“Danny Played Guitar” Revisted

I posted this many years ago.But I have to say the day I walked into Aarons and bought Man Who Sold The World,was one of the true moments I knew I wanted to be in a band..and I thank David for all the music for the first Lower Third 45’s onward…to being in a Bowie Documentary the geeky fan was always there..
“Danny Played Guitar”

September 1, 2002 by DannyBenair
Filed under Danny Benair’s Gospels

Summer 1973

My parents give me the OK to spend the summer in London, so me and my friends head over to spend time in luxury. A youth hostel. I pack all the important items, flares, too tight, shag hairdo, muttonchops, and platforms. A little cash for Wimpy Burgers, the rest for records and rock shows. The upside to the hostel German girls, the downside everything else!

While there David Bowie announces a UK tour with the Spiders From Mars. Two nights at the Hammersmith Odeon, we sleep over, and get front row both nights!

While traveling on the underground we find a fair amount of money, and we make the decision to go to Oxford to see Bowie. We live like a group of guys, with a few dollars, and go out to a big meal, we walk into the venue and watch Bowie and the Spiders soundcheck, get fifth row seats, and have a great time.

Bowie:The big day arrives, Hammersmith. Night one is great, but night two, as the lights dim, I jump from my front row seats into the photographer’s pit. The only other people in the pit are the director D.A. Pennebaker, who runs right into me with his camera, and his crew, but nobody notices me, they see I have a Super 8 camera, and a camera bag and figure I belong there. Well … I think I do! I shoot about 15 minutes of silent film, and watch the very last gig by Bowie and The Spiders.

I plant myself in front of the late great Mick Ronson, right against the stage and shoot some great rock moments. Bowie singing “All The Young Dudes”, watch the great Ronson poses.

As we walk out exhausted , an audience in tears, I realize, I just saw a very historic rock moment, and was lucky enough to capture a bit on film. It was worth starving for 2 months, just to see that.

Thank you thank thank you…

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