I promise". |
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Sydney. November 24, 1978. Photos by Bruce Butler. |
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Sydney. November 24, 1978. Photos by Bruce Butler. |
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Sydney. November 24, 1978. Photos by Bruce Butler. |
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Reviews of the Sydney shows were ecstatic. Stephen Dowse's review for an English newspaper concluding that Bowie was "undoubtedly the total master of his environment and physically and intellectually the most exciting performer in the world today". |
Article sent in by Mike from England.
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Sydney. November 25, 1978. Photos by Bruce Butler. |
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Sydney. November 25, 1978. Photos by Bruce Butler. |
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Sydney. November 25, 1978. Photos by Bruce Butler. |
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| In 1978, tickets
for David Bowie's Sydney concerts cost $12.50 AUS (equal to 8 pounds UK at the time). There were over 40,000 tickets snapped up for the two shows. While in Sydney, Bowie was awarded a plaque for "Outstanding sales" by the Australian office of RCA. It was later given to charity. On their last day in Australia, Bowie and the band spent time at Dennis Garcia's retreat in Gosford, NSW. |
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Sydney photos by John Larkin. To see full versions, visit John's page. |
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Sydney photos sent in by John Larkin. |
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