David Bowie's lost 1973 performance of The Jean Genie - BBC News explains the discovery

BBC News at Six explains the discovery of a lost David Bowie performance of "The Jean Genie" from Top of the Pops recorded on 3rd January 1973.

See the full performance:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEmGQYCuc6M

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• David Bowie
• The Jean Genie
• lost performance
• Top of the Pops
• John Henshall
• Mark Radcliffe
• Will Gompertz
• 1973
• lost video tape
• lost footage

[tennis11ish]

God, so lovely to see Mick Ronson is his (understated as usual...) GLORY!

[cozener1]

Lets hope we see more of these lost but not forgotten performances by other artists. Thanks Mr Cameraman!!!

[AidanLunn]

@juliepatriciaturner I feel that DelticFACTS is just a troll. A trouble causer.

Even though the popular press say otherwise, the BBC do have, and did then, have sense.

It's far more likely, almost certain, that the BBC would have docked a certain weekly amount out of his wages to make up for the costs of the tapes. And who said it was just the BBC? He may have worked for several ITV regions as well.

[AidanLunn]

@DelticFACTS Technically, you haven't obtained them legally as you don't have the Equity contract and the BBC Enterprises (or other broadcaster) contract of ownership - you might own it, but not in the eyes of the UK law. The *film* itself is owned by you - the content is still owned by them

That's why DVDs are yours, but they are protected by law from copying. the content belongs to them, it's just the media it's on that belongs to you.

[AidanLunn]

@DelticFACTS Who said he stole them? He might have paid for them by docking a certain amount every week out of his wages. Nevertheless, he was allowed recordings of his work because this was the only way of making a showreel for potential employees in the early 70s.

VHS didn't exist in 1973. It was invented in 1976 and wasn't sold in the PAL format (including here) until just before Christmas 1978, by which time the actual episode in which this appeared was wiped.

[juliepatriciaturner]

@DelticFACTS I didn't think of it that way!! You're right tho' anything done at work is the intellectual proprty of the company you work for.

[DelticFACTS]

@juliepatriciaturner

where did he get those 100 tapes from, i wonder if he asked the bbc if he could take 100 2" masters from them, the bbc had to erase many shows because of this thief in my opinion because if he had not removed those 100 tapes the bbc would have 100 shows in the archive, or did this guy bring his own 100 tapes to copy onto

[DelticFACTS]

@AidanLunn

i have lots of missing tv episodes but these were obtained legally.I DID NOT STEAL 100 2" master tapes did i, this thief should be prosicuted for theft

[DelticFACTS]

@MalquiLans

i wonder who told him it was ok to steal 100 2" video tapes, why did he not steal just a few vhs tapes if he wanted to show others his work

this person is nothing but a thief

[juliepatriciaturner]

I hope that cameraman is reviewing all of his master tapes!!

[cranie4]

This kicks the ass of so much of today's music. Can't wait to see more of these new found tapes.