Holy Holy: Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars - Bristol Live Music Review
Posted on: 2017-04-18
Our rating:
This was indeed an amazing night and one that I will remember. The one remaining Spider and the rest of Holy Holy have done Mr Bowie proud and his music, I am happy to say, will live on forever.
In 1973 Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars played at Bristol's Colston Hall. David Bowie led the band featuring Mick Ronson on guitar, Trevor Bolder on Bass and Woody Woodmansey on drums.
Fast forward 44 years and the show is back in Bristol. The only surviving Spider is the legendary Woodmansey, joined by the sporadic Bowie bassman and producer Tony Visconti, along with a band of talented musicians to relive the Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust.
Holy Holy take centre stage to an eager audience who readily get to their feet and wait in anticipation to greedily soak up the nostalgia that was due to commence; Bowie fever ripped through the Hall. With exceptional delivery from Glen Gregory, ex Heaven 17, who at times sounded scarily like my fallen Idol Bowie.
Tracks began to flow with Moonage Daydream, and Starman, and with the super talented Jessica Lee Morgan, daughter of Mary Hopkins and Tony Visconti, taking the lead vocal for Lady Stardust. James Stevens, ex Alarm guitarist, went swiftly into Suffragette City as the rest of the band looked on in bewilderment as this was supposed to be Ziggy!
Crashing through the whole of the motion picture soundtrack song by song, the crowd sang along word for word as if back in 1973.
As the band played Life on Mars my tears began to fall. This band had taken me back to the last time I saw Bowie live in Cardiff, and the realisation that I, along with the rest of the audience, would never see him perform again.
The songs continued with Space Oddity and the Man Who Sold the World, finishing the set with Watch that Man. After an ear deafening applause and shouts of more! Holy Holy return to play Glens favourite song, Time, and finally their version of Heroes.
.jpg "Woody Woodmansey on drums")
Mr Woodmansey comes forward to the Mic to tell his story, and to thank all involved in the tour. This was a heartfelt speech which was also offered with the chance to meet and greet after the show.
This was indeed an amazing night and one that I will remember. The one remaining Spider and the rest of Holy Holy have done Mr Bowie proud, and his music I am happy to say, will live on forever.
5/5
Words by Andrea Hutchins & Mike Headington
Article by:
Born and bred in Weston-super-Mare, Mike has played in bands over the last 30 years and has an avid interest in a wide range of music genres. With a passion for live music he spends endless nights watching all types of bands, both famous and not so famous. With a love of Bristol’s infamous venues and the thriving music scene he also follows the local football club in red with a passion. His mission statement is...Keep it real, keep it live and Keep on Rocking!!
