Opening on Valentines Day 2004, the downunder leg of the A REALITY tour
promised a combination of large video screens and long exciting set lists.
As Mike Garson explained, it had been a week since the band's Los Angeles
concert, so it was good grounds for putting on a top show.
Bowie and
the band began rehearsing at Westpac Trust Stadium in the early afternoon
but were been and gone by the time the weather made a nasty change.
First, a
gale wind swept up from the Harbour into the surrounds of the stadium
knocking over barricades, bins and most other items that weren't securely
fastened. Then from about 6 PM, a downpour followed.
The support
act for Bowie's only New Zealand show was 19 year old local artist Brooke
Fraser. Without lights or a full PA, she played a 40 minute set and received
a polite applause.
At around
9 PM under very damp and windy conditions, David Bowie took to the stage.
He launched into an updated version of Rebel Rebel.
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Photo by Adam Dean |
"Wellington, you crazy mother fuckers, it's so great to be back, so great
to be in this shitty weather, but this is cool, this is cool", he
told the 25,000 strong crowd.
Casually dressed in tight black jeans, sneakers, T-shirt and jacket, Bowie
played a lengthy 28 song Reality set.
As wafts of certain substances floated up
to the stage, Bowie announced: "I love the smell of Wellington in the
evening!".




A few songs
in - as the rain got heavier - Bowie towelled down his hair before proceeding
to play 'air towel' (a variation of 'air guitar').
As the stage
hands mopped up the lake that developed at the front of the stage, Bowie
put on a hooded rain coat before moving out on to the apron to sing in
the pouring rain. He announced 'If you can put up with it, so can I'.
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Photo by Adam Dean |
Before beginning Slip Away, Bowie explained how he and his friends used
to get stoned and watch a television show called Uncle Floyd. In the coda,
he played stylophone and once the song had finished, he teased the audience
by playing the opening bars to Ground Control to Major Tom [sic!] before
settling on Starman.
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Photo by Adam Dean |
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Photo by Adam Dean |
Almost 2 and a half hours later, the concert was finished.
The rain,
however, continued on through the night as New Zealand faced one of the
worst storms and floods in living history.
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