Sen-bloody-sational Bowie

It’s with a sense of trepidation that I go along to see a new (for me) tribute band at Buxton Opera House.

Last year I’d caught Alex Thomas’s Live on Mars – and was genuinely knocked out with the gig – in particular applauding Mr Thomas (aka Bowie) not feeling the need to ‘dress the part’ and let the music do the talking – or should that be singing?

When Steve ? (aka Mr Bowie of The Bowie Collective) hit the stage my heart sank a tad – full red hair wig, stack-heel boots, the whole nine yards. I’ve since read that’s what the hardened Bowie fans had clamoured for – so the band, or at least the singer, obliged.

When the band launched into a string of the usual Bowie hits and the quite sensational mixed multimedia kicked in I relaxed and started to enjoy things.

The first session was pretty good but after the break it was as if someone had thrown every switch and dialled everyone up to eleven – the whole stage – was electrified – and the audience responded.

The dancers, mimers and multimedia backdrops were pure out-of-this-world Bowie, the musicians superbly accomplished and even the most critical of Bowie fans out there couldn’t fail to have been impressed. Them – and we mere observers were all blown away.

It’s unsurprising that the 12-piece garnered glowing endorsements from the likes of Rick Wakeman and Mike Garson – from the dark depths of isolation and fractured reality of Berlin to the sheer celebration of Heroes – this was the show that Bowie fans longed for – and will never forget.

If you’re one of those fans who’d ‘prefer to remember the real Bowie’ lose your prejudice and go see The Bowie Collective. You’ll thank me for it.

If you watch the attached iPhone video – forgive the shaky image and audio – I couldn’t keep still!