Tony Visconti has recalled David Bowie’s 1970 gig with his proto-glam outfit The Hype, footage of which is set to be screened for the first time.
The costumed group, featuring Mick Ronson on guitar and Visconti himself on bass, performed at the Atomic Sunrise festival at London’s Roundhouse on March 11, 1970.
Discussing the night in the new issue of Uncut, out on January 31, Visconti says: “I thought it looked great. But we weren’t a star band and the reaction wasn’t very welcoming.
“Not only did we look strange, but David’s music was quite complicated.”
Footage of the festival, which also featured Hawkwind, Genesis, Arthur Brown and Kevin Ayers & The Whole World, will be screened at the Roundhouse on March 11/12.
You can read more of Visconti’s recollections about The Hype’s first gig, and the story of the uncovered footage, including interviews with many other Atomic Sunrise performers, in the new issue of Uncut, out on January 31.