David Bowie – Arena Rock (BBC TV, 1978)

David Bowie • Arena Rock • BBC TV • 1978

Video Source:
Arena Rock • BBC Broadcast Archive • Directed by Nigel Finch • Produced by Alan Yentob • Broadcast 24th May 1978

Music by David Bowie:
Ziggy Stardust • Live in Dallas • 1978
Neuköln • from “Heroes” • 1977
Hang on to Yourself • Live in Dallas • 1978
Sound and Vision • from Low • 1977

Alan Yentob interviews Bowie in this enjoyable and intelligently made 15 minute BBC TV feature from 1978.

The feature was recorded and broadcast during the 1978 Isolar II World Tour. It was produced by Bowie’s old mate Alan Yentob, who in 1974, produced the brilliant “Cracked Actor” – probably the greatest Bowie documentary ever made.

Arena Rock features an interview that covers Bowie’s changing perspective on his music and fame, his feelings about the tour and the Just A Gigolo movie. Also featured are live tracks and Bowie and Brian Eno’s instrumental from the “Heroes” album, Neuköln, set to a visual collage of (then) contemporary Germany.

Excerpts from the interview have been used in the BBC documentaries, Five Years and The Last Five Years, and in the Bowie Is exhibition. I have also used excerpts in some of my own videos.

Arena Rock was, as far as I can tell, a relatively short-lived offshoot of the long running BBC Arena art and documentary series. Alan Yentob helped initiate the Arena series in 1975, and remained the editor of the show until 1985.

The Arena Rock episode with David Bowie (and The Tubes) was broadcast on BBC2 on the 29th May, 1978.

Through the window, behind Bowie is the unmistakable Köln Dom (Cologne Cathedral). So in all likelihood, the recording date of the interview was May 19th 1978, the day of Bowie’s concert at the Sporthalle, Cologne.

00:18 Ziggy Stardust • Live in Dallas
02:00 Interview
04:55 Neuköln
06:02 Interview
09:02 Hang on To Yourself • Live in Dallas
11:39 Interview

I originally edited and uploaded this show a few years ago. Having accumulated further sources since then, this is a significant quality upgrade.

I edited the intro specifically for this video, taken from the Bowie parts only of the original show intro.

Hope you dig it!

More videos to follow, so please keep your electric eye on me babe!

I don’t own the rights, and I’m not making any money out of this etc. Just a fan making videos for other fans.

Nacho, July 26th, 2019.

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YouTube.com/nachomarcho
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#DavidBowie #NoShitSherlock #Absoluteruhebitte #Heroes #Low #IsolarII #Stage #AlanYentob #Neuköln #SoundandVision #JustaGigolo #Cologne