On 6 June 1987, David Bowie performed at the “Concert for Berlin” - a three day festival that was held in the West of the city. It took place in the Platz der Republik in front of the Reichstag. The government building was not in use by the West German government due to its close proximity to the Berlin Wall. The proximity to the wall meant that the concert was heard by thousands of East Berliners who were standing on the other side of the wall. This was the only way the Easterners could have heard Western music live, as most musicians were banned from performing in the East for fear of inciting the youth of the East to rebel.
Eventually the police on the Eastern side used violence against the public crowded there whilst the gig was ongoing - and this was presumably heard on stage by Bowie as he stood closest to the wall. At the end of his set, David Bowie first thanked his fans on the West side of the wall, and then acknowledged the people - his friends, he said - he knew were standing on the Eastern side.
Bowie later called it one of the most emotional performances he’d ever done, with him being able to hear both the West and East Berliners singing and cheering for him from both sides of the wall, and the later screams from the Eastern fans as violence was used against them.
When Bowie’s death was publicised, the German Foreign Office sent a tweet reading, “Good-bye, David Bowie. You are now among #Heroes. Thank you for helping to bring down the #wall.” in reference to what happened that day as it sparked the first riot of many in the lead up to the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.
(Pictured: Fans on the Eastern side of the wall listening to David Bowie. It is not known how the photographer managed to get away with taking this photo.)
I’m gonna reblog this again bc it gets me so emotional to read this man
