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marmar

(77,077 posts) Sat Jan 8, 2022, 12:11 PM Jan 2022

Celebrating "great songwriter" David Bowie's 75th birthday & introducing him to a new generation

Celebrating "great songwriter" David Bowie's 75th birthday & introducing him to a new generation
Pianist Mike Garson spoke to Salon about the second Bowie musical event featuring Def Leppard, Duran Duran and more

By ANNIE ZALESKI
PUBLISHED JANUARY 8, 2022 11:00AM

Pianist Mike Garson will never forget his first concert ever with David Bowie. It was September 22, 1972, and Bowie and the Spiders from Mars were kicking off the U.S. leg of the Ziggy Stardust Tour in Cleveland, Ohio. Garson's background was in jazz, not rock 'n' roll — in fact, he didn't know who Bowie was before joining the band — and so he wasn't necessarily prepared for what he'd encounter.

"I'm coming from jazz clubs, right — 10 people making $5. Right now, I'm in front of thousands of people, and they're going nuts," Garson recalls today. "All fine — I had heard that would happen. And he's singing great and the Spiders from Mars are playing great."

After the band finished the encore, things got interesting. Bowie and the rest of the band "[took] off through the back door at a speed you wouldn't believe. And I'm thinking, 'Why are they running?'" Garson says. "And then I see thousands of people storming the stage — and I'm collecting my music. I just joined the band — and all of a sudden, I'm under attack."

Today, on a Zoom call in mid-December 2021, the musician laughs heartily at the memory. After all, nearly 50 years later, Garson is still associated with Bowie. On Jan. 8, he's helming the second annual A Bowie Celebration, which brings together musicians who played with Bowie and musicians who are fans for a night celebrating the music. ..........(more)

https://www.salon.com/2022/01/08/celebrating-great-songwriter-david-bowies-75th-birthday-and-introducing-him-to-a-new-generation/