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1983 Serious Moonlight Tour (AUS/NZ)
The Serious Moonlight Tour coincided with Bowie's biggest album (Let's Dance) and his biggest ever concert audiences. Commencing in Belgium in May, the national attendance records set particularly in New Zealand - and subsequently entered into the Guiness Book of World Records - makes this tour relevant in any reading of the nation's modern cultural history. In terms of Bowie's career and the perspective of rock music, it is a testament as to how big a cult artist can become. During the course of 1983, Australia had become something of a focus for David Bowie - primarily due to the videos of his smash hits 'Lets Dance' and 'China Girl'. The European dates were also supported by Australian band Icehouse who have often been compared to Bowie.
As the tour kicked off, fans began to witness Bowie's most elaborate staging since 1974. This included four enormous translucent polythene columns, huge neoclassical lintels above, a giant hand located stage right and a glittering crescent moon stage left...

Prelude - Australia Arrival and Press Conference (Perth) Concerts - Australia Perth November 4, 5 & 6 Perth Entertainment Centre Adelaide November 9 Adelaide Oval Melbourne November 12 Melbourne VFL Park Brisbane November 16 Lang Park Sydney November 19-20 Showgrounds Prelude - New Zealand New Zealand - Lead up, Arrival and Marae Visit Concerts - New Zealand Wellington November 24 Athletic Park Auckland November 26 Western Springs Stadium Audio Visual Don Lane TV interview NZ Serious Moonlight Tour Doco (by Sam Coley for Radio NZ, 2009) Appendix Official passes, items and merchandise

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