David Bowie performed at New York’s Madison Square Garden on 15 December 2003, as part of A Reality Tour. It was his final concert at the venue.
It was the 33rd date of the tour, which began on 7 October in Copenhagen.
Earl Slick and Gerry Leonard played guitar, Gail Ann Dorsey was on bass guitar and vocals, and Mike Garson played keyboards and piano. Sterling Campbell was on drums, and Catherine Russell played keyboards, percussion, guitar and sang backing vocals.
Bowie had first performed at Madison Square Garden on 19 and 20 July 1974, during the Diamond Dogs Tour, and again on 26 March 1976 for the Isolar Tour. He returned there on 7, 8, and 9 May 1978 for the Isolar II Tour.
He played another three dates there at Madison Square Garden during the Serious Moonlight Tour, on 25, 26, and 27 July 1983. The Glass Spider Tour saw a further two concerts at the venue, on 1 and 2 September 1987.
On 9 January 1997 a special 50th birthday celebratory concert took place, with Bowie sharing the stage with Foo Fighters, The Cure’s Robert Smith, Smashing Pumpkins’ Billy Corgan, Pixies’ Frank Black, Sonic Youth, and Lou Reed.
The setlist
- ‘Rebel Rebel’
- ‘New Killer Star’
- ‘Reality’
- ‘Fashion’
- ‘Hang On To Yourself’
- ‘Fame’
- ‘Cactus’
- ‘All The Young Dudes’
- ‘China Girl’
- ‘The Loneliest Guy’
- ‘The Man Who Sold The World’
- ‘Hallo Spaceboy’
- ‘Sunday’
- ‘Under Pressure’
- ‘Life On Mars?’
- ‘Ashes To Ashes’
- ‘Afraid’
- ‘The Motel’
- ‘Changes’
- ‘Five Years’
- ‘I’m Afraid Of Americans’
- “Heroes”
- ‘The Jean Genie’
- ‘Suffragette City’
- ‘Ziggy Stardust’
Also on this day...
Want more? Visit the David Bowie history section.
