David Bowie live report article [Music Life (December 1983)]
A Day in the Life of David Bowie……
by Gabrielle H. Sneddon-Pike
PIX: KOH HASEBE / music life
Their mornings only truly begin around 10 am. Hardly anyone wakes before then. David spends most of his day in his hotel suite. Outside the hotel, crowds inevitably gather, hoping to catch a glimpse of him. He relaxes in his room, reading, and researching topics for his upcoming independent film.
Between 4 and 5 pm, David and his assistant, Coco Schwab, would depart for the venue in a limousine. Security backstage was extremely tight, and those without backstage passes were never permitted entry.
The atmosphere in the dressing room before the show is very relaxed. As the band is large, they use every available dressing room. David has his own private room, stocked with alcohol, Perrier, and two or three types of soft drinks, but he barely touches anything, drinking only a little Perrier. Since injuring his back at the start of the US tour, he avoids alcohol and cigarettes before going on stage.
He refused to use his own dressing room until it was time to get ready, instead he popped into the band's dressing room to share jokes and eat food at the table with his friends. With no girlfriends, guests, or entourage present, everyone can freely be themselves.
An hour before showtime, David would disappear into his dressing room. His once dazzlingly tanned skin had faded, returning to what he called his “neon-burned” pallor, requiring heavy make-up to withstand the intense stage lights.
The ever-constant troupe felt like one big family, everyone getting along in a relaxed, easy-going manner. On stage, superstar David was just one of the lot, often teased good-naturedly. But just before the show started, everyone switched back to their professional personas. Once the crew and stage manager, who knew the routine inside out, were ready, the polished two-hour entertainment began.
After the show, the band members often head out into the night to unwind, but David rarely goes out. He might show up at a crew member's birthday party, but after concerts, he often prefers to spend time alone. He isn't particularly fond of promoter-sponsored parties either, and he only made one brief appearance in the US, in New York, for a press conference. Naturally very shy, intelligent, and quiet, he is by no means a nervous person. Everyone says he is very approachable, neither moody nor stubborn, and that he's the first to crack a joke when something goes wrong.
He doesn't limit himself to a select few, but is open to interacting with those in his circle. In fact, I've never met anyone who had a bad word to say about him. If he were ever called a “star” or a “genius”, he would laugh it off bashfully – this is the everyday David, utterly unlike a star.
(Text by Gabriel H. Sneddon-Pike)
Enjoying the atmosphere on a Japanese holiday.
Bowie's fondness for Japan is well-known. Even during this third tour of Japan, he found brief off-days to immerse himself in the Japanese atmosphere. The real Bowie is simply wonderful.
PIX: DENIS O'REGAN
Bowie relaxing in his beloved Japanese room. He looks as relaxed as if he were at home.
■Meeting Keiko Matsuzaka, and Rick Springfield who was also visiting Japan at the same time!
An “oden party” at a Japanese restaurant. A down-to-earth experience.
Translator's Note: Today I learned of David Bowie's personal assistant, Coco Schwab. And from reading about her online, she wasn't just a mere assistant, she was a force of nature of her own. She was one of Bowie's longest and most steadfast best friend. She looked out for him and knew when to call him out and to help him through his worst times. The fact that the only Wikipedia article of her is only available in French feels like an insult to her legacy.
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