David Bowie - 1980 Tonight Show - Life On Mars Ashes To Ashes

[ulysses1904]

I saw this on TV in a bar in Denver back in 1980. I had just seen him in The Elephant Man, the play started in Denver before it hit Chicago and New York. I saw the play twice, it cost all my wages for a week but it was worth it!

[leonakita]

im curious, other than carlos alomar whom i recognize...who are the other bandies?

[honeyryder24]

SO SHINEY



[tapeduk]

This must be August 1980

[ralac71]

WOW



[satori03]

Brilliant

[QJby1Hod]

I saw 'The Elephant Man' on Sept 24, 1980 with Patricia, my then girlfriend, it was my birthday present to her.

[Gravyballs2011]

Red jacket with collar turned up, blue jeans with cuffs, 50s style hair I think David was paying tribute to James Dean's character from Rebel Without A Cause.

[DLZ2000]

Wow, with that set list you could call this the Gene Hunt Special.

Trust the Gene Genie.

[mieleD]

I 'm impressed with Adam Lambert's 'tribute' to Bowie...

[upthehill1]

Fucking Fucking Brilliant!!!

[upthehill1]

Really cool

[pilarzj]

His concerts in Buffalo in '74 & '76 changed my life......then I flew to NYC @ christmastime in '80 to see Elephant Man with PCB......magical

[kangfesher]

@pilarzj very cool :)

[electrovox1212]

Gotta love this version of "LOM";G E Smith makes it GLOW with that phaser pedal/Gibson hollow-body!!

[robin56]

Johnny used the old meaning of "Straight" :D

[djgforce11]

Dont know y I didnt c this when it 1st aired.

[Kevin107ish]

GENE HUNT ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[luffyduffy7817]

This is sexy

[RonNYC100]

I used to have a red Calvin Klein jacket like that. I hate I junked it.

[andrewgroos]

The guys playing with him are so happy, they have been given the opportunity to channel music written by God into their ecstatic instruments

[combatmedicd1]

Whoops 5 decades ago.

[katrin99verified]

@combatmedicd1 no. 3 decades :)

[combatmedicd1]

Cobalt blue incandescent eyes pale translucent skin. Looks and sounds the same now as he did 3 decades ago. David Bowie is a Vampire.

[blooddonor70]

@combatmedicd1 look for the vids uploaded by vampirebowie=proof

[KurtRileyOfficial]

James Dean from outer space.

[TheViralSBK]

I'm sorry to say this but G.E. Smith was a bit disappointing here - exspecially at 2:34 when he misses the descending diminished arpeggio, that's the best part of the song guitar-wise

[blooddonor70]

@TheViralSBK people like you kill me, you know too much about music, great ear you've got also! I can't play shit, i'm a wanna be. I do like to think I have good taste.

[thegorillasnake]

He's dressed like James Dean!

[gracejijiji]

This is such an elaborated song. The arrangements, the harmonies, the smooth changes in the melody - watch how hard it is for the band to get into it, Bowie takes his time until they finally find the groove - and then it just flows. Wonderful! Thank you for posting the video!

[NoDestinyLive4Now]

Is he wearing socks on stage?

[ezaube1030]

@NoDestinyLive4Now I have asked myself this question when I have seen the part with "Life On Mars" only, which has a little bit better video quality.

[NoDestinyLive4Now]

@ezaube1030 I wouldn't be surprised if it was just socks. After all, this is David Bowie. :)

Ich würde nicht überrascht sein, nach all dem ist David Bowie wir hier diskutieren ... :)

[ezaube1030]

@ezaube1030 Danke für deine Antwort auf deutsch! Ich denke, dass es wirklich nur Socken sind... he even sang barefoot once, very funny, during a show he did in Moscow in 1996 - watch "Breaking Glass" and "The Voyeur Of Utter Destruction"

Sorry for that much trivia :-), just to return to the real content of this performances: they are more than great! And his voice is like a thunder!

[NoDestinyLive4Now]

Shite. I was born that year. Fantastic.

[Vader9]

What a legend! Bowie hasn't toured since 2004, sadly I was only 11 then. I hope I'm not the only here who wants a Bowie comeback tour.

[DanDeePee]

bowies voice is godly, no matter from what time he is singing.

[sausagenmuff]

6:06 Listen to that vibrato, I know it's not the hardest thing for a singer, but bowie's is so smooth and controlled <3

[yehudivenuti]

between these 2 songs, he looks over and says, "richard, it's great to have you back, man." he was actually talking to richard pryor, who was making his first public appearance after his freebasing ordeal. now you know....

[ssballs]

@yehudivenuti Thank you.And how nice.

[xtengeekmo]

Surly there must be a better quality recording than this... I mean, isn't there any DVD box sets of the tonight show that would have a better quality recording? not that I don't appreciate this post... but yeah.

[harrybhappy]

What a gem!!! thanks for the post

[MmeDesgranges]

Great to see but no way is this the best live version of either song.

[MrGrevy]

I'm sure Johnny Carson was really on board with Ziggy Stardust. What a disgrace.

[brabon1]

@MrGrevy lol, two songs about space...carson was a drunk

[MrGrevy]

@brabon1 Just seeing that bastion of the oppressive, horrid "greatest generation" with the symbol of sexual and social freedom makes me sick!

[64blueblue]

MASTERPIECE,DAVID -THIS IS AMAZING! You know what,you are writing songs and they are not getting old.And I'm listening again,again and again,all your songs.THANK YOU.

[flagascaro]

Most utilized by Bowie and most under rated guitarist: Carlos Alomar. I remember wanting this man's rhythm, right hand flexibility, comping ability, style everything. He is a professor of music now in NJ near Newark. These were the best years of my life.

[loverofthebigt9]

HERE'S JOHNNY !

[gringolazlo]

Bowie really enjoyed himself here.. like how he messed up ashes to ashes lyrics lol.

[repelghosts]

Thank-you H...we will meet again ...I am sure.

Gemma

[repelghosts]

i WAS WEEPING AS i RECALL WATCHING THIS...SORRY...ITS ABOUT TO LIVED AGAIN AS I ASK YOU TO FOCUS AGAIN....

THANK-YOU AS I WILL BE GONE BY THIS TIME...ALL LOVE AND BEST TO ALL DAVID BOWIE FANS...ON YOUTUBE THANK-YOU FOR YOUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS.

GEMMA

[Pirate7X]

Impressive archive, thank you grace.

[jbogalho]

gives me the chills

[SidGrey]

this has to be the best version of life on mars i've heard. hall and oates band members? holy shit lol

[weirdogilly]

thank you so much x x x

[dummmmm76]

i stay clean tonight--censored? haaa, america pathetic!

[ursaminorjim]

@dummmmm76

That wasn't "censorship," actually. Sounds to me like he forgot the lyrics. Especially since he loses his place for the first verse as well.

[JimmyLeeVanDePutte]

And super freaks!!! :)

[EricandDish]

I think the title of Bowie's song just about summed up 1980: "Ashes to Ashes"; considering of what would happen at year's end to John Lennon-and happening in the same matter as John F. Kennedy (hence the title). Speaking of that, I read Fenton Bresler's book "Who Killed John Lennon?" and do you realize Johnny Carson was supposed to been the next celebrity the U.S. government wanted dead after Lennon in that fall of '80? I want to write a book about that period of '63-'80.

[blooddonor70]

@EricandDish Interesting, bro we are creeps. Lets just take lives because they think differently. We are no more free than Russians were in the 60s-80s. It's the illusion, and the power of denial, Write your book, I'll buy a copy.

[theMayfairWorkshop]

SGODK!

[Ecubyan]

Outstanding performance from David and this kickass energy band. this should be found in the vaults and restored for Bonus material on the future remaster of Scary Monsters, and also ad the amazing version of The Man Who Sold The World, with that same lineup. One of my all time favourite Bowie Live performances ever!!!

[Skulldini]

The Tonight show WAS actually a pretty cool show,.. before that dumb oafus Leno took over!

[knowallcity]

I remember the Ashe's to Ashe's video as looking cheap on MTV even then. Full circle as they dont even play videos now...

[Skulldini]

Bowie's James Dean look ! I've seen pictures of this before and wondered what they were from. Thanks !

[gwidener7]

Thanks for posting this!

[serilopr]

"he better be good after this" JOHNNY! He Is The BEST!! RIP Mr.Carson!

[pbogdanovic]

This is Bowie at his best...!!!

[warhols25]

@pbogdanovic this is his best performance

[bringonthegoons]

Is that Bill Nelson?

[EhtNosajsSenoj]

@bringonthegoons Nope. G.E. Smith of Halls and Oates/Saturday Night Live fame. He can also be seen in the video for "Fashion".

[upthehill1]

One word .CLASSIC

[chapelierfoudre]

So sad he didn't go on tour with this band to promote "Scary Monsters", the performances here are just awsome !!

One of his best TV appearances !

[Skulldini]

@chapelierfoudre I heard that he was PLANNING to do a Scary Monsters tuor, but he chose to do The Elephant Man play instead,.. which did turn out to be a good and successful career move for him. But still, I know what you mean,.. I imagine that would've made a good tuor.

[Skulldini]

i'VE S

[gazpachemode]

El puto crack!

[MalquiLans]

What a fantastic singer!! :)

[ultrakool]

G.E. Smith??

[candidate0]

We love you David, get back in the studio and on tour pleeeaaassseee.

[Leighbo1]

Love his Rebel Without A Cause outfit.

[fjuanantonio]

Two great songs of two great TV series... this is like a prediction...

[dlfunky1]

@fjuanantonio lol maybe the producers have been scouring vintage yt footage!

[AAR182]

2:21 is godly. lol this is his official last high note before playing all of his songs in a lower key.

[yermomsboxx]

@AAR182 Not entirely true. I remember watching him perform "The Man Who Sold The World" on SNL with Klaus Nomi, and he hit some pretty high notes there. Of course, Klaus kind of stole the show there : )

[MrGrevy]

@AAR182 stfu it is not

[KurtRileyOfficial]

@AAR182 Age lowers the voice of most singers, unfortunately. Add that to smoking, drinking, and drug use, and unfortunately most rock and roll singers lose their range over the years.

Those who burn twice as brightly burn half as long.

[unitcaptain11]

@AAR182

4:06 would be the last.

[ecoledescretins]

@AAR182 Well I hcracking illusions but THIS "saiiiiiiilors" is already in lower key. It is a G, in the originait was a B, that means 3 halfnotes lower. know why I stumbled about it in the first place? I was irritated that I could sing along (which I cannot in the original key) Regards from the sea

[serilopr]

David Bowies The Best!

[repelghosts]

Sorry, mean't Station to Station below...apologies.

[repelghosts]

The photo Gracxcane uses here on this site is when David was back to back in the photo with William S. Burroughs,writer and heir to the Burroughs adding machine fortune.L.S.D. addict,screenwriter etc.

The photo was in the newsprint flyer called the 'Isolar', sold at the 1976 STAION TO STAION CONCERTS.

Be well all my Y.T. pals!

Jeff

[Claronium780]

that wasn`t the best performance of Life on mars, but ashes to ashes was pretty good!

[lowlypeasant]

Amazing post!! Great job grace!!! Thanks. Bowie seems like such a down to earth guy and he is fucking brilliant. Did you notice the guitarist is G.E. Smith from Saturday Night LIve?

[Onotosis]

Life on Mars had aged well by 1980, and in an impressive rendition here.

[LadyScreaming]

That performance is so grat! I love his look! I love the songs! I LOVE David Bowie! :-)

[serilopr]

"After all this He better be good" Good one Johnny!! BOWIE IS THE BEST! Long live David Bowie!

[Isolar]

Great to the clip in it's entirety, thanx:)

[MagellanOfBass]

THANKS for posting this! It's the first time I've ever seen Bowie perform Life On Mars so close to the studio version. Even when he was Ziggy with the Spiders, it would just be him singing (no solo by Ronno). But this... Is as close as it gets to the wonder that was released in Hunky Dory back in '71. :) :) I just wish it was in the original key! xD

By the way, did he mess up the lyrics on the 2nd verse of Ashes to Ashes??

[satanspal112]

he skipped saying pictures of if thats what u meant

[MagellanOfBass]

No, I meant that (as far as I can remember, I posted that comment over a week ago) Bowie changed the lyrics of the entire first stanza of the 2nd verse of Ashes to Ashes...

[MagellanOfBass]

Ok I just watched it again.

"Time and again I tell my self

I'll stay clean tonight"

The first 2 verses of the 2nd verse. He didn't sing that he said something else totally different. ._o Bowie is funny sometimes. :>

And you're right he did not say pictures in that first bridge but that doesn't matter, it's not changing the lyrics drastically anyway

[satanspal112]

haha yeah ur right

he says something about a sail?

[sulakid]

I didn't really like this version, but I still love David Bowie!

[PeleH20]

seriously, despite the beautiful Reality tour version, this is the best i've heard Bowie sing it. The majestic power in his voice when he hits that last note of the chorus.... beautiful.

[sirensealight]

I love the James Dean look and the Elvis endings! Classic!

[WESSYS]

Did you know Bowies birthday is the same that Elvis?:-)

[sirensealight]

Yes, I did. You should look for the performance he did on SNL of Ashes to Ashes~It was the best performance I ever saw on Saturday Night Live.

[Skulldini]

I've seen that episode of SNL, and it is excelent, but he did'nt perform Ashes to Ashes on that,.. he performs TVC15, Boys Keep Swining and Man Who Sold The World.

[sirensealight]

Oops you're right~~see what old age does to the mind.  It was a long time ago....;-)

[sirensealight]

Thanks for posting! Never saw it before....It's fab!

[subpoprec]

Thanks for posting this! I have it in my iTunes in mp3. I was hoping someone had it up.

[gracexakane]

you're welcome. i'm glad i found this piece too.

[thomesocksup]

OMG! I feel sooooo old! Twenty nine years ago. Is it possible? Geez!

[zidan1]

wow