Live: London Palladium

David Bowie performed at the London Palladium on 30 November 1969.

The event was Save Rave, a fundraiser for the Invalid Children Association. Also performing were Grapefruit, Karen Young, Magna Carta, Marmalade, Settlers, Clodagh Roberts, the Graham Bond Initiation, Tiny Tim, Lou Christie, the Equals, Dusty Springfield, and the Gojos. The guest of honour was Princess Margaret, who met the performers after the show.

Bowie performed ‘Space Oddity’ and ‘Wild Eyed Boy From Freecloud’, both sides of his recent single.

The concert was given to benefit the Invalid Children’s Aid Association, whose President was the Princess. The producer was Fred Perry, an acquaintance of mine, and he agreed to add David to the bill, the star of which was Dusty Springfield. This was the first opportunity David had been given to watch a professional at work and the way she handled her rehearsal was a revelation to him. I had seen Dusty many times, but never without the heavy make-up, the dark shadow and thickly mascarad lashes that had established her stage image. At this rehearsal she wore no make-up at all, revealing her natural Irish beauty. We were both stunned by it.

The rehearsal for the show had taken place two days earlier at the Victoria Palace Theatre.