The all-star event included a stellar collection of tribute performances that honored the life and legacy of the rock icon.
The birthday celebration, A David Bowie Celebration: Just For One Day was initially set to take place on January 8th but ran into Covid-related issues as well as technical problems that forced producers to push the event back to January 9th.
The collection of legendary talent made the move to the next night without a hitch as the three hour production pooled tribute performances to the late icon from some of music’s biggest and best.
Among the standout performances featured the supergroup of Corey Taylor of Slipknot and Stone Sour, Chris Chaney and Dave Navarro of Jane’s Addiction, and Taylor Hawkins of Foo Fighters for a Bowie medley that included “Rock n Roll Suicide”, “Chubby Little Fat Man”, and “Hang On To Yourself”.
Longtime Bowie collaborator Mike Garson functioned as the event’s host and performed the piano accompaniment for a handful of the evenings performances. Among those, was a stirring rendition of “Space Oddity” from Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan.
Taking on another classic, YUNGBLUD proved powerful with a revered treatment of the timeless tune, “Life On Mars?” The performance was an emphatic assertion of talent such that even he had hit Twitter to acknowledge the weight of the moment.
The evening included memorable features from the ladies rock in The Pretty Reckless’ Taylor Momsen and Lzzy Hale of Halestorm. Momsem delivered a remote performance of the Hunky Dory ballad, “Quicksand” that was both stylish and sincere. Hale joined with Broadway veteran Lena Hall to offering their treatment of the Bowie essential, “Moonage Daydream”. The performance was towering and a fitting tribute from both Hale and Hall – citing Bowie and his catalog as an inspirational muse.
Queen’s Adam Lambert channeled the innovator of glam for a spirited version of Bowie’s timepiece, “Starman” that showcased the singer’s rock and roll range. Jane’s Addiction frontman Perry Farrell and Etty Lau Farrell offered a dramatic version of “The Man Who Sold The World” with The Cult’s Ian Ashbury taking on the cinematic “Lazarus”.
Among the evening’s most moving portions involved Trent Reznor. The kinship between Bowie and Reznor is well-documented and the reverence which Reznor treats Bowie’s craft is apparent. Trent gave his treatment to “Fantastic Voyage” and performed the stunner with Mike Garson. He would then be joined by Atticus Ross and his wife and How To Destroy Angels vocalist Mariqueen Maandig for a dazzling performance of “Fashion”.
Duran Duran – Five Years Lzzy Hale + Lena Hall – Moonage Daydream
Billy Corgan – Space Oddity
Perry and Etty Lau Farrell – The Man Who Sold the World
Anna Calvi – Bring Me the Disco King
Gary Barlow – Fame
Corey Glover – Young Americans
Gail Ann Dorsey – Can You Hear Me
Bernard Fowler – Sweet Thing
Bernard Fowler – Candidate
Bernard Fowler – Sweet Thing (Reprise)
Charlie Sexton – Let’s Dance
Judith Hill – Lady Stardust
Macy Gray – Changes
Kevin Armstrong – Slaughter on Tenth Avenue
Catherine Russell – Conversation Piece
Charlie Sexton – Rebel Rebel
Joe Elliott – Win
Joe Elliott – Ziggy Stardust
Taylor Momsen – Quicksand
Charlie Sexton – DJ
Charlie Sexton – Blue Jean
Michael C. Hall – Where Are We Now?
Ground Control – Rock ‘n’ Roll Suicide
Ground Control – Chubby Little Fat Man
Ground Control – Hang On To Yourself
Gary Oldman – I Can’t Read
Jesse Malin – Jean Genie
Gail Ann Dorsey – Strangers When We Meet
Peter Frampton – Suffragette City
Trent Reznor – Fantastic Voyage
Trent Reznor, Mariqueen Maandig + Atticus Ross – Fashion
Ian Astbury – Lazarus
Yungblud – Life on Mars?
Boy George – Lady Grinning Soul / Time / Aladdin Sane
Ian Hunter – Dandy
Ian Hunter – All the Young Dudes
Adam Lambert – Starman
Judith Hill + Andra Day – Under Pressure
Bernard Fowler – Heroes
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