BOWIE'S INCREDIBLE PIANO MAN SPEAKS!
David
Brighton speaks with keyboard great, MIKE GARSON:
David: It's been 30 years now since the release of the Ziggy Stardust album. The album that was the beginning of a phenomenon that helped shape an entire generation of musicians. Only a handful of performers have ever made that kind of impact…even fewer are still going strong 30 years later. Did you have any idea back in '72 or '73 that the Bowie tours and records you were a part of would become as influential and as legendary as they've become?
Mike: I think I always knew, as its pretty easy to recognize not only a star but a big multileveled talent with a lot to say! That's a no-brainer for me. David will be one of only three or four rock legends to be remembered a hundred years from now.
David: You've always been a musician’s musician...a master of both jazz and classical music. In the early 1970s, a lot of serious classical and jazz musicians might have looked down their noses at playing what John Lennon once called "rock and roll with lipstick on." What were your feelings at the time about joining up with a glam rock act called the Spiders From Mars… with a singer who called himself Ziggy Stardust, wearing full makeup, platform boots and space suits?
Mike: I can't really explain it except that I knew somehow I was supposed to be with this type of creative genius. Yes its true, the jazz and classical communities were very judgmental, but so is most of the planet. We need to become more accepting and embracing as a planet if we are to truly progress and evolve.
David: The first
of Bowie’s studio albums that you played on was the Aladdin Sane
LP. If the Ziggy
Stardust LP was Bowie and the Spider’s Sergeant Pepper,
then Aladdin Sane was their Who’s
Next. The album is considered by a lot of people to be the pinnacle of the
Bowie’s glam-era recordings, with the band at the top of their game.
You were the featured instrumentalist on a large chunk of it, and played a
significant role in producing it’s groundbreaking marriage of numerous
genres, including rock, pop and jazz.
How would
arrangements on songs like Time, Lady Grinning Soul
and Aladdin Sane come together? How did the creative
process work with that group of
individuals? Would David or Mick Ronson
have ideas about what they wanted you to play at all? Or were you given
free reign to do whatever you wanted to do?
Mike: I was given enormous freedom otherwise I couldn't have played so well. Yes, Mick was a beautiful being and very supportive. David had a brilliant suggestion for the title track, as initially I played a blues solo, then a Latin solo. He then asked me to play some avant-garde type of solo like I was somewhat doing on the jazz scene. He had good insight and to this day he has been the best producer for me!
David: A lot of virtuosos seem to be more interested in showing off their chops than playing what’s best for a particular song. You on the other hand, are a genius at coming up with piano parts for whatever piece of music you’re working on that are not only brilliantly unique, but that fit perfectly and really bring things to life. When you’re working with a songwriter like David Bowie, is what you choose to play motivated purely by inspiration, or do you ever consciously edit yourself to keep things within a particular context?
Mike: Thanks for the depth of your perceptions regarding the parts I come up with
for David. much to say about that. First of all, its mostly inspiration.David: Mick Ronson, yourself, Trevor Bolder and Woody Woodmansey worked together for a number of years. Were there close friendships among any or all of you, or was it more of a working relationship?
Mike:
David: I’d like to ask a couple of questions about Mick Ronson. He was undeniably a huge part of Bowie's success during the Ziggy era. A lot has been written about the chemistry Mick and David had on stage together. And musically, few would argue that Ronson’s sound, feel and choice of notes were perfectly suited to Bowie's voice and songwriting at the time… Still, Mick wasn’t the kind of guitarist that one would find on the cover of Guitar Player magazine in the early 70's. Do you think he was respected by his peers? And how would you rate his work as a guitarist?
Mike:
Mick
is and was an unsung hero. His guitar playing was so melodic and
gorgeous.
David: In addition to being a guitar player... Ronson was also a band leader, a
producer, and a solo artist. Any thoughts on those aspects of who he was as an artist?Mike: Mick was a great producer, arranger and band leader. All done with dignity and respect for whoever he worked for. And his solo albums were great. Totally overlooked. Slaughter On Tenth Avenue was a remarkable track.
David: During the David Live period, when Bowie was making his transition from rock to soul, how did you feel about the changes in musical direction, band personnel and so forth?
Mike: It
all made sense to me as he's an ever evolving artist who refuses to
stand still!
David: Did you pick the musicians for the new band?
Mike:
don't think it was me that picked those great musicians like Dave Sanborn,
Luther Vandross, Carlos Alomar and Dennis Davis, but we sure had a great band.
David: You parted ways with Bowie in 1975. How would you describe the circumstances of the split?
Mike: David went off to do (the movie) The Man Who Fell To Earth and I went back on the jazz scene. I initially was hired for 8 weeks and I lasted several years which felt perfect for that time of my life.
David: Over the next two decades, your list of accomplishments include releasing a number of highly acclaimed solo albums, doing movie and television soundtracks, and recording and performing worldwide with some of the most respected names in jazz… People like Stan Getz, Stanley Clarke and Freddie Hubbard. Is there one genre or area of music that you find more fulfilling that others? Or do you enjoy doing it all?
Mike:
Click
on the photo to visit Mike's Official Website!
David: It wasn’t until 1993 that you found yourself working with David Bowie again. What was that like after an 18 year break? Was working with David in the 70’s different than working with him now?
Mike:
David: Bowie’s music has gone so many different places over the years… which places or periods stand out most for you?
Mike: Hunky Dory, Aladdin Sane and Young Americans were my favorites, yet I like so many of his periods that's hard to answer.
David: Do you have a favorite Bowie song?
Mike: Space Oddity, Quicksand, Lady Grinning Soul and Motel come to mind but there are scores I love.
David: Which band or band members in the Bowie camp that you’ve worked with have you felt the most chemistry with? And which combinations do you feel produced (or produce) the most magic?
Mike:
David: I'm glad to hear you say that about Mick Ronson.
David: What are you thoughts on what’s going on today in the world of rock and pop music? Is there anyone or anything going on currently that you find engaging?
Mike:
David: Maybe what is or isn't happening in music today has something to do with why we are seeing so many tribute acts around right now... The tribute act phenomenon started with the Beatlemania show on Broadway in the late seventies. Now there seems to be a tribute act for just about everybody… What is your opinion of this whole tribute thing?
Mike: It's
inevitable that there will always be tribute acts. It's not my thing but
I feel it has a place and is probably very necessary.
David: What plans are in the works for you in the future? What projects are you going to be involved with in the coming months?
Mike: I have no idea what the future holds for me, but I await it anxiously.
David: Any closing thoughts you’d like to share?
Mike: I've said it all for now. Thank you for the opportunity to voice my different viewpoints.
(Taken from David Brighton's complete interview with Mike Garson - April 2002)
Michael Harvey: How long have you been doing your David Bowie tribute
act? I'm impressed by the authentic Ziggy-era stage look in your
photographs.
David: We've been performing live for a
little over three years. We did our first public show in 1999... but
there was a lot of preparation going on for quite a while before we
actually started performing.
Michael Harvey: How did it all start for you? David: It really started when I heard
Panic In Detroit on the radio for the first time as a
kid. I'd never heard anything like it. It was like a magnet pulling me
in. So the
Aladdin Sane album was my initial introduction to
David Bowie and the Spiders. It's still one of my all time favorite
albums. But back to modern times... I'd been recording and touring for a
number of years with a number of acts. I'd played guitar with groups
like Quiet Riot and others. In the mid 1990s I
spent a lot of time running around the planet playing George Harrison
with various spin-offs of the Beatlemania show that
started out on Broadway years before. That was how I was first exposed
to the whole tribute thing. It was a strange but interesting world. I
eventually decided I'd like to do a David Bowie
show on the same scale as the
Beatlemania show had been done. So it became a project that I
had simmering on the back burner in between tours, for a number of years
before we started performing live.
Michael Harvey: Which David Bowie character do you enjoy playing the
most?
David: I enjoy playing them all, but Ziggy
probably holds the most magic for me. I listened to that era of Bowie
music a lot during my adolescence. It's great stuff. And having been one
of your typical teenagers who didn't feel that they quite fit in... I
think the whole alien thing really hit home for me on a subconscious
level. So performing those songs can really take me back to another time
and place... The Thin White Duke is another one I enjoy a lot as well.
Michael
Harvey: What's it like playing Ziggy Stardust? David: Portraying Ziggy can be very liberating
in a way. It's the whole mask thing... That thing about a person being
in disguise, feeling the freedom to do things they wouldn't ordinarily
do. I think I can see why David adopted the character in the first
place. It's a lot of fun going out there and playing the wild, rock and
roll mutation.
Michael
Harvey: What are the challenges? David: One challenge is simply doing the
character justice. Bowie is such a master showman. His training in dance
and mime and all of that really added a dimension to
Ziggy that you don't find anywhere else in rock. Michael
Harvey: Who designed your Ziggy costumes? They look stunning.
David: I've hired a few costume makers
(and one boot maker) in the Los Angeles area, who've done an excellent
job replicating some of Bowie's most signature costumes.
Michael Harvey:
What did they cost?
David: They can be pretty expensive! Especially
the Kansai replicas... The Rite Of Spring (that is what it's called
isn't it?) costume is a marvel of engineering. The cost can vary from
several hundred to several thousand dollars a piece. I'm looking forward
to having some more costumes made. Michael
Harvey: What has the response been to your act to date? I love the
expressions that your audience shots show. David: It's been great. Bowie fans are a rare
breed. They really get into it. It's great to see the looks on the faces
of the people in the audiences who you can tell are being transported
back in time, so to speak. There have been some people who have told us
that before they saw us live, they didn't think anyone could
convincingly recreate a Bowie concert experience. Tuesday Knight
(actress/singer/songwriter, and now our backup vocalist/keyboard femme
fatale) told me a story about the first time a friend brought her to see
us perform. She was sitting in the audience before the show started,
planning to tear us apart...saying "Let's see this guy who thinks he can
do Bowie..." After the show was over, I was sent word that she'd loved
our act and wanted to be part of it. So we obviously have had to prove
ourselves. But that's one of the fun things about it. It's been an
interesting challenge.
Michael Harvey: Tell me about the Shakira Ziggy Stardust video... Answer: That one was a surprise... The
production people called and said they needed a David Bowie look-alike
for a video that was going to be projected during a rock concert. The
filming was done at one of the big studios in Los Angeles. I didn't even
find out it was going to be for Shakira until I arrived for the shoot.
Shakira's new album and tour have a rock and roll theme. They wanted to
feature representations of certain rock and roll icons (including David
Bowie's Ziggy Stardust) in part of the multi media for her concert. I
probably shouldn't say too much more as to not give it all away, you
know...But it was great fun doing it. Everyone was great. The director
had some interesting stories. He'd seen David and the Spiders performing
in England back in 1972. He saw David perform in 1971 as well. Michael
Harvey: Have you met David Bowie? What does he think of your act?
David:
We've been fortunate enough to have been able to meet some of our
musical heroes, but we haven't met Mr. Bowie himself.
(Editor's note: At the time of this
interview, David had not yet worked with David Bowie. The filming of the
Vittel/Reality TV commercials came a couple of years later).
Harry Maslin (one of Bowie's record producers) has been down to
see our act. He was very gracious. Some of his comments are on
the reviews page of our website. I've also met Bowie's pianist, Mike Garson. He was
incredible... amazingly supportive and
helpful. He also said he'd tell the real Mr. B about the act. I don't
know if he has or not. So I
couldn't say what he thinks of our act. Michael
Harvey: I really enjoyed the
Mike Garson interview on your site
- with some very interesting recollections about his time as the 4th
Spider! David: Mike Garson has been really great. When
this act was in it's preliminary stages, I asked him some questions
about some of his piano parts on the records. They were so complex and
avant-garde that my keyboardist suggested I go to the source for some
insights. Mike was very gracious and helpful. And more recently he was
good enough to do the interview as well.
Michael
Harvey: I have to agree with you on that one David...! Have you/ do you have anything
special planned for the Ziggy Stardust 30th anniversary year? David: One of the most unique shows we've done
to date was a very special 30 Year Anniversary Ziggy concert we did this
year in Hollywood California. We did a mix of Bowie's concert versions
and studio versions on a lot of the Ziggy era material. I had plans to
rent the Santa Monica Civic auditorium this year to recreate the
legendary 1972 Santa Monica Civic Concert, but it looks like I'm going
to have to wait. Maybe for the 31st anniversary instead. We'll see. Michael
Harvey: Where are you based? How far have you toured to date? Have you
any plans for international tours? David: We're based in Los Angeles.
Most of our Bowie shows so far have been on the North American continent
and in Europe. There are a number of international things being
discussed at the moment, which would be nice. We have yet to do the show
in England, which I really would like to remedy.
Michael Harvey: For those outside the US (such as me) do you have any
videos of your performances that can be purchased by fans? David: That's an interesting question.
Since we are a tribute act, when people have asked at our shows if we
sold CDs or videos, we've always encouraged them to buy Mr. Bowie's. As
you know, we do offer
free video snippets of our show on our website
as a promotional vehicle. There are no immediate plans do anything
beyond that right now. If we were to obtain permission to offer an
actual full scale video, I suppose it could happen down the road at some
point. Michael
Harvey: Thanks very much David! Congratulations to you and your
band on your well-deserved success to date and all the best for the
future. Please do tell us more about the Shakira video as it
unfolds! And if any Ziggy fans are lucky enough... I fully recommend
that you Freak out in a Moonage Daydream with
SPACE ODDITY... (Taken from
The Ziggy Stardust Companion - Special feature by Michael Harvey -
November 2002)
with David Brighton of SPACE ODDITY
photo by Dave Scarr
photo by Cassie Rietsch
photo by Cassie Rietsch
2002: The Year Of The Diamond David Bowie
Show
from the world's premiere David Bowie Tribute act:
Question: So Bowie-mania strikes again. 2002 marks the thirty year anniversary of the release of David Bowie's breakthrough album, The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars...the album that critics call the Sergeant Pepper of the Seventies. Do you think today's audiences aware of how many of their favorite stars were directly or indirectly influenced by David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust?
David: I've wondered about that, since virtually every rock, pop, punk or new wave act that came out in the '80s and the 90's was heavily influenced by Bowie. Everyone from Kiss to Madonna to Garth Brooks was influenced by him. U2, Elton John, Paul McCartney, Duran Duran, Nine Inch Nails, Van Halen and just about all of the metal (hair) bands that followed them... even a lot of funk bands... people like George Clinton... I could go on forever.
Question: Yes you could. Other than the Beatles, David Bowie is arguably the most influential artist England has ever produced. Pretty big shoes to fill... yet you and your band have a reputation for doing just that. Have you ever encountered Bowie fans who find it hard to believe that anyone could do a credible job of recreating a live David Bowie concert experience?
David: Understatement... A lot of people have told us that before they saw us perform, they didn't believe it could be pulled off. We'd hear things like: "Nobody could do Bowie!" Tuesday was one of them. (Tuesday Knight - actress/singer/songwriter). She told me a funny story about that first time she saw us at the House Of Blues... She's sitting there in the audience before the show starts, smirking and telling her friends, "OK, let's see this guy who thinks he can do Bowie...I'm gonna tear him apart..." Then she said her jaw dropped when we came out on stage. By mid show she's yanking on my friend's arm who brought her saying: "I have to be in that band! I have to be in that band!" We've gotten a number of letters from people like that...Bowie fans who were skeptical until they came to see us.
Question: That
brings up another question. Many
people perceive tribute acts as being little more than deluded,
The Illustrious Larry Treadwell
David: Los Angeles is crawling with talent. All of our band members are people I had either worked with in the past or they were referred by friends. Larry Treadwell was the first guitar player I called when we started out. Larry has played with everyone from Thomas Dolby to The Rolling Stones. An incredible musician and a really great guy to work with. Brooke and I were writing songs together... another real talent.
Jason (drums) was suggested by Howie Anderson - a guitar player friend of mine who works with us sometimes, when he's not gigging with The Strawberry Alarm Clock or with some other legendary musical figure. Yes, I'm being a shameless name dropper. Anyway, Jason is a GREAT drummer. There aren't many drummers who can handle songs like Look Back In Anger, and the more rock oriented Ziggy material, and also be able to get Bowie's dance grooves right on top of that. It was Jason who brought in Tim Kobza and Eric Dover, two brilliant guitarists who have worked with the band.
Question: Eric Dover from the Jellyfish?
David: Yes,
Glamnation's Eric Dover (formerly with the Jellyfish, Slash's
Snakepit, and the Alice Cooper group)
has done a great filling in with us on occasion. Eric also does a brilliant Mick Jagger impression when we do the Bowie/Jagger collaboration on
Dancing In The Street. He's a ridiculously talented guy. Right
now, he's working on his own album, which Jason is playing
drums on. It's going to be an amazing record.
Question: What about Tuesday Knight?
David: Tuesday, our resident movie star (background vocals/keys)...was an acquaintance back in my Quiet Riot days. But I hadn't seen her since way back then, until the House Of Blues show that I mentioned earlier. Tuesday definitely wins the award for being the girl with the biggest personality of all time. She's great.
Question: Do other tribute acts have so many serious players in their ranks, or is your act unusual in that regard?
David: There are a lot of accomplished musicians around. At least a couple of the top Beatle groups have had guys who've played with Styx, Joe Jackson and so on. They're great. But having well known players with tons of technical ability doesn't always translate into having a great act. To me, the best bands are the ones made up of people who really believe in what they're doing and who respect each other and the audience enough to give it all they have. Bowie's music demands that you have really strong musicians...but at the same time, you can have the hottest players around, but if they don't learn their parts or show up when you need them, there's not much point. Delivering the goods is what matters...
Question: Were financial considerations a big motivation for you to form your Bowie Tribute act?
David: Am I missing something? Are we supposed to be getting paid to do this? No really... I just really wanted to do a Bowie tribute, ever since my initiation to this whole tribute thing through the Beatle bands I worked with. I don't have anything against getting paid to do something you enjoy doing though. If that ever starts happening, I'll let you know (laughs).
Question: A lot has been said about the chemistry in your band. How would you describe the rapport that you and your players have on stage and it's importance to the act?
David: Chemistry can be a rare and fragile thing. When it happens, it's magic. All of the great rock bands had great chemistry. Take U2, the Who or the Beatles. Every band member was irreplaceable. If one person was taken out of the equation, the whole band's chemistry would be significantly changed or even lost... Bowie's Spiders From Mars band had that kind of chemistry in a big way...and Bowie and Ronson's front man/lead guitarist team worked perfectly for what they were doing.
Question: Have you ever met David Bowie or any of his band? And if so, what did they have to say about what you're doing?
David: We've been fortunate enough to have been able to meet some of our musical heroes, but we haven't met Mr. Bowie himself.
(Editor's note: At the time of this interview, David had not yet worked with David Bowie. The filming of the Vittel/Reality TV commercials came a couple of years later). Larry has worked with Bowie's ex-wife Angie. Harry Maslin (one of Bowie's record producers) has been down to see our act. He was very gracious. Some of his comments are on the reviews page of our website. I've also met Bowie's pianist, Mike Garson. He was incredible... amazingly supportive and helpful. He also said he'd tell the real Mr. B about the act. I don't know if he has or not.
Question: Bowie has been such a diverse artist, exploring so many different styles of music and modes of presentation. He's done it all, from rock to pop, funk and experimental electronic music. That being the case, what do your audiences expect from you?
David: They expect it all. Bowie's music crosses over a lot of racial, social and cultural boundaries. All kinds of people are into it. Rock and pop fans, the mainstream audience, the alternative audience, the dance crowd, the rock and rollers. It's good to see that.
(taken from Live Entertainment Magazine, Feb. 2002)
2001: A Space Oddity
The Life and Times Of A Celebrity Impersonator
- David Brighton's Tribute to David Bowie -
Question:
When you were first starting out in the entertainment field, was becoming a David Bowie impersonator something you envisioned yourself doing?
David:
When I was starting out, I never expected to impersonate anyone.
I don't
quite know how I got here! Bowie was always one of my favorite artists,
and a huge influence,
but
when I was a kid
I didn't really even expect to become a front man.
I wanted to be a lead guitarist like Mick Ronson or Brian May.
Ronson influenced a lot of guitar players that I've known. People like Randy
Rhoads for instance.
(Editors note: Before his life was tragically taken in a plane crash, the late Randy Rhoads had earned a name for himself as a
Question: Mick Ronson was one of Randy Rhoads's influences?
Randy Rhoads- (2nd from the right) with the original Quiet Riot line up
David: Yeah definitely... Randy had a presence on stage that was very reminiscent of Ronson. Beyond that though, both were very charismatic performers and were brilliant at what they did. And both played enormous roles in the success of the acts they worked with. Even though they both started out as sidemen for famous singers, both became stars in their own right.
Question: We've heard rumors about your association with Quiet Riot. Is it true that you replaced Randy Rhoads in the band?
David: Yeah, I did for a bit… way back when, as you said, I was first starting out. At the time, Randy had just left the group, and they sort of took me under their wing. I learned a lot from them... Kevin in particular (Editor's note- Kevin Dubrow, Quiet Riot's lead singer). He had a good understanding of how the music business worked and I was brand new to it.
David Brighton and Kevin Dubrow on stage
photo by Dennis Hill
Question: What was it like playing with the band that gave us arena rock anthems like "Come On Feel The Noise?"
David: Loud. (laughs) It was great. A lot of fun.
Question: And how did it feel to replace someone who went on to become such a legendary figure? That must have been an interesting place to find yourself in. Did you feel pressured in any way?
David: You could
say that...! (laughs) Randy was a great guitar
player... just amazing... he was also incredibly popular with his audience.
It was very flattering for
me to be there. I wouldn't even want to try to
compete with someone like Randy Rhoads. But at the time I was so
young that I probably didn't have the sense to be overly intimidated by
the situation. The guys in Quiet Riot liked the
fact that my playing style and my stage thing back then had a
number of similarities to what Randy had been doing. You know, that
flashy English rock guitar kind of thing. Which leads us back
to Ronson, really. Both of us were heavily influenced by people
like Mick Ronson, Brian May (from Queen) and
others.
Question: Are you still in contact with any of the Quiet Riot band members?
David: I just spoke with Kevin on the phone recently. They've got a new album out and are doing an arena tour as we speak. I wish them the best of success.
Question: We're having trouble seeing the connection between portraying Bowie and playing lead guitar for a rock band like Quiet Riot. Could you help us out here?
David: As a guitarist, I've been a sideman for a lot of people... playing all different kinds of music... from rock, pop, and alternative - to R&B, gospel and so on. It's been fun. It's also really fun doing the David Bowie tribute show... which these days hasn't exactly left much time for the other... although I'm not complaining... we're having a great time doing it.
Question: How would you describe the difference between being a sideman for a name act and impersonating someone?
David: The impersonating thing requires more acting... studying the character one is portraying as well as their character's musicality...
Question: Would you describe yourself as a Bowie freak?
David: I've been described as a freak...(laughs)...anyway... Bowie is definitely one of the great artists of our time. One of my favorites.
Question: The whole tribute act phenomenon's popularly certainly has exploded worldwide. But there are some who have criticized and questioned the validity of whole idea of having tribute acts parading around as people they are not. How would you respond to their criticisms?
David: On one hand, I can think of things about the whole tribute thing that would be legitimate to criticize. For example, it's really not a happy thing to see a bad tribute act...or to see a bunch of people in a tribute act who are really full of themselves or who think they really are who they're impersonating. But the same can be said for any kind of act.
Which brings us to the other side of the coin. I'm of the opinion that the tribute thing was inevitable. Rock and Roll has become our modern day Classical music. People go see tribute acts for the same reasons people go to hear a symphony performing Mozart, Bach or Beethoven.
To me, musically speaking, there is nothing that compares to experiencing the magic and electricity of a live concert. When the original artists are gone or are not performing anymore, or whatever, a vacuum is created. The difference between a classical concert and a tribute show is simple. The personas, the charisma, the visual presentation, (in other words, the show) is half of the reason the Beatles or David Bowie or Elvis (or whoever) became legends in the first place. It was not just the music. It was everything combined that made the magic. And those same things are the legacy of the great artists of our generation.…They are the things that will live on. Great rock and roll is a marriage of great sights and great sounds. Both parts will always be necessary. So a quality tribute act makes every effort to recreate the whole picture.
Question: What kinds of shows have you been doing lately, and how have your audiences been responding?
David: We've been performing at a lot of the outdoor festivals, as well as in the Casinos and so forth. It's been great and sometimes amusing. For example, we just performed a couple of days ago at a huge Classic Rock festival, where we went on right after a Grateful Dead Tribute band. Pretty opposite ends of the spectrum...So we walk on stage, I'm in my Japanese Ziggy cape, with the spiky red hair, platform boots and make up... and some hippies in the audience look like they don't know what to make of it at first... but after the show they're shaking our hands and telling us how much they loved the costume changes and which songs are their favorites... it's great... People love a show... they want to be entertained.
Question: Before you were doing your Bowie act, you impersonated George Harrison in a number of the world's top Beatle groups. More than one Beatle fan has asked- why interrupt a successful run impersonating George to launch another kind of act entirely? Namely Space Oddity.
David: One reason was that the challenge appealed to me. Whatever you do in life, you've got to keep growing and learning, or you just sort of shrivel up and die inside. I really enjoyed playing Harrison. But I've played lead guitar in bands for a long time...so after I'd been portraying George for about five years, it was time to explore something different.
Going out onstage and fronting a band like Bowie has always done was a whole new frontier for me. I wanted to find out if I would be able to do it or not.
Question: How did you choose Bowie?
David: There are a lot of reasons. There were obviously the vocal and visual similarities… but beyond that… probably the most important thing was the music... Bowie's music transports me somewhere, just like it did when I first heard it.
Question: Which leads us to our next question... Is your David Bowie Tribute a larger scale production than the Beatlemania style shows you were involved in before you made the switch from Harrison to Bowie?
David: Even though some of the Beatle shows I was a part of were full scale productions, I'd still have to say yes... The Bowie show is very theatrical and flamboyant... with lot's of costume changes, pageantry and surprises… It wouldn't be a Bowie show otherwise...
Question: In closing, where do you see the future taking tribute acts?
David: One can only guess. But the feedback we've been getting is that young people who never got to see early Bowie, the Beatles and a lot of other great artists, want to see them today. And the people who were around to see them back in the day want to see them too. That's a lot of people... we don't want to disappoint them do we?
(May 2001)
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