Live: City Hall, Newcastle

David Bowie performed at Newcastle’s City Hall on 14 June 1978, as part of the Isolar II Tour.

He performed three consecutive nights at the venue on 14, 15, and 16 June.

This was the 53rd date of the tour, which began on 29 March in San Diego.

Bowie’s guitarists were Carlos Alomar and Adrian Belew. Simon House was on electric violin, Sean Mayes played piano, and Roger Powell was on keyboards and synthesizers. George Murray played bass guitar and Dennis Davis was on drums.

The gig that night was amazing. The stage lights reflected from the walls and ceiling lighting up the faces of the whole audience and it looked as if David had invited a crowd of friends along for a wild party.

There was an electric atmosphere, the place seemed to bring performers and crowd together. A balcony ran round three sides of the hall and inevitably one guy jumped down onto an amp, then onto the stage, recovered his balance and made a dash. He threw his arms around David three seconds before Eric and Tony got there then was gently escorted off and back to the auditorium. I think you could say he did it for everyone in the place!

Bowie had first visited the City Hall with the Manish Boys on 5 December 1964. The Ziggy Stardust Tour called at City Hall on 2 June 1972 and 7 January, 8 June, and 30 June 1973. Bowie also performed there with Iggy Pop on 2 March 1977.

The setlist

• ‘Warszawa’
• “Heroes”
• ‘What In The World’
• ‘Be My Wife’
• ‘The Jean Genie’
• ‘Blackout’
• ‘Sense Of Doubt’
• ‘Speed Of Life’
• ‘Breaking Glass’
• ‘Fame’
• ‘Beauty And The Beast’
• ‘Five Years’
• ‘Soul Love’
• ‘Star’
• ‘Hang On To Yourself’
• ‘Ziggy Stardust’
• ‘Suffragette City’
• ‘Art Decade’
• ‘Alabama Song’
• ‘Station To Station’
• ‘Stay’
• ‘TVC 15’
• ‘Rebel Rebel’