When we think about live performance, not many artists stand out as more iconic than David Bowie.
We recently dug up an extraordinary performance from Bowie as he adorned the stage of Earl’s Court, delivering an unforgettable take of his 1977 song, Heroes.
Transcending time, space and all expectations is what David Bowie does best. Seeing him bring Heroes to life on stage in this performance is nothing short of mesmerising.
Taken from his 12th studio album Heroes, the track was co-written by Bowie and Brian Eno, released in 1977 as a single, and then as a live release in 1978. The influential track was played throughout the 1978 Isolar II world tour, always as the second track after the hazy space intro of Warsawa. The 1978 tour was the first time the track was played live in concert.
On the Isolar II world tour only, Heroes featured the rhythm section trio which originally recorded the song the previous year with Bowie; Carlos Alomar, Dennis Davies, and George Murray on rhythm guitar, drums and bass respectively. Furthermore, the incredible song featured the guitar pyrotechnics of Adrian Belew, making up for the absence of Robert Fripp, who played on the original recording.
With such talented musicians on board, Bowie was able to conjure up an atmosphere and sound much like the original track, sending fans into a frenzy.
The Isolar II world tour was one of Bowie’s most renowned and his performance at Earl’s Court functioned much like a homecoming after gaining tremendous success across America, Canada, and Europe. Heroes was created to express everything that David Bowie had become – a pioneer of unique performance, radically delivering only the most authentic of expressions and emotions.
Inspired by the sight of Bowie’s producer-engineer Tony Visconti embracing his lover by the Berlin Wall, the track details the impassioned story of two lovers, one from East and one from West Berlin. Bowie’s performance of the song on June 6, 1987, at the German Reichstag in West Berlin has even been considered a spur to the monumental fall of the Berlin Wall.
David Bowie’s 1978 performance of Heroes at Earl’s Court is easily one of the icon’s most radiant moments. Immerse yourself in all that it is above.
