Bowie’s Triumphant Return To Glastonbury 2000
In the pages of rock history, few artists can claim the kind of transformative journey that David Bowie undertook from his flamboyant years in the early seventies to his renaissance in the new millennium. As a figure who embodies the spirit of both avant garde artistry and commercial success, Bowie’s trajectories often mirrored the complexities of his various incarnations over the years. By the time he took the stage at the iconic Glastonbury Festival in 2000, nearly thirty years after his debut there in 1971, he had grown into his new role as an elder statesman of rock n roll, rising from the turmoil of artistic struggle amongst the excess of the 1980s.
The Glastonbury Dream 1971
Bowie’s first appearance at Glastonbury was far from the triumphant display of musical supremacy that fans witnessed in 2000. Instead, it was an early morning set in 1971, a whirlwind of creativity and chaos. Emerging from the haze of psychedelic exploration and deep personal struggles, Bowie floated onto the Worthy Farm stage in his iconic androgynous garb, complete with a flowing blue velvet cloak and high-heeled boots. It was a time when he was still nurturing the vision that would blossom into his monumental “Hunky Dory” album.
As he later recounted in Glastonbury: An Oral History of Music, Mud & Magic, Bowie vividly remembered the surreal experience of waiting to perform until the dawn hour, sandwiched between spontaneous revelry with the crowd of fellow artists and eager fans:
“It was 1971 and I was bottom of the bill. I remember my going onstage time being shoved later and later. I was originally scheduled to go on about midnight or so, but things got so delayed that I didn’t make it onstage till around five in the morning. So, what better than to spend the intervening hours ensconced in the farmhouse, along with a crew of latter-day hippies, singer Terry Reid and all kinds of mushrooms. By the time I was due to perform I was flying and could hardly see my little electric keyboard or my guitar. I have no recollection of the show itself, although I seem to recall a strange girl getting up onstage and whirling away, mostly without any music playing, while the audience cheerfully awoke from its slumbers.” – David Bowie
Despite the absence of a recorded archive of that performance, his boldness to debut five new songs from his burgeoning catalog including “Changes” and “Quicksand”, set the stage for what was to come.
A Struggle For Integrity
The ’80s, however, would seal Bowie’s fate as he ebbed between stylistic innovation and commercial excess. Landing monstrous hits like “Let’s Dance”, “Modern Love” and “China Girl”, he found himself enveloped in a world of corporatism that threatened to overshadow his artistic integrity. Critics at the time lamented that he had become mere product for the music industry, a far cry from the provocateur of his youth.
Haunted by the decade’s commercial excess, Bowie embarked in the ’90s on an earnest quest for redemption, reclaiming his artistic authenticity. Renewing his collaborations with the likes of Brian Eno, Tony Visconti and pianist Mike Garson, he sought to shed his skin once more.
Glastonbury 2000
June 25, 2000. David Bowie approached the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury with a sense of vulnerability, suffering from laryngitis and a sky high level of anxiety. Yet, buoyed by the anticipation of fans who had waited almost three decades for this moment, he regained his footing as the opening chords of “Wild Is the Wind” rang through the field. The audience, many of whom were witnessing their idol for the first time, were met with the essence and strength of pure Bowie.
Dressed in what he called a “ridiculous” Alexander McQueen frock coat, Bowie evoked the vibrant mystique of his long haired, younger self while showcasing a staggering array of songs from his deep repertoire. The performance was a nostalgic revisitation; it was the resurgence of a living legend. He reached into his rich catalog, interweaving classics like “Life on Mars,” “Rebel Rebel,” and “Changes,” with compelling energy and candor.
As the night wore on Bowie exuded deep charisma, redefining his status as a hero of the stage. “It’s really nice to have somebody appreciate me for a change,” he shared, mirroring sentiments from his earlier performance in the quieter corner of the farm years before, bridging the past and present with seamless symmetry.
The Enduring Legacy Of David Bowie
David Bowie’s passing on January 10, 2016, just two days after his 69th birthday, may have marked the end of his era, but his influence continues to reverberate throughout the music world and beyond. His 2000 Glastonbury performance remains a testament to resilience, a celebration of artistic redemption. At Glastonbury 2016, a stunning tribute emerged, a Ziggy Stardust lightning bolt, adorned with angel wings, looping above the same Pyramid Stage that witnessed his triumphant return 16 years earlier.
As we reflect on Bowie’s journey, it’s clear that his life was marked by profound transformation. Rather than fading into obscurity or drowning in the pressures of fame, David Bowie ascended, mastering the art of redefinition. He evolved, surviving commercialism’s clutch and emerged renewed, an everlasting beacon of creativity, style, and spirit. As fans continue to gather at Glastonbury, it is not just the music that endures, it’s the legacy of a man who taught us to embrace change, to reinvent ourselves, and most importantly, to live unabashedly.
In the garden of rock gods and music legends, David Bowie will forever remain an enigma, a timeless hero surging through the sonorous patchwork of our collective memory.