David Bowie 1970-1971 Wonder World Tour – The Chronology

📍 Beckenham, England
🏛️ The Three Tuns Public House
🎤 David Bowie
🗒️ The Arts Lab

📍 Soho, London 🇬🇧
🏛️ Trident Studios

🎧 Recording: ‘The Prettiest Star’
🗒️ Notes: Marc Bolan plays lead guitar on the session.

📍 Beckenham, England
🏛️ The Three Tuns Public House
🎤 David Bowie
🗒️ The Arts Lab

📍 Lewisham, London, England
🏛️ Old Tiger Heads
🎤 David Bowie

📍 Soho, London 🇬🇧
🏛️ Trident Studios

🎧 Recording: ‘The Prettiest Star’ (Final Mix)
🗒️ Notes: Completion of the single. David also prepares for a short promotional trip to Scotland.

📍 Beckenham, England
🏛️ The Three Tuns Public House
🎤 David Bowie
🗒️ The Arts Lab

📍 Beckenham, Kent 🇬🇧
🏛️ The Three Tuns

🎤 Artist: David Bowie
🗒️ Notes: David’s final regular Sunday night appearance at the Beckenham Arts Lab. After this, he officially shifts his focus to his new electric band and rehearsals at Haddon Hall.

📍 Aberdeen, Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
🏛️ Johnston Hall, University of Aberdeen

🎤 Artist: David Bowie (Trio)
🗒️ Notes: Following his TV appearance on ‘Cairngorm Ski Night’, David performs with Tony Visconti and Tex Johnson. This rare Scottish gig was organized to cover travel costs for the trip north.

📍 London, England 🇬🇧
🏛️ Marquee Club / Haddon Hall

🎸 Event: First meeting with Mick Ronson
🗒️ Notes: John Cambridge brings guitarist Mick Ronson from Hull to meet David at the Marquee. They retreat to Haddon Hall later that day to rehearse. The chemistry is instant.

📍 London, England 🇬🇧
🏛️ BBC Paris Cinema

📻 Session: The Sunday Show (John Peel) (Broadcast: 8 February 1970)
🎤 Performer: David Bowie, Mick Ronson, Tony Visconti, John Cambridge
🗒️ Notes: BBC radio session recorded during the transition from David’s late-1969 acoustic period toward the new electric line-up. This was not yet officially billed as The Hype.
Setlist: ‘Amsterdam’, ‘God Knows I’m Good’, ‘Buzz The Fuzz’, ‘Karma Man’, ‘London Bye Ta-Ta’, ‘An Occasional Dream’, ‘The Width Of A Circle‘, ‘Janine’, ‘Wild Eyed Boy From Freecloud’, ‘Unwashed and Somewhat Slightly Dazed’, ‘Fill Your Heart’, ‘The Prettiest Star’, ‘Cygnet Committee’.

📍 Beckenham, England
🏛️ The Three Tuns Public House
🎤 David Bowie
🗒️ The Arts Lab (Sunday Session)

📍 Chalk Farm, London 🇬🇧
🏛️ The Roundhouse (Implosion Club)

🎤 Artist: The David Bowie Band (Later the band’s name became The Hype) (Live Debut)
🗒️ Notes: Early performance by The Hype in superhero costumes. The concept confuses audiences and is short-lived.

📍 London, England
🏛️ Streatham Arms
🎤 Harry the Butcher (Later the band’s name became The Hype)
🗒️ The band was also known by the names ‘The David Bowie Band’ and ‘Harry the Butcher’ before they registered the name Hype.

📍 Basildon, Essex 🇬🇧
🏛️ Basildon Arts Centre

🎤 Artist: The Hype
🗒️ Notes: An early gig where the band’s heavy, guitar-driven sound continues to evolve.

📍 Beckenham, England
🏛️ The Three Tuns Public House
🎤 David Bowie
🗒️ The Arts Lab (Final Sunday Session)

📍 Hounslow, England
🏛️ The White Bear
🎤 Artist: The Hype
🗒️ Notes: One of the earliest club dates for the new electric line-up.

📍 London, UK 🇬🇧
🏛️ Mercury Records

💿 Release: ‘The Prettiest Star’ / ‘Conversation Piece‘
🗒️ Notes: Official release of the single. Featuring Marc Bolan on guitar.

📍 Hull, England
🏛️ Hull University
🎤 Artist: The Hype
🗒️ Notes: Mick Ronson‘s homecoming gig. The band travels to Hull on the day of the single release.

📍 London, England
🏛️ Regent Street Polytechnic
🎤 Artist: The Hype

📍 Camden, London, England
🏛️ The Roundhouse, Atomic Sunrise Festival
🎤 Artist: The Hype
🗒️ Notes: Evening performance at the ‘Atomic Sunrise’ festival.

📍 Sunderland, England
🏛️ Filmore North, Locarno Ballroom
🎤 Artist: The Hype

📍 Bromley, Kent 🇬🇧
🏛️ Bromley Register Office

💍 Event: Wedding Day
🗒️ Notes: David marries Angela Barnett. The ceremony is low-key, followed by a small gathering. This partnership would define much of his 70s image.

📍 London, England 🇬🇧
🏛️ Playhouse Theatre (BBC)

📻 Session: Sounds Of The 70’s: Anfy Ferrris Show (BBC Radio 1)
🎤 Artist: The Hype
🗒️ Notes: The final recording session featuring John Cambridge on drums.
📜 Set list: Waiting for the Man. Width of a Circle ,Wild Eyed Boy from Free cloud ,Superman (Not Broadcast BBC 25-03-1970). These versions are easily recognized by the distinctive heavy Hype sound.

📍 West Croydon, England
🏛️ The Star Hotel, Broad Green
🎤 Artist: The Hype
🗒️ Notes: A chaotic gig where the band’s new “superhero” costumes continue to polarize the audience.

📍 London, England 🇬🇧
🏛️ Office of Kenneth Pitt

⚖️ Event: Termination of Management
🗒️ Notes:(exact date unknown) David informs Kenneth Pitt that he no longer requires his services. A pivotal move that shifts his career towards a more aggressive, commercial direction.

📍 Scarborough, England
🏛️ The Penthouse
🎤 David Bowie
🗒️ Cancelled

📍 Heaton Chapel, Stockport, England
🏛️ Poco-A-Poco Club
🎤 David Bowie
🗒️ Cancelled

📍 Harrogate, England 🇬🇧
🏛️ Harrogate Theatre

🎤 Artist: David Bowie (Solo)
🗒️ Notes: Optreden met 12-snarige gitaar en Revox-bandrecorder. The Hype speelt niet mee omdat er op dit moment geen drummer is.

📍 Heaton Chapel, Stockport, England 🇬🇧
🏛️ Poco-A-Poco Club

🎤 Artist: David Bowie (Solo)
🗒️ Notes: Tweede nood-optreden zonder band. Het publiek reageert koel op de solo-set met tapes; de roep om een volledige rockband (The Hype) wordt groot.

📍 London, England 🇬🇧
🏛️ Haddon Hall

🎸 Event: Woody Woodmansey joins the band
🎤 Artist: The Hype
🗒️ Notes: Met de komst van drummer Woody Woodmansey uit Hull is de klassieke bezetting van The Hype weer compleet. Repetities voor het nieuwe album beginnen direct.

📍 London, England 🇬🇧
🏛️ BBC Television Centre

📺 TV: The Cilla Black Show (Recording)
🗒️ Notes: David records a performance of ‘The Prettiest Star’. However, the performance is never broadcast and the tape is later wiped, making it a “lost” piece of history.

📍 London, UK 🇬🇧
🏛️ Advision Studios
🎤 Artist: David Bowie / The Hype
🎧 Recording: The Man Who Sold The World (Album Sessions Start)
🗒️ Notes: Official commencement of the studio recordings for the new album. Tony Visconti produces, with Mick Ronson on guitar and John Cambridge on drums. 📜 Sessions: The band begins tracking “The Width of a Circle” and “All the Madmen”. The atmosphere is experimental, as they transition from the acoustic ‘Space Oddity‘ sound to a much heavier, guitar-driven rock style.

📍 Soho, London 🇬🇧
🏛️ Trident Studios

🎧 Recording: The Man Who Sold The World (Sessions)
🎤 Artist: The Hype
🗒️ Notes: David works on vocal lines while the band experiments with arrangements. The atmosphere is focused as the new lineup settles into a rhythm.

📍 London, England 🇬🇧
🏛️ Talk of the Town, Hippodrome
🎤 Artist: David Bowie (Solo)
🗒️ Event: Ivor Novello Awards
🗒️ Notes: David is honored with the ‘Most Original Song’ award for “Space Oddity“. He performs a unique version of the track, conducted by Les Reed and backed by a full orchestra. 📜 Media: The ceremony is broadcast via satellite to over 20 countries, marking David’s first major international television exposure. He famously attends the event with Angela Bowie, sporting his “Haddon Hall” long-hair look.

📍 Scarborough, England 🇬🇧
🏛️ The Penthouse

🎤 Artist: The Hype
🗒️ Notes: Originally scheduled for April 2, this rescheduled gig marks the first live performance with Woody Woodmansey on drums. The band’s heavy, electric sound is now fully formed.

📍 London, England 🇬🇧
🏛️ Advision Studios

🎧 Recording: The Man Who Sold The World
🎤 Artist: The Hype
🗒️ Notes: Completion of the album’s core tracks. The chemistry between Ronson, Visconti, and Woodmansey during these sessions creates the definitive ‘heavy’ sound of the record.

📍 Soho, London 🇬🇧
🏛️ Trident Studios
🎤 Artist: The Hype
🎧 Recording: The Man Who Sold The World (Final Sessions)
🗒️ Notes: The album sessions relocate from Advision to Trident Studios for the final overdubs and vocal tracks. With the heavy rhythm section already captured, David focuses on perfecting his vocal performances and Tony Visconti begins the initial balancing of the complex, multilayered arrangements.

📍 London, UK 🇬🇧
🏛️ Mercury Records

💿 Release: ‘Memory of a Free Festival'(Part 1 & 2) (Single)
🎤 Artist: The Hype
🗒️ Notes: Release of the re-recorded, more electric version of the song. Despite its anthemic quality, it fails to chart.

📍 Cambridge, England 🇬🇧
🏛️ Jesus College, Cambridge University (May Ball)

🎤 Artist: The Hype
🗒️ Notes: Performance at the college’s May Ball. Despite being billed as David Bowie, he performs an acoustic-leaning set with The Hype (Ronson, Visconti, and Woodmansey).

📍 London, England 🇬🇧
🏛️ BBC Studio 4, Maida Vale
🎤 Artist: The Hype
📻 Session: The Dave Lee Travis Show (Recording)
🗒️ Notes: First BBC session with the Ronson, Visconti, and Woodmansey line-up. The band performs ‘The Width of a Circle’, ‘Waiting for the Man’, and ‘The Wild Eyed Boy from Freecloud’. 📜 Broadcast: Transmitted on July 5, 1970, showcasing the transition to a heavy electric sound.

📍 Shortlands, Bromley, England 🇬🇧
🏛️ Queens Mead Recreation Grounds

🎤 Artist: The Hype
🗒️ Notes: Beckenham Summer Festival. A year after the original festival, David and the band perform a heavy set. This is often cited as one of the last true Arts Lab events.

📍 Camden, London, England 🇬🇧
🏛️ The Roundhouse (Implosion)

🎤 Artist: The Hype
🗒️ Notes: The band performs alongside Kevin Ayers and Bridget St John. Their electric, proto-metal sound continues to baffle yet intrigue the underground audience.

📍 Southend-on-Sea, England 🇬🇧
🏛️ Fickle-Pickle Club (The Cricketers Inn)

🎤 Artist: The Hype
🗒️ Notes: A standard club date where the band further refines the material for the upcoming album.

📍 North Acton, London, England 🇬🇧
🏛️ The White Hart

🎤 Artist: The Hype
🗒️ Notes: Performance at a popular local rock venue. The chemistry between Ronson and Bowie is now the focal point of the live show.

📍 Southend-on-Sea, England 🇬🇧
🏛️ Eastwoodbury Lane (Shelter Charity)

🎤 Artist: The Hype
🗒️ Notes: An open-air charity concert for the homeless. The Hype performs a powerful set, despite the makeshift stage and local festival atmosphere.

📍 Hampstead, London 🇬🇧
🏛️ Haverstock Arms

🎤 Artist: The Hype
🗒️ Notes: A performance at this popular Hampstead pub. The band’s heavy, electrified set continues to showcase the evolving chemistry between Bowie and Ronson.

📍 Scarborough, England 🇬🇧
🏛️ The Penthouse

🎤 Artist: The Hype
🗒️ Notes: A return to the venue where they performed in May. Despite growing internal tensions between David and the band members, The Hype delivers a heavy, electric set characteristic of this period.

📍 Southall, London 🇬🇧
🏛️ The White Hart

🎤 Artist: The Hype
🗒️ Notes: One of the final performances of the original Hype line-up. Shortly after this period, Tony Visconti would depart to focus on production.

📍 London, England 🇬🇧
🏛️ Gem Projects Offices

⚖️ Event: Partnership with Tony Defries
🗒️ Notes: David officially signs with Tony Defries and his firm, Gem Projects. Defries begins the process of ‘re-packaging’ Bowie, leading to the eventual creation of Mainman and the global success of the 70s.

📍 London, England 🇬🇧
🏛️ Seymour Hall

🎤 Artist: David Bowie
🗒️ Notes: Reported solo appearance for a Gay Liberation Front benefit.Cancelled.

📍 United States 🇺🇸
🏛️ Mercury Records

💿 Album Release: The Man Who Sold The World (USA)
🗒️ Notes: The album is released in the US nearly six months before the UK. It features the “cartoon” cover art. Critics are impressed by the heavy, guitar-driven sound of The Hype, but initial sales are slow.

📍 Beckenham, Kent 🇬🇧
🏛️ Haddon Hall

🎧 Event: Writing Sessions
🗒️ Notes: David spends the month in his flat at Haddon Hall, composing on his new Chappell grand piano. Many songs for ‘Hunky Dory‘, including ‘Changes’, begin to take shape during these weeks.

📍 London, England 🇬🇧
🏛️ Haddon Hall (Beckenham)

⚖️ Event: End of the Transition Year
🗒️ Notes: David ends 1970 having fully transitioned from a folk-singer to a heavy rock frontman with The Hype. Under Tony Defries‘ guidance, plans are finalized for David’s first promotional trip to the USA in early 1971.

📍 London Heathrow Airport 🇬🇧
🏛️ Departure for USA

✈️ Event: First Trip to America
🗒️ Notes: David leaves for his first promotional tour of the US. He arrives at Heathrow wearing a white satin suit under a navy maxi-coat. The Michael Fish Liberty-print ‘man-dress’ is packed in his luggage, ready to be debuted for the American press.

📍 Washington D.C., USA 🇺🇸
🏛️ Mercury Records Promotion

📸 Event: US Press Tour Begins
🗒️ Notes: David begins a series of interviews to promote ‘The Man Who Sold The World’. This trip is purely for promotion; due to visa restrictions, he is not allowed to perform live.

📍 Hilversum, Netherlands 🇳🇱
🏛️ Studio Maslow (AVRO TopPop)

🎤 Artist: David Bowie (Solo)
🗒️ Notes: David records a legendary promotional clip for the single ‘Holy Holy’. He famously performs wearing the blue Michael Fish ‘man-dress’.

📍 Brussels, Belgium 🇧🇪
🏛️ Amerikaans Theater (BRT)

🎤 Artist: David Bowie (Solo)
🗒️ Notes: Performance for the program ‘Tienerklanken’. David appears in the Michael Fish dress and is interviewed about his unconventional outfit, showcasing his provocative new image to the Belgian public.

📍 Hollywood, Los Angeles 🇺🇸
🏛️ Radio & Press Interviews

🎤 Artist: David Bowie (Promo)
🗒️ Notes: Bowie conducts a marathon of interviews wearing his Michael Fish dress. He famously tells journalists: “The skirt is the next big thing for men.”

📍 Los Angeles, USA 🇺🇸
🏛️ Hollywood Hills

📸 Event: Introduction to the Iggy Pop Myth
🗒️ Notes: While in LA, David is heavily exposed to the music and reputation of Iggy Pop through industry contacts. Although they do not physically meet until September, the stories of Iggy’s performances profoundly impact David’s developing ‘Ziggy’ concept.

📍 New York City, USA 🇺🇸
🏛️ Max’s Kansas City

🤝 Event: The Doug Yule Encounter
🗒️ Notes: David visits the legendary Max’s Kansas City to meet the Warhol set. He spends the evening talking to a musician he believes is Lou Reed. He later discovers he was actually talking to Doug Yule, who had taken over leadership of the Velvet Underground.

📍 Beckenham, Kent 🇬🇧
🏛️ Haddon Hall

🎸 Event: Trevor Bolder joins the band
🗒️ Notes:(exact date unknown) Mick Ronson recruits bassist Trevor Bolder from Hull to replace Tony Visconti. The classic line-up of the future Spiders from Mars is now fully assembled for the first time.

📍 London, England 🇬🇧
🏛️ Radio & Press

💿 Event: UK Release of ‘The Man Who Sold The World’
🗒️ Notes: The album is finally released in the UK by Mercury Records. It features the iconic **Michael Fish dress** cover (the ‘drag’ cover), which causes significant controversy in the British press.

📍 Camden, London 🇬🇧
🏛️ The Roundhouse

🎤 Artist: David Bowie & Friends
🗒️ Notes: Early live appearance featuring Ronson, Bolder and Woodmansey together.

📍 Paris, France 🇫🇷
🏛️ Studio de l’ORTF

🎤 Artist: David Bowie (Solo)
🗒️ Notes: Arrival in Paris for a three-day promotional visit (May 5–7) for the French release of ‘The Man Who Sold The World’. David conducts various TV and press interviews.

📍 Soho, London 🇬🇧
🏛️ Trident Studios

🎧 Recording: Hunky Dory (Start of Sessions)
🎤 Artist: David Bowie & The Band
🗒️ Notes: Official start of the album sessions. While focusing on piano tracks with Rick Wakeman, this date also marks the first time the Ronson/Bolder/Woodmansey trio works together in the studio. These are the very first ‘sparks’ of what will become The Spiders from Mars.

📍 London, England 🇬🇧
🏛️ Press Interviews

📸 Event: Promotion of ‘Holy Holy’
🗒️ Notes: Despite the focus on new album material, David continues to promote his recent single in the UK press, often discussing his ‘bisexual’ image and the ‘man-dress’ concept.

📍 Soho, London 🇬🇧
🏛️ Trident Studios

🎧 Recording: ‘Life On Mars?’
🎤 Artist: David Bowie & The Band
🗒️ Notes: Work begins on one of David’s most enduring masterpieces. The sessions are fast-paced, with the band recording much of the core material in just a few takes.

📍 London, England 🇬🇧
🏛️ BBC Paris Cinema (In Concert)

📻 Session: The John Peel Show
🎤 Artist: David Bowie & Friends
🗒️ Notes: A 60-minute special featuring the live debut of many ‘Hunky Dory‘ songs. Setlist: ‘Queen Bitch’, ‘Bombers’, ‘The Supermen’, ‘Looking For A Friend’, ‘Almost Grown’, ‘Oh! You Pretty Things’, ‘Kooks’, ‘Song For Bob Dylan‘, ‘Andy Warhol‘, ‘It Ain’t Easy’.

📍 Pilton, Somerset 🇬🇧
🏛️ Worthy Farm (Glastonbury Fayre)

🎤 Artist: David Bowie (Solo)
🗒️ Notes: David performs a legendary solo set at dawn (approx. 5:00 AM). Accompanied by his 12-string guitar and piano, he debuts new songs like ‘Changes’ and ‘Life On Mars?’. He famously refuses to be paid for the performance.

📍 Hampstead, London 🇬🇧
🏛️ Country Club, Haverstock Hill

🎤 Artist: David Bowie & Friends
🗒️ Notes: A warm-up gig featuring the Hunky Dory line-up (Mick Ronson, Rick Wakeman, Woody Woodmansey). This performance in a small club setting is crucial for the band’s development before recording the Ziggy Stardust material.
🎵 Setlist: Bowie performed 13 songs: ‘Fill Your Heart’, ‘The Supermen’, ‘Oh! You Pretty Things’, ‘Eight Line Poem’, ‘It’s Gonna Rain Again’, ‘Buzz The Fuzz’, ‘Quicksand’, ‘It Ain’t Easy’, ‘Song For Bob Dylan’, ‘Kooks’, ‘Andy Warhol’, ‘Amsterdam’, and ‘Memory Of A Free Festival’.

📍 London, England 🇬🇧
🏛️ Gem Projects / RCA Records

💿 Event: The ‘BOWPROMO’ Pressing
🗒️ Notes: 500 white-label promo LPs are pressed to secure a new record deal. It features early mixes of ‘Hunky Dory‘ tracks. This strategic move by Tony Defries directly leads to David signing with RCA Records.

📍 Soho, London 🇬🇧
🏛️ Marquee Club

🎸 Event: Mick Ronson Guest Appearance
🗒️ Notes: David watches from the audience as Mick Ronson performs as a guest guitarist with Michael Chapman. This shows the growing stature of Ronson as a guitar hero in the London scene.

📍 Hampstead, London 🇬🇧
🏛️ Country Club, Haverstock Hill

🎤 Artist: David Bowie & Friends
🗒️ Notes: Another club date with the future ‘Spiders’ line-up (Mick Ronson, Trevor Bolder, Woody Woodmansey). The band is incredibly tight, having just finished the bulk of the Hunky Dory recordings.

📍 Soho, London 🇬🇧
🏛️ Trident Studios / Gem Projects
💿 Event: Pre-RCA Strategy & Mastering
🗒️ Notes: Final tweaks on the ‘BOWPROMO’ white-label LP. David and Tony Defries use these pressings to secure the massive RCA Records deal. 📜 Context: While early Ziggy material is being written at Haddon Hall, the studio focus remains on finalizing the Hunky Dory masters for international release. The official Ziggy Stardust recording sessions do not commence until November 8.

📍 Aylesbury, England 🇬🇧
🏛️ Borough Assembly Hall (Friars)
🎤 Artist: David Bowie & The Band
🗒️ Notes: Show Rescheduled. Originally set for this date, the performance is moved to September 25. 📜 Reason: David’s sudden departure for New York City to finalize and sign the massive RCA Records contract on September 9 makes the original date impossible. This contract marks the official start of the Mainman era and the global push for stardom.

📍 Aylesbury, England 🇬🇧
🏛️ Borough Assembly Hall (Friars)

🎤 Artist: David Bowie
🗒️ Notes: A legendary performance. David debuts his new look with red plastic boots and performs songs from ‘Hunky Dory‘ and the upcoming ‘Ziggy Stardust’. The crowd’s ecstatic reaction convinces David he is on the right path to stardom.

📍 Soho, London 🇬🇧
🏛️ Trident Studios

🎧 Recording: Ziggy Stardust Sessions
🎤 Artist: David Bowie & The Band
🗒️ Notes: Intensive recording sessions for the ‘Ziggy Stardust’ album. The band (Ronson, Bolder, Woodmansey) records the definitive versions of ‘Star’, ‘Hang On To Yourself’, and ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Suicide’.

📍 Soho, London 🇬🇧
🏛️ Trident Studios

🎧 Recording: Album Track Perfection
🎤 Artist: David Bowie & The Band
🗒️ Notes: Recording and overdubbing sessions for ‘Velvet Goldmine’ and ‘Sweet Head’. Although these tracks were ultimately left off the original Ziggy album, they showcase the high energy and productivity of the band during this month.

📍 Soho, London 🇬🇧
🏛️ Trident Studios
🎧 Recording: The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust (Start)
🎤 Artist: David Bowie & The Band
🗒️ Notes: Official commencement of the Ziggy Stardust album sessions. Produced by Ken Scott and David Bowie.
🎧 Recording: ‘Hang On To Yourself’, ‘Ziggy Stardust’, ‘Star’, ‘It Ain’t Easy’, and the outtake ‘Velvet Goldmine’. The core sound of the Spiders from Mars is captured in these high-energy sessions.

📍 London, UK 🇬🇧
🏛️ RCA Records

💿 Album Release: Hunky Dory
🗒️ Notes: The official UK release of the album. Though critics at Melody Maker and NME give it rave reviews, the album is not an immediate commercial hit. It will take the success of Ziggy Stardust in 1972 to pull this masterpiece into the charts.

📍 Beckenham, Kent 🇬🇧
🏛️ Haddon Hall

🥂 Event: New Year’s Eve 1971
🗒️ Notes: David ends the year with his family and inner circle at Haddon Hall. With the Ziggy Stardust album nearly finished in the vaults, the stage is set for 1972 to be the year of his global breakthrough.