A good show that I remember seeing in the 80's. The film is an excellent way to see the concert tour again, or for the first time. The tour featured guest Peter Frampton who was excellent at sharing the guitar time with long time Bowie band member Carlos Alomar. As with each David Bowie album over the years, fans understand that David led the way at evolving his "art". Each album in the Bowie collection has a progressive shift in the music, Bowie is all about artistic expression. This film is his "artistic statement" for the late 80's period. I view this concert tour show as his dance party show. The dancers that he toured with were all practiced in modern dance, every step, every move on cue and in time. The dance as, performance art is meant to supplement the music and entertain the audience. The play-list of songs is a statement for the time, not a rehash of "Ziggy Plays Guitar". David has fun and wants the audience to enjoy themselves as they get lost in familiar tunes. Hopefully we will see a re-release of the Glass Spider on DVD in the near future, If you are a David Bowie fan, this show is a lot of fun to watch. It is like most rock performance films, out there for fans. I honesty have thrown this film in the tape player at least 3 times a year for as long as I have owned it. It remains a standard in my rock show collection .... Enjoy!
8 Reviews
It's good music
rgcustomer5 May 2011
I remember watching this on TV, back in the day, and thinking it was one of the best things I'd ever seen on television. It's still a good show today.
Of course, this is a concert, and it's about the music. It's David Bowie, so what else needs to be said? I'm not even a fan really, but they've gathered together here his most accessible and popular pieces, and the result is very enjoyable. That voice is irreplaceable. It helps if you already know the lyrics through (or through the wonders of the internet, you just look them up...). I gained a new respect for the music this second time around.
The visual elements are showing their age, particularly on VHS (hey, the thing still works!). If only Bowie had had access to digital HD like today's performers do. Still, this is a fun time capsule from the late '80s.
The dancing is low-key but theatrical, and I liked it, although some others didn't. Your mileage may vary.
OK, the spider thing is a bit silly, and whatever little story they tried to weave with it didn't really work. But you remembered it after two decades, didn't you? I think that's the point.
Of course, this is a concert, and it's about the music. It's David Bowie, so what else needs to be said? I'm not even a fan really, but they've gathered together here his most accessible and popular pieces, and the result is very enjoyable. That voice is irreplaceable. It helps if you already know the lyrics through (or through the wonders of the internet, you just look them up...). I gained a new respect for the music this second time around.
The visual elements are showing their age, particularly on VHS (hey, the thing still works!). If only Bowie had had access to digital HD like today's performers do. Still, this is a fun time capsule from the late '80s.
The dancing is low-key but theatrical, and I liked it, although some others didn't. Your mileage may vary.
OK, the spider thing is a bit silly, and whatever little story they tried to weave with it didn't really work. But you remembered it after two decades, didn't you? I think that's the point.
A strange setlist, but still a good watch
Jeremy_Urquhart6 August 2022
Great show, but it has a less than amazing set list. It does improve in the second half (some cool covers, of both Iggy and the Stooges and The Velvet Underground), but was there really no Ziggy Stardust or Hunky Dory songs featured? Unless I'm misremembering.
I guess he made a show out of retiring the Spiders From Mars band, but I have to assume he still played some of the Ziggy Stardust songs live after he retired the character and the associated band. Also, he didn't play anything from Station to Station in this almost two-hour concert, so that was a bit of a shame. I guess Bowie has so many great songs it's understandable he'd miss a bunch, but no songs off arguably his three best albums is strange.
Still, it remains a good show. All the backup dancers and skits are pretty weird and interesting in a very David Bowie way. Also, I never realised Bowie danced so much; he's really lively and active in this show.
And of course, it's good a concert like this exists at all, as David Bowie is unfortunately one of those artists no one will be able to see live ever again.
I guess he made a show out of retiring the Spiders From Mars band, but I have to assume he still played some of the Ziggy Stardust songs live after he retired the character and the associated band. Also, he didn't play anything from Station to Station in this almost two-hour concert, so that was a bit of a shame. I guess Bowie has so many great songs it's understandable he'd miss a bunch, but no songs off arguably his three best albums is strange.
Still, it remains a good show. All the backup dancers and skits are pretty weird and interesting in a very David Bowie way. Also, I never realised Bowie danced so much; he's really lively and active in this show.
And of course, it's good a concert like this exists at all, as David Bowie is unfortunately one of those artists no one will be able to see live ever again.
The fans seemed to enjoy the scene
helpless_dancer5 May 2004
Bowie was never HUGE if you compare him to Zep or Van Halen, but he does have a loyal following if this film is any indication. I liked the stage setup with the performers strutting their stuff under a giant spider, however I did object to quite a bit of the choreography. Judging from a few of Bowie's steps he appears to be able to dance well, so why didn't he? Instead of hoofing along with his high energy songs he instead spends his time flopping around on the floor, making exaggerated Kama Sutra/kung fu arm and hand movements, and staging one very juvenile skit with a stooge from the audience. If all this was Bowie's idea he needs to hire someone with more creativity; if not he should fire some of the help. Having said all that, this is still an interesting concert and I especially appreciated the guitar licks of Peter Frampton.
A nice memory of a concert I thoroughly enjoyed.
seivadch14 July 2020
I don't think there is anyone that likes all of David Bowie's music. Indeed he himself later dismissed this tour and the album that spawned it. However it is my favourite Bowie era. The sound recording benefits from the then new digital revolution. However it still mainly analogue sounds, with minimal samples. Great song selection and a great band, the bassist Carmine Rojas really stands out. He influenced my own playing.
Choreography by Toni Basil and her troupe of dancers is pin point timing wise, but OTT, even for the era of Yuppies, Dinky's and Neon Suits.
My only gripe would be there were new songs played on this tour that are not on the DVD. They are on the double CD set that comes with the DVD release.
Choreography by Toni Basil and her troupe of dancers is pin point timing wise, but OTT, even for the era of Yuppies, Dinky's and Neon Suits.
My only gripe would be there were new songs played on this tour that are not on the DVD. They are on the double CD set that comes with the DVD release.
The Pointing Finger at the Glass Spider Affair
hillsack18 June 2007
Now that it's out on DVD, this irredeemably embarrassing and excruciatingly funny spectacle is graven for posterity! In search of a persona and fighting to stay inside rock's credibility jungle, the Great Man cowls behind a self-aggrandizing third-rate variety extravaganza, 80's style, by descending from a giant glass spider, instantly reminiscent of the tacky flying saucer from which the Electric Light Orchestra used to emerge. The embarrassment level of the on-stage antics seriously rivals that of Kiss, Genesis, Queen, Blue Öyster Cult or Led Zeppelin at their pantomimic worst. He continually tries to ingratiate himself with the crowd by putting on a nauseating Phil Collins-style false bonhomie, with a barrage of smiling, winking, grimacing and looks of false surprise as the stage troupe drags him back from the edge of the stage when he tries to touch hands with the audience. And gee whiz! A girl in the crowd gets up on stage and turns out to be one of the troupe! High comedy points include the tatty, pretentious introduction to 'Time' and Bowie performing levitation on a girl as a resurrected Peter Frampton wails out an off-key rendition of 'Sons of the Silent Age', but what really rolled me out of bed in stitches was the look on Bowie's face during the hysterical 'sitting-on-the-toilet' dance in the middle of 'Fame' a real belter. If you see a copy, snap it up without a second thought: will correct all manic depressives, potential suicides and those with delusions of grandeur! Hellzapoppin'!
My happy place
fooge-6720327 April 2023
This concert is just so 80's. The dancing, the hair, the clothes even the song arrangements but I put it on whenever I'm feeling down and it instantly puts me in a good mood. It's just a fun fun show. A nice mix of older and newer songs. The choreography is great for it's time but looks cheesy compared to todays standards but once again bring a a lot of fun and energy to the show. This is the era when Bowie was at his most mainstream but the deliverance of songs such as Time and Young Americans are simply sublime even with an more 80's sound to them. As always David has total charisma throughout the show and shows why he is one of the most loved artists of all time.
"Time is waiting in the wings..."
classicsoncall15 November 2014
Warning: Spoilers
I've been a Bowie fan pretty much from the beginning, which is probably kind of odd since I'm someone who most would call super straight, while Bowie went through some of the most quixotic character transformations imaginable throughout his musical career. I've seen him in concert twice, once during the Space Oddity time frame (Madison Square Garden) and once again during the Diamond Dogs tour (Giants Stadium, New Jersey). Both times, just like he does in 'Glass Spider', Bowie descends to the stage like a rock god making his presence known among mere mortals who line up to pay for the privilege.
Both shows were enjoyable, but from my scant memory of those events in the Seventies, I doubt if they were as theatrically well done and intricately choreographed as 'Glass Spider'. The routines, often times calling for precision timing, could many times have ended in disaster if Bowie's fellow troupers missed a step and dropped him during some of the more acrobatic show pieces. And it wasn't only Bowie; the chick in the gravity boots during 'Sons of the Silent Age' exhibited what might be the best body control I've ever seen swaying forward and back with Bowie's mystical hand commands. Very impressive.
A nice bonus here was Peter Frampton lending his guitar expertise to the event. I thought he'd sing more but it was Bowie's show after all. About half the songs were instantly recognizable as part of the Bowie pantheon, with things kicking into gear on an energetic 'Rebel, Rebel' following the theatrics of the first half dozen songs or so. 'Heroes' marked the half way point, and from there on it was familiar Bowie doing China Girl, Young Americans, Jean Genie, Let's Dance, Fame and Modern Love. An earlier song with the refrain 'The water's all gone' called to mind Bowie's first movie from 1976, "The Man Who Fell to Earth", in which Bowie's alien character arrives looking for water to bring back to his drought stricken home planet. Not a particularly good film, I'll stick with the music.
Both shows were enjoyable, but from my scant memory of those events in the Seventies, I doubt if they were as theatrically well done and intricately choreographed as 'Glass Spider'. The routines, often times calling for precision timing, could many times have ended in disaster if Bowie's fellow troupers missed a step and dropped him during some of the more acrobatic show pieces. And it wasn't only Bowie; the chick in the gravity boots during 'Sons of the Silent Age' exhibited what might be the best body control I've ever seen swaying forward and back with Bowie's mystical hand commands. Very impressive.
A nice bonus here was Peter Frampton lending his guitar expertise to the event. I thought he'd sing more but it was Bowie's show after all. About half the songs were instantly recognizable as part of the Bowie pantheon, with things kicking into gear on an energetic 'Rebel, Rebel' following the theatrics of the first half dozen songs or so. 'Heroes' marked the half way point, and from there on it was familiar Bowie doing China Girl, Young Americans, Jean Genie, Let's Dance, Fame and Modern Love. An earlier song with the refrain 'The water's all gone' called to mind Bowie's first movie from 1976, "The Man Who Fell to Earth", in which Bowie's alien character arrives looking for water to bring back to his drought stricken home planet. Not a particularly good film, I'll stick with the music.
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