Live: Three Tuns, Beckenham

David Bowie’s tenth performance at the Three Tuns pub in Beckenham took place on 20 July 1969.

Bowie had performed at the venue on almost every Sunday since 4 May, for what was by now known as Growth – the Beckenham Arts Lab.

On this occasion the guest performer was composer Ron Geesin.

By now plans were underway for a festival, organised by the Arts Lab. The Beckenham Free Festival took place on Saturday 16 August 1969 and inspired Bowie’s song ‘Memory Of A Free Festival’.

The Three Tuns became the Rat and Parrot in the 1990s, but reverted to its old name shortly before its closure in 2003. It reopened later that year as an Italian restaurant. A plaque outside says: “David Bowie Rock Musician Lived in Beckenham & Launched His Career in The Three Tuns 1969 – 1973”.