With his artistic vision he was light years ahead of his time. He was also helped by having probably the most under-rated lead guitarist of all as his sidekick during his 'golden years', Mick Ronson really could play guitar...
Moonage Daydream
Jean Genie
Under Pressure
Sorrow
Space Oddity
In 1969 I was a fifth year pupil at Tulse Hill School and in the last week of the Summer Term each Year was given their own control of an all-school assembly. Our group was led by an art teacher who was a great Bowie fan way before he was really famous and the theme of our assembly was 'Space Oddity' in the week the Americans landed on the moon.
We set up a paper mache 'moonscape' on stage and used a bus stop which around 25 of us were waiting at 'on the moon' and holding a balloon. Space Oddity was played and we all put our hand above our eyes as we were supposed to be looking into space, as the record finished with the chorus of 'can you hear me Major Tom?' we all put our hands to our ears, as if we were trying to hear him. At the end of the record we all walked to the front of the stage and threw our balloons into the well of the hall, this was to signify weightlessness.
I think we can trace the demise of education in this country back to that day, but it was great fun...
