Mike Garson • David Bowie Medley • Live at the Hammersmith Odeon • July 3, 1973

Mike Garson • David Bowie Medley • Live at the Hammersmith Odeon • July 3, 1973

This video is dedicated to Mike Garson. Mike was Bowie's piano player during several important periods, including the Ziggy and the Spiders phase.

Personally, I’ll always be grateful to Mike for championing my videos in the early days. Soon after uploading my "Right" video to my YouTube channel
   • David Bowie - Right - 1975 Promo  
I was astonished at the following comment:

“Nacho, I'm Mike Garson's manager and we love what you've done here. Trying to find a way to contact you privately. Could you please email me at…. “

Mike’s manager and I corresponded a fair bit, and Mike featured the "Right" video on his website, and several other videos I was to go on to make.

Last week we learned the terrible news that Mike had lost his home and studio to the Southern California fires. I immediately recalled the recent video, of Mike in his home studio. And I thought what a tragedy it was to have lost that beautiful looking music room, with all the photos and mementos of his long and illustrious musical career:
  / 249424405773680  

On November 11th, Mike posted:

“The fire situation here in the Los Angeles area is terrible. My family and I are safe. Unfortunately, my home and studio have burned to the ground and we are devastated.
I’ve been hearing from friends, family and fans and appreciate all of the love pouring in from all corners of the globe.
I know what matters more than a house or material goods is our safety, our family, love and music. I’m so grateful to have all of this.
The outpouring of love I’ve received in light of this loss is overwhelming and my family and I are deeply touched. Many of you have asked what you can do to help. Here’s my one request: Transmit the outpouring of love you’ve given us and don’t wait for moments like this to show others how much you love and care.
Your support will remain with me forever and my music, as always, will continue.”

Since then, a Go Fund Me page has been started for Mike:
https://www.gofundme.com/mike-garson-...

Because of the great sympathy I feel for Mike, I've created this video. A basic version of it has been on the back-burner for a couple of years now, as part of a large work-in-progress project to create a complete concert film of the last Ziggy show at Hammersmith ’73. The film would use all available sources, both official and unofficial. Actually, that project is such a vast amount of work, I really don’t know if it will ever be finished. But at least now I’ve created a stand-alone video for Mike’s medley that I hope works well.

Mike’s David Bowie Medley from the Hammersmith show, is omitted from the official Ziggy Stardust movie, and the accompanying soundtrack album. However, thankfully in recent years, Bowie’s soundman from the Ziggy years, Robin Mayhew, released an audio of the complete show, that he taped himself on the night, direct from the mixing desk. Robin has been kind enough to allow the use of his recording on this video, and on past and planned videos from the show. Anyone interested in contacting Robin about this and other recordings, including Robin's own albums, can visit his site: www.robinmayhew.co.uk.

There’s no footage in circulation of Mike playing the medley at Hammersmith, and indeed we rarely see him at all throughout the concert footage. So my idea was to adorn his gorgeous medley with alternating scenes of Bowie backstage getting ready for the show, and scenes of the audience, outside the Odeon also readying themselves for the show. And finally... as Mike’s medley draws to a conclusion, Bowie leaves the dressing room in all of his finery, imminently to take a concert stage as Ziggy for the final time…

Hope you dig it!

Audio:
Mike Garson • David Bowie Medley, featuring:
• Space Oddity
• Ziggy Stardust
• John, I’m Only Dancing
• Life on Mars

From The Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars • Hammersmith Odeon, July 3, 1973

Video:
Shot at the Hammersmith Odeon • July 3, 1973
• From Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars. Directed by D. A. Pennebaker
• BBC Nationwide “Bowie Quits” report, broadcast July 4, 1973.

More videos to follow, so please keep your electric eye on me babe!

I don't own the rights, and I'm not making any money out of this etc. Just a fan making videos for other fans.

Please Share, Like, Comment, Subscribe

Facebook.com/TheNachoVideos
   / nachomarcho  
Vimeo.com/NachosProductions

#ZiggyStardust #AladdinSane #SpaceOddity #JohnImOnlyDancing #LifeOnMars