David Bowie performed at New York’s Madison Square Garden on 27 July 1983, as part of the Serious Moonlight Tour. It was the last of three consecutive nights at the venue.
It was the 42nd date of the tour, which began on 18 May in Brussels.
Bowie’s guitarists were Carlos Alomar and Earl Slick. Dave Lebolt was on keyboards and synthesizers, and Steve Elson, Stan Harrison, Lenny Pickett played saxophones. Carmine Rojas played bass guitar and Tony Thompson was on drums and percussion. George and Frank Simms were the backing singers.
Bowie had first performed at Madison Square Garden on 19 and 20 July 1974, during the Diamond Dogs Tour, and again on 26 March 1976 for the Isolar Tour. He returned there on 7, 8, and 9 May 1978 for the Isolar II Tour.
The Glass Spider Tour saw a further two concerts at the venue, on 1 and 2 September 1987, and on 9 January 1997 a special 50th birthday celebratory concert took place, with Bowie sharing the stage with Foo Fighters, The Cure’s Robert Smith, Smashing Pumpkins’ Billy Corgan, Pixies’ Frank Black, Sonic Youth, and Lou Reed.
Bowie’s final show at the venue was on 15 December 2003 during A Reality Tour.
The setlist
- ‘Star’
- “Heroes”
- ‘What In The World’
- ‘Golden Years’
- ‘Fashion’
- ‘Let’s Dance’
- ‘Breaking Glass’
- ‘Life On Mars?’
- ‘Sorrow’
- ‘Cat People (Putting Out Fire)’
- ‘China Girl’
- ‘Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)’
- ‘Rebel Rebel’
- ‘White Light/White Heat’
- ‘Station To Station’
- ‘Cracked Actor’
- ‘Ashes To Ashes’
- ‘Space Oddity’
- ‘Young Americans’
- ‘Fame’
- ‘TVC 15’
- ‘Stay’
- ‘The Jean Genie’
- ‘Modern Love’
Also on this day...
- 1974: David Bowie sees the Jackson Five live
- 1973: Recording: Pin Ups
- 1969: Live: Malta International Song Festival
- 1964: Television: The Beat Room
Want more? Visit the David Bowie history section.
