David Bowie performed at the Spectrum in Philadelphia on 18 July 1983, as part of the Serious Moonlight Tour.
It was the 36th date of the tour, which began on 18 May in Brussels.
Bowie’s guitarists were Carlos Alomar and Earl Slick. Dave Lebolt was on keyboards and synthesizers, and Steve Elson, Stan Harrison, Lenny Pickett played saxophones. Carmine Rojas played bass guitar and Tony Thompson was on drums and percussion. George and Frank Simms were the backing singers.
This was the first of four consecutive nights at the venue. The other dates were 19, 20, and 21 July 1983.
Bowie had previously performed there on 18 and 25 November 1974 during the Diamond Dogs Tour, 15 and 16 March 1976 for the Isolar Tour, and 28 and 29 April 1978 for the Isolar II Tour.
He returned to the Spectrum on 9, 10, 12, and 13 July 1990 for the Sound+Vision Tour.
The setlist
- ‘Star’
- “Heroes”
- ‘What In The World’
- ‘Golden Years’
- ‘Fashion’
- ‘Let’s Dance’
- ‘Breaking Glass’
- ‘Life On Mars?’
- ‘Sorrow’
- ‘Cat People (Putting Out Fire)’
- ‘China Girl’
- ‘Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)’
- ‘Rebel Rebel’
- ‘White Light/White Heat’
- ‘Station To Station’
- ‘Cracked Actor’
- ‘Ashes To Ashes’
- ‘Space Oddity’
- ‘Young Americans’
- ‘Fame’
- ‘TVC 15’
- ‘Stay’
- ‘The Jean Genie’
- ‘Modern Love’
Also on this day...
- 2002: Live: Montreux Jazz Festival, Montreux
- 1996: Live: Phoenix Festival, Stratford-upon-Avon
- 1990: Live: Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia
- 1987: Live: Stadio Comunale di Torino, Turin
- 1974: Mixing: David Live
- 1973: Photo shoot: Pin Ups
- 1971: Mixing: BOWPROMO
- 1970: Live: Fickle Pickle Club, Southend-on-Sea
Want more? Visit the David Bowie history section.