The magical David Bowie Pyramid Stage gig at Glastonbury 2000 will aired in full on BBC Two today (June 28) at 9.30pm. (Sommersetlive)
Mike Garson, keyboardist in Bowie's band, has revealed how the singer was unusually apprehensive ahead of the "most powerful concert ever" at Glastonbury, which is being aired in full on BBC TWO today (June 28) at 9.30pm.
Mr Garson said the concert began with a nerve-shredding audio issue in front of the "monstrous" crowd - but ended as his favourite ever concert with Bowie.
The keyboardist took to Facebook to regale the fascinating tale.
"I was standing backstage with David and fellow bandmates preparing to perform at the Glastonbury Festival in 2000.
"David looked out at the audience and saw what is told to have been a quarter of a million fans.
"There was something about that day that made me feel, even before beginning to perform, like it would be the most powerful concert to ever happen in Glastonbury history.
"I felt David’s apprehension. He seemed just a little nervous.
"He took a breath, looked me straight in the eye and asked me to go out to warm up the audience on my own - much like asked me 27 years earlier at the Hammersmith Odeon in London on the night he knew he would be retiring Ziggy Stardust forever.
"Once again, I almost had a heart attack. I walked out onto the stage all alone with nothing but the monstrous sea of fans. I was ready to play some jazz."
"There was just one problem. From the first note, not a sound was coming out of my keyboard.
"Within a second, at least fifty crew members flooded on and off the stage scrambling to figure out what the problem might be.
"The crowd was getting anxious. I was getting nervous and turning red.
"I was just so happy that David wasn’t on stage because if he had started without the piano we would have been in big trouble.
"The three minutes I was onstage without any sound felt like three years! It finally dawned on me that the volume on my keyboard was turned off.
"It wouldn’t surprise me if I was the one who turned the it all the way down after our sound check. Oh boy."
While often regarded as one of the greatest sets in Glasto history, the Sunday night closing show has never been released on video or audio in its entirety.
Glastonbury 2000 was arguably the point that changed, with David Bowie connecting with a new generation, and opening fresh ground in the process.
A stellar headline set, the performance caused international headlines with its sheer gravitas, and it's now set to gain a full official release.
Out on November 30th, the full package will feature never before seen footage from the set alongside exclusive photography.
David Bowie wrote a diary for Time Out in the run up to the event, commenting: “As of 1990 I got through the rest of the 20th century without having to do a big hits show. Yes, yes, I know I did four or five hits on the later shows but I held out pretty well I thought…big, well known songs will litter the field at Glastonbury this year. Well, with a couple of quirks of course”.
and a triple LP vinyl – complete with notes from Caitlin Moran, photos of Bowie in his iconic 3/4 length custom Alexander McQueen frock coat, and Bowie’s tour diary, originally written for Time Out.
Parlophone Records in association with BBC Studios and Glastonbury Festivals Ltd. are proud to announce DAVID BOWIE ‘GLASTONBURY 2000’ on 2CD/DVD, 3LP, 2CD and digital formats, documenting Bowie’s legendary Sunday night headline performance on 25 June 2002 https://t.co/9kEE56IA65 pic.twitter.com/0Wm8KZ43U3
— David Bowie Official (@DavidBowieReal) October 2, 2018
Co-organiser Emily Eavis comments: “I often get asked what the best set I've seen here at Glastonbury is, and Bowie's 2000 performance is always one which I think of first.
Check out the full tracklisting below:
2 x CD / DVD SET
CD 1
Introduction (Greensleeves)
Wild Is The Wind
China Girl
Changes
Stay
Life On Mars?
Absolute Beginners
Ashes To Ashes
Rebel Rebel
Little Wonder
Golden Years
CD 2
Fame
All The Young Dudes
The Man Who Sold The World
Station To Station
Starman
Hallo Spaceboy
Under Pressure
Ziggy Stardust
“Heroes”
Let’s Dance
I’m Afraid Of Americans
DVD
Introduction (Greensleeves)
Wild Is The Wind
China Girl
Changes
Stay
Life On Mars?
Absolute Beginners
Ashes To Ashes
Rebel Rebel
Little Wonder
Golden Years
Fame
All The Young Dudes
The Man Who Sold The World
Station To Station
Starman
Hallo Spaceboy
Under Pressure
Ziggy Stardust
“Heroes”
Let’s Dance
I’m Afraid Of Americans
3 x LP SET
Side 1
Introduction (Greensleeves)
Wild Is The Wind
China Girl
Changes
Side 2
Stay
Life On Mars?
Absolute Beginners
Side 3
Ashes To Ashes
Rebel Rebel
Little Wonder
Golden Years
Side 4
Fame
All The Young Dudes
The Man Who Sold The World
Station To Station
Side 5
Starman
Hallo Spaceboy
Under Pressure
Ziggy Stardust
Side 6
“Heroes”
Let’s Dance
I’m Afraid Of Americans
image: https://ksassets.timeincuk.net/wp/uploads/sites/55/2018/01/DAVID_BOWIE_BLACKSTAR_1000.jpg
David Bowie
David Bowie
2 CD set / standard and high resolution (48kHz/24bit) digital
CD 1
Introduction (Greensleeves)
Wild Is The Wind
China Girl
Changes
Stay
Life On Mars?
Absolute Beginners
Ashes To Ashes
Rebel Rebel
Little Wonder
Golden Years
CD 2
Fame
All The Young Dudes
The Man Who Sold The World
Station To Station
Starman
Hallo Spaceboy
Under Pressure
Ziggy Stardust
“Heroes”
Let’s Dance
I’m Afraid Of Americans
