Jean Genie - David Bowie | The Midnight Special

[@dragon2knight]

Mick Ronson was a beast of a guitarist! RIP to one of the best of the best!

[@kenthomas1845]

And of course he blew out a string! What a masterful and tragically underrated guitarist. He became a fantastic sound engineer as well. Cheers Mick!

[@rickcanon7766]

Love Mick Ronson Trippy he was no longer with the band on Diamond Dogs David Bowie lead guitar on Rebel Rebel

[@Skatebetter]

Super underrated

[@kevinflynn4519]

rickcanon7766 the Spiders from Mars put out an album without Bowie.. not a fan of the writing but Mick absolutely let's go and shreds all over it

[@DOMICO55555]

One of the most underappreciated definitely most awesome!

[@johnwright2911]

I saw this when it aired!Most people were not ready for this, but as a young teen I WAS, and influenced my life in a major way. Thanks David!

[@girpo]

Ditto!! Me too!!!! 👨🏻‍🎤⚡️

[@rwfrench66GenX]

That’s a declaration

[@SandraMcCalip]

Show us how it's done Bowie

[@dessiplaer]

I saw this performance as well

[@robertglancy4474]

Ziggy Stardust was always my favorite David Bowie period, he and Mick Ronson had a great chemistry, the whole band had a great look. I was around 14 in 73 and remember thinking "wow, what's this" when I saw a news segment on him ( people were freaked out about him a little) for an upcoming show at the LA Forum in S Cal. Wished it would have lasted a little longer.

[@Dan-zq5wt]

Wow this is killer. I can’t believe a show of this quality existed on TV. Can’t beat the 70s for music.

[@daveversion2.2]

Yep….I am 69 and watched this every Saturday night it was on. Yes, killer music back then.

[@charliekane135]

You never saw 'The Old Grey Whistle Test' then? A million times better than this

[@roberturibe3150]

Who cares

[@charliekane135]

@@roberturibe3150 grow up with that nonsense

[@BrentWilkins7777]

@@charliekane135Perhaps you’re a Brit, of course you would think it’s better.

[@michaellomax2]

50 years old, this year of 2023. Still sounds great.

[@rushchax]

Bowie was like "I guess you guys aren't ready for that, yet. But your kids are gonna love it."

[@trancient]

I can draw a line from the Thin White Duke right to Harry Styles.

[@jeffflinn2053]

I am going to have to steal your stolen line. Fits even better there, than in the movie.

[@cdchantler]

Haha-they said that in back to the future

[@mariskacandice890]

Marty Bowie McFly

[@DishGuy]

These are the days when the bands could play high as the stars, LIVE, no autotune, on TV really live!!! By far the best times!!!

[@StephanieTanchuk]

Auto tune is for losers

[@GeorgeSkinner-eq1jd]

Indeed

[@mickeasingwood7451]

It was a made for US TV special ,filmed over 3 days in October 1973 at The Marquee Club,London ,entitled The 1980 Floor Show. David Bowie and a vast range of supporting artists,including The Troggs,Marianne Faithful,The Astronettes, performed in front of a strictly invited only audience of Bowie fan club members,Marquee club members and invited music critics.They shot numerous retakes of each individual song and it wasn't a straightforward concert.The performances were filmed on the first 2 days and the 3rd day was spent editing down the final footage and running order.There's a CD available with all the various ,different recordings on it.

[@steven6709]

@@mickeasingwood7451 I didn't know the backstory, thanks. This is the Pin-ups band, Ansley Dunbar was on drums, I think Mark Carr Pritchard is on rhythm guitar. George Orwell's widow wouldn't let Bowie use 1984, hence 1980 Floor

[@ChuckSchickx]

I was lucky enough to see Bowie in 1974 on the Diamond Dogs tour. Mind blown 🤯

[@carvag9092]

Be careful someone might correct you saying this is not Bowie but Ziggy tssssss

[@eddiebazan6411]

This is pretty bad ass . Jammin down and looking freaky! Even in 2023! Rock on people!

[@walterfrawley9440]

My favorite album. Hands down. Bowie was a Gift.

[@monsieurcommissaire1628]

Man, Mick Ronson was a great sideman, among other things. He could sing perfect harmony, sounding like a second Bowie. He had looks, style, and charisma. A legend who will never be forgotten, and we are poorer for having lost him far too early. Rest in Peace, Love, and Rock Roll Music, Michael.

[@baylen2187]

He’s also a great singer,had personal albums himself

[@22guitarz]

Mick Ronson is responsible for me to start playing guitar when I was 9 years old He still has kept on inspiring me to play guitar to the present day. He was and will always be my biggest influences on a guitar ❤👨🏻‍🎤 🎸

[@paulhems4048]

This was when Bowie was on a totally different level to anyone on the planet, 👌 awesome!

[@rickneal4967]

He was definitely from another planet

[@terryblaze1839]

England..

[@heimomoilanen9654]

A space oddity

[@alanh7247]

not sure what planet he's from but I'm fairly certain he would've loved exploring uranus... and if that isn't worth a rim shot then I don't know my a** from a hole in the ground...

[@toybarons]

Just want to say Thank You Midnight Special. Watching these clips really makes me both miss and appreciate how much your show shaped my life growing up. It really is too bad that shows like this don't exist anymore to showcase music. Especially live performances. It really was a magically time growing up in the 1970s and early 80s.

[@richardlefaive1944]

Bowie's outfit on this one is mad cap. Brilliant! This performance is so far ahead of it's time in so many ways.

[@jimmydean1689]

Grateful these performances are available on KZbin!

[@Belluser-we1uc5cb2l]

There is no body like this man. He was the original.

[@jimsinger2521]

The Midnight Special and In Concert and Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert showcased the top talent in the 70’s. All terrific, especially this Bowie performance. Vintage Bowie

[@greg7656]

Who could have guessed that this costume would be a museum piece 50 years later...

[@Starlight-Studio]

This is from "The 1980 Floor Show" filmed in England in October 1973 and broadcast on The Midnight Special on November 16, 1973.

[@massapower]

So Mr. Sugarman acquired the rights !😏

[@Starlight-Studio]

@@massapower according to Angela Bowie's book "Backstage Passes" - David reluctantly agreed to do the Midnight Special - but only as a "Sonny & Cher variety hour" type program with the understanding that his wife Angela would be cast as Wonder Woman in the upcoming TV series. Angela as Wonder Woman fell through, but Bowie and the remaining two Spiders from Mars (Ziggy had famously disbanded the group in July 1973) went through with it and filmed the oddly-titled "1980 Floor Show".

[@childwallred]

I never knew that,thank you!

[@ElizabethMorgan-qe7vu]

​@Starlight-Studio I'm not certain, but I feel like it's a reference to the 1984 inspired musical David Bowie wanted to do

[@RIPROCK54]

Beyond the theatrics, just great rock n' roll.

[@davidoran123]

I was one year out of high school and this music was the soundtrack to my coming of age. loved the Midnight Special, they had lots of great guests. Rock On!

[@snowmancometh3847]

It's a great guitarist who can break a string and create a new solo on the spot.

[@reinbronsgeest3777]

Like that time Stevie Ray Vaughn broke his string on Austin City Limits!

[@SheilaD111]

Hard core talent on that stage. Amazing! RIP David Bowie RIP Mick Ronson

[@mvjonsson]

Also RIP Trevor Bolder. Only Woody Woodmansey (on the drums) left of the Spiders from Mars.

[@robertdupont1027]

At some point, they'll need to release the whole show and not break it up into clips ... the picture is stunning the best I've seen Kudos

[@OutOnTheTiles]

Definitely the best quality I’ve seen too.

[@MrX-sg9us]

It's so refreshing to see a concert video without a bunch of arms and phones sticking up in the air.

[@AyliCarper]

No phones maybe, but I did see a bunch of arms. Or hands, at least.

[@gpwnedable]

Lol, ok Boomer.

[@mr.majestic3851]

Looked like Bowie had four arms .

[@60zeller]

Yeah,no phones but lots and lots of cigarette smoke

[@tracyjacoby2382]

I totally agree!!👍😉

[@mctube44]

Great performer....great song.....miss him.

[@damamae950]

My favorite Bowie rocker... Mick Ronson's guitar has such a great growl... a little respect to Howlin' Wolf

[@danopticon]

I think people today may underestimate the extent to which Bowie affected the whole world’s music scene … a figure perhaps as transformative as Chubby Checkers, Fats Domino, Little Richard, Elvis Presley, or The Beatles.

[@danielhoran8416]

It’s really Bowie mentor and instructor Klaus Nomi that deserves the credit. He’s responsible for all great bands of the 60’s 70’s and 80s. His pen was in every song all of the big bands wrote . Especially Bowie. David Bowie said in almost every interview “ Klaus Nomi is the only reason I’ve achieved success in any way.”He deserves all the credit for Bowie and so many more success. And he reviewed.and ok”d every thing.any of the guys wrote. He trained Bowie on how to play . Randy Rhodes, Jimi James Hendrix,,, all Klaus Nomis pupils. Klaus Nomi was a master. Bowie, the Stone’s,Aerosmith,Kiss , Iron Maiden , even Queen nd the Stones are all his work. His video of his hit Total Eclipse shows his mastery and shows clearly where They all got their style , mannerisms and talent, Especially Bowie

[@reginataylorhines]

Amen, Bowie created a place for innovation of many genres. He was so ahead of his time musically and personaly.

[@roswellnm9669]

Back in the early 70s, I used to live in Artesia, New Mexico. That is where the movie The Man Who Fell To Earth was filmed....I was not sure who David Bowie was, but I remember the excitement in the town. Cool movie......

[@Flyingtaco82]

I’m originally from NM. Several scenes were also filmed near Fenton Lake, and in downtown Albuquerque. I haven’t been to Artesia in ages. Need to see that movie again!

[@BethTiner]

We actually went to the movies and saw TheMan Who Fell to Earth . Pretty strange from what I remember which isn’t much it was the seventies after all 😎

[@aladdinsane.]

I have been watching bootleg videos of this and other Bowies videos from this particular show for years and most with a lot of quality flaws or missing spots but was happy to see them and could live with them! ...But finally, it's so great to start seeing very high-quality original TMS videos here on "The Midnight Special" channel from Bowie's 1980 Floor Show that aired back in 1973 and I remember it like it was yesterday! ...I sure hope eventually the whole show will be shown in its entirety! ...As there was nothing else ever like it ever since as it was almost the end of his Ziggy-Aladdin persona! ...Absolutely Bowie fantastic! Thank you Midnight Special for releasing it and the many other shows and artist you have been sharing as I have been praying for many, many, many years for this musical history day to come from you!

[@tonybe4726]

David Bowie rocks chameleon showman there will never be another like him. His creativity and music are unsurpassed to this day.

[@carolynwalker2914]

There will never be another like him. ❤

[@DidYouReadEULA]

Thought that was the amazing Aynsley Dunbar on drums. Huge fan of all his work, but especially on Jefferson Airplane's 'Jane' because I was a beginning drummer at the time in my early teens and had to learn that amazing song and Aynsley's drumming.

[@ofilipequintans]

I think is Andy Newmark.

[@OutOnTheTiles]

Jane what a great tune!

[@greatgooglymoogly]

Legendary drummer.Jeff Beck Group,Frank Zappa and The Mothers,Nils Lofgren,Journey etc.Lost out on playing with Jimi Hendrix in a coin toss. Fab clip !

[@BIZARBIES]

​@@greatgooglymoogly I just wrote that on another comment! It's crazy to think Ansley could have been w Hendrix. I wonder how Manic Depression would have sounded w Ansley.

[@walterrizotto8668]

@@ofilipequintans It's not.

[@KittyGrizGriz]

THIS is My FAVORITE BOWIE ERA!!! I’m gonna let myself GOOOOO, what a band and trendsetter they were. Mick Ronson is SO HOT with his open chested white outfit!!! 🥵 oh to have been in this audience! 😮‍💨😘😍

[@halweiss8671]

And his Rod the Mod haircut.

[@saldada6928]

luvs to be luved

[@berndgruner8510]

Danke. Für. Die. PERFORMANCE

[@jordangrace8257]

INCREDIBLE 😍 looks so modern and exciting even today

[@ericdavid199]

Good God, how raw. This is pure treasure

[@peterkovachevich]

i wish David kept this band together for another couple records

[@paulwalker2777]

There's only 3 Spiders in this,who's the drummer ?

[@martinspencer1618]

@@paulwalker2777 Aynsley Dunbar

[@keithlauderjr1691]

I LOVE THE 70'S!!!!!!! Historical clip!!!!!

[@T-bone1950]

Being 20 in the 70's was so much better than being 70 in the 20's. ✌️

[@Mark-lq3sb]

@@T-bone1950 Joe Walsh

[@blackdogfive]

rest in peace David, and all who make my life bearable with great music. as a preteen running home or to friends houses to catch the midnight special was always the highlight of a musical week.

[@lladur50]

64 Bowie fan forever and I’ve never seen this.Brilliant!

[@rma3_3_3]

Incredible!

[@frannyfaye2683]

Its all about the art baby. Bowie kept growing and changing and his fans were rt there w him. Miss you Mr Jones!

[@valtermarienzo3537]

The personality and art of a genius is something that we can never understand, before, during and after his existence. David Bowie is evolution and revolution in the world and within his own art.

[@mikesabota2570]

Reminds me of old Yardbirds material in a way..very good party music!!👍👍

[@paradox7743]

The ultimate Shapeshifter! Ronson is also the Perfect Compliment to Ziggy!

[@silverscat6770]

YUGE part of my youth. SOOO fortunate to have grown up then.

[@rebeccawagner4167]

This is a trip down memory lane. I love the Midnight Special, and I love the musical artists that they have on the show. David Bowie was amazing on the show. His music is unique and original. Ty,David Bowie for showing your talent on the show. You are legendary and you rock.

[@barrysmith8920]

Good GOD what a BAND!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@paulrobinson4642]

The best thing ever to happen to British music in it's day god bless MR BOWIE RIP 💝

[@OutOnTheTiles]

Incredible.

[@mattmoo46]

Awesome... legend

[@yvonnecusmano7971]

🤩 WOW!

[@nylesglynn8727]

Love the rawness of this. Ronson is a rock god in his own right!

[@DanielNaso-g5w]

Ese público era de plástico,ver ese show a pocos metros y no saltar , bailar,delirar ,era un desproposito,el rock,la moda el arte y la música música te mantendran presente.😢😢

[@abubakryasin3997]

he and Bowie met in the atmosphere and came as human form their magic is sublime........you hear that music 2024.....!

[@StrangeFacinations]

I saw this amazing show on TV. I saw this amazing costume up close in 2015 at the David Bowie Is exhibit.

[@mis4nthr0p3]

Yes, saw the costume too at the last showing of the Bowie Exhibit in Brooklyn

[@StrangeFacinations]

@@mis4nthr0p3 it was amazing to look at his things up close.

[@mis4nthr0p3]

@@StrangeFacinations The whole exhibit was amazing. Made me sad for his passing though.

[@StrangeFacinations]

@mis4nthr0p3 I saw in November before he passed. It would have been so hard to see it afterward. I wonder if they will ever open it up again? I flew to Chicago to see it, because it wasn't coming to Los Angeles. I'm kind of glad because the LA fans could be such jerks.

[@samuelhutchison8433]

You can see the chemistry between Bowie and Ronson was for real brilliant stuff.

[@gerryradford4812]

Wow !!!! Only ever be one BOWIE ,,,, saw him Ziggy tour and Station to Station ,,,,,, nobody could ever change so many people s lives and still retain so much CHARISMA on stage. TRUE GENIUS AND WITH RONSON SCREAMING HIS GUITAR 🎸 …,, enough said !!!!! Gxx

[@bradleymlekush2710]

Always been my all time favorite band.

[@flavorkingpluto]

I saw the original airing of this when I was 11 or twelve. Saying that it blew my mind is not putting a fine enough point in it.

[@maxthepupp]

My man Mick in full Golden God mode!❤❤🙏🙏

[@williehill7909]

Wow. Im 72 and still a Bowie fan. From Cape Town South Africa

[@SBAYLISS]

Great enjoyed that

[@kevinkozkoz4348]

Is it possible for me to get my hands on this outfit, I got a business meeting next week?

[@OpalMoonstone247]

😂

[@charliekane135]

Hands Are Us 😆😆

[@clisk35]

So cool..miss you major tom..you were truly one of the greats.

[@monique6549]

Good ole days!!!!!!

[@RobertCuthbert-d6d]

back in those days David put on a great show

[@francisclause4668]

NOW I KNOW WHY I WAS BORN IN 1957!!! GOD DIDNT WANT ME TO MISS OUT ON 70'S ARTISTS!!!!❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@72cudaguy]

1957 here as well, grew up outside of Cleveland so was able to see all these fantastic bands

[@GaryHunt-q6x]

Yep same here Aug 1957 born South Wales UK, looking back so, so, lucky to see the arrival of Heavy Metal bands Zep, Sabbath, etc, Glam Rock artist Bowie, Cooper, even early Punk to point

[@jeffbrown-hill7739]

God is a manmade construct.

[@francisclause4668]

@@jeffbrown-hill7739 u r an ass

[@nedmarc]

Eyes closed and the music is just as amazing!

[@SandraMcCalip]

The Midnight Special, a permanent fixture in our lives back then loo

[@charliekane135]

It's better with them open 😋

[@peterblack3665]

The guitar riff is so in your face makes a perfect compliment to David’s voice.....

[@pinstripesyndicate7156]

Oh yes, definitely the most creative ROCK STAR ever!!! Just when you thought the boundaries couldn't be pushed anymore!!!

[@jerryphoto]

Amazing!

[@themidnightspecialtvshow]

Thanks!

[@toddhuber8989]

It's about time!

[@floyd7146]

The Best!!! Thanks for sharing! You got a fan here!🎉❤❤🎉

[@dianewilliams1125]

My Love ,my Heart! ❤❤❤ Bowie forever!

[@christopherwilliams4552]

Amazing performance! I love the contrast in style between Bowie and Ronson and the horn players

[@mr.snicker-doodles7081]

WOW incredible! And with Aynsley Dunbar on drums..??!!!

[@j.e.albert230]

Absolute frigging magic !!

[@h00liganismo1]

Legendary

[@jamescaron6465]

The midnight Special was really something to behold. Shame there will never be anything like it again. It's such a simple song but it sounds so good and has one of the best hooks. The best part is that they knew how to play it live and really run with it, I mean how can you top that?

[@glenchapman3899]

Well I am pretty sure the drummer was being paid by the fill. Really took this up a step from the recording.

[@mortylevitt622]

This was awesome. First time I saw him though was on SNL in 70's. He got me hooked on the show with all the great stars

[@musicgodess80s]

Such a one in a million artist

[@tripmiller13]

What a treasure.

[@alanhampshire34]

David, Mick, Trevor and Woody, the greatest of the great.

[@MichaelHeffner-ky6pc]

Now that was BADASS!!!! Thanks for sharing!!!

[@gahndi9193]

When Mick stops playing and puts his arm around Bowie to sing with him made me tear up.

[@gogoyubari366]

One of my favorite Bowie songs!

[@nogbadthebad2609]

I never seen that outfit Bowie is wearing before, it's ace. Perfectly placed hands, on the guitar and the costume top! Who is the backup guitarist? Is it Mark Pritchett ? Woody was gone by then I guess?

[@thevoid99]

yes, it's mark-carr pritchard. on drums is aynsley dunbar who had been in many bands including journey, jefferson starship, and played on the 1987 whitesnake album.

[@BIZARBIES]

​@thevoid99 and Frank Zappa. Ansley actually lost a coin toss that Mitch Mitchell won to be in The Jimi Hendrix Experience.

[@ronaldwilliams4954]

Are you talkin about Ace frehley lol👍⚡⚡

[@vitorbarbosa5656]

Heroes foreverrrrrrr 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏👏👏👊👏👍👏

[@reversefulfillment9189]

The 1980 Floor Show was filmed at London’s famed Marquee Club over the course of three days in October 1973. The mindset with the production was that it was to look futuristic, and as it was Bowie’s first performance since making his ostensible retirement announcement on the stage of the Hammersmith Odeon earlier in the year, there was an obvious intent to make it as memorable as possible. Marianne Faithfull turned up dressed as a nun to perform a duet with Bowie on Sonny and Cher’s “I Got You Babe,” with other guests including Amanda Lear, The Troggs, and Carmen, a Spanish flamenco glam group. Here’s the full set list from the episode: 1984 Dodo Sorrow (The McCoys cover) Everything’s Alright (Asaf Avidan & The Mojos cover) Space Oddity I Can’t Explain (The Who cover) Time The Jean Genie I Got You Babe (Sonny & Cher cover) Dodo Is there anything else I can help you with?

[@Sincopare]

Wake me up if something as rock and roll as this ever is on live TV again! Traded up in drummers, added wailing saxophones! Mouthing to the girls. Going nuts with partner in crime Mick Ronson, who's breaking strings and performing rock God guitar antics. Harmonica! The ENERGY!

[@VangeliRock]

Truly epic.

[@juancastillaalejandro5476]

Por favor..no se puede ser más bueno❤

[@tracyjacoby2382]

I absolutely remember watching this, 7 years old on Friday nights, no school the next day and my Mom watched too and loved him! My Dad: "what is that?!?"😳😂🥰

[@paulfitzpatrick9231]

Way way ahead of the pack at the time!!Brilliant!!

[@davidhogan5133]

That's a performance.!!

[@hugosantos9858]

Amazing

[@LauraGonzalez-fq5pk]

Trivia: Originalmente el atuendo de Bowie tenía una tercer mano, en la entrepierna. La televisora pidió que la quitaran. Cuando el atuendo fue exhibido en Bowie Is, efectivamente solo tenía dos manos. La tercera se perdió para siempre...

[@darklukz15]

wow sabes demasiado sobre bowie donde puedo buscar informacion asi?

[@daisywrabbit]

is that Aynsley Dunbar on drums? 🥁⚡️♥️ I know he played on the studio recording of Rebel Rebel. This would’ve been the year before Aynsley Dunbar joined Journey.

[@sporez]

Incredible