Earthling Tour


The Earthling Tour was a concert tour by British musician David Bowie, in promotion of his album Earthling, released in 1997, The tour started on 7 June 1997 at Flughafen Blankensee in Lübeck, Germany, continuing through Europe, North America before reaching a conclusion in Buenos Aires, Argentina on 7 November 1997.

History

Bowie first publicly performed Earthling material in late 1996, playing "Telling Lies" and sometimes "Little Wonder" at shows on the US East Coast in September and October. On 9 January 1997, he hosted a concert at Madison Square Garden for his 50th birthday. A month later, Earthling was released and Bowie promoted it with appearances on Saturday Night Live and The Tonight Show, followed by a Pay-Per-View broadcast of the birthday concert on 8 March.
Bowie and his band began rehearsing for the tour in April 1997, and expected the tour to last "from May through Christmas". Bowie predicted a "really extensive, a long, long tour". During rehearsals for the tour, Bowie re-recorded updated versions of some of his older songs, including "The Man Who Sold the World" and "Stay". These updated versions were performed during the tour, though the latter wouldn't be officially released until 2020 as part of Is It Any Wonder?
The original concept was to perform two sets: one regular and one dance-oriented, incorporating drum and bass. This idea was abandoned, owing to the antipathy of critics and audiences. After the performance at the Muziekcentrum Vredenburg in Utrecht, on 11 June 1997, elements of each were incorporated into one set.
"He hated playing things just like the record," recalled guitarist Reeves Gabrels. "He wanted me to dress songs up in the clothes we're wearing now."
The 19 July 1997 Phoenix Festival performance – billed as Tao Jones Index – in the BBC Radio 1 dance tent preceded the regular performance on the main stage the following day. The 14 October 1997 show at the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, New York – broadcast on MTV's Live from the 10 Spot – was added at short notice due to cancellation by The Rolling Stones. The following show on 15 October 1997 at the Radio City Music Hall in New York City, New York was part of the GQ Awards.
The setlist included Laurie Anderson's "O Superman" with lead vocals by Gail Ann Dorsey.
Tour publicist Tony Michaelides handled press, radio & television for Bowie.

Setlist

This performance is from the Radio City Music Hall, New York City, United States show at 15 October 1997.
  1. "Always Crashing in the Same Car"
  2. "Panic in Detroit"
  3. "I'm Waiting for the Man"
  4. "My Death"
  5. "The Jean Genie"
  6. "I'm Afraid of Americans"
  7. "Seven Years in Tibet"
  8. "Looking for Satellites"
  9. "Under Pressure"
  10. "Fashion"
  11. "The Man Who Sold the World"
  12. "Battle for Britain "
  13. "Stay"
  14. "Little Wonder"
Encore:
  1. "Hallo Spaceboy"
  2. "Moonage Daydream"

    Tour band

Songs

From Space Oddity
From The Man Who Sold the World
From Hunky Dory
From The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
From Aladdin Sane
From Live Santa Monica '72
From
From Young Americans
From Station to Station
From Low
From "Heroes"
From Lodger
From Scary Monsters
From Let's Dance
From Tin Machine
From Black Tie White Noise
From Outside
From Earthling
Other songs: