David Bowie 2003-2004 Reality Tour

Tour by David Bowie
Associated album Reality
Start date > 7 October 2003
End date > 23 July 2004
Legs > 5
Shows > 70 in Europe
Shows > 28 in North America
Shows > 1 in the Atlantic
Shows > 8 in Oceania
Shows > 5 in Asia
Shows > 112 in Total

David Bowie Tour band 2003-2004 A Reality Tour
A Reality Tour was a worldwide concert tour by David Bowie in support of the Reality album. The tour commenced on 7 October 2003 at the Forum Copenhagen, Denmark, continuing through Europe, North America, Asia, including a return to New Zealand and Australia for the first time since the 1987 Glass Spider Tour. Bowie retired from performing live in 2006, making this tour his last.

The tour grossed US$46 million, making it the ninth-highest-grossing tour of 2004.

The Tour band
• David Bowie – vocals, acoustic guitar, harmonica
• Earl Slick – lead guitar
• Gerry Leonard – guitar, backing vocals
• Gail Ann Dorsey – bass guitar, rhythm guitar, clarinet, vocals
• Sterling Campbell – drums, percussion
• Mike Garson – keyboards, piano
• Catherine Russell – keyboards ,percussion ,guitar ,backing vocals

Start date 11 June 2002
End date 23 October 2002

History
Bowie announced the tour in June 2003, intending to play to over a million people across 17 countries, and was billed as his first major tour since the Outside Tour of 1995. Bowie promoted this tour with appearances on primetime television shows such as The Tonight Show and on AOL Sessions. At over 110 shows, the tour was the longest tour of Bowie’s career.
Performance
Bowie sought to perform in the format of a stadium concert with less focus on elaborate staging and more focus on the musicians in his band. The stage featured a number of platforms, some extending into the audience, as well as multiple video-screens projecting artistic images and live footage of the concert along with many colored lights for effects. The stage was typically placed at one end of the stadium or arena with seating in the stands or on the field itself with a back-stage area on the far side of the stage.
The musicians were dressed in casual but colorful outfits; nearly each musician had a set of outfits in different colors, such as Bowie’s cut-off shirt and neckerchief or Gail Ann Dorsey’s dress. Musicians were free to move about the stage as their instruments permitted with wireless amplification, though Bowie and Dorsey interacted most often as part of the acts.
Each concert began with an introduction on the main video-screen, during which the band would enter the stage and prepare the opening number. After the opener, Bowie would greet the audience with the flexible line, “Hello, [city name], you crazy bunch of motherfuckers” as a sign of welcoming. The performances, between the somewhat staged pieces, were informal often with a dialog between Bowie and his audience, jokes, band introductions, and the occasional “Happy Birthday To You”.
Repertoire
The set list included tracks spanning Bowie’s 30 plus years in the music business, from The Man Who Sold the World (1970) all the way to Reality (2003), along with collaborations such as Sister Midnight (with Iggy Pop) and “Under Pressure” (with Queen), and snippets and teasers of Bowie classics such as “Space Oddity” and “Golden Years”. There is a bit more focus, however, on tracks from the albums released since the Earthling World Tour in 1997, Heathen (2002), and Reality. The only exception from his latest albums is ‘hours…’ (1999); no tracks from this album were included, possibly due to poor reception of the album. Other albums with no appearance included Space Oddity (1969), the cover album Pin Ups (1973), the ill-received Never Let Me Down (1987), the albums produced with the band Tin Machine, and Black Tie White Noise (1993).
A notable inclusion into the tour were the tracks from The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, usually performed as the final encores. “Ziggy Stardust” was nearly always the finale of each concert.
The inclusion of tracks from Let’s Dance and Tonight was also notable, considering a fan tendency to reject the albums as “too commercial”, seeing the return of the singles “Modern Love”, “Blue Jean”, “Lets Dance,” “China Girl”, and a semi-acoustic version of “Loving the Alien”.
Overall, the band had rehearsed around 60 songs for the tour.
Tour inciden
Originally scheduled to play in 24 countries over a ten-month period, the tour was curtailed after the Hurricane Festival performance in Scheeßel, Germany on 25 June 2004, as a result of Bowie being diagnosed with an acutely blocked artery that required an angioplasty procedure.The previous performance at the T-Mobile Arena, Prague, Czech Republic on 23 June 2004 had been interrupted as Bowie was forced to leave the stage believing he was suffering from a trapped nerve in his left shoulder. A previous incident in Oslo on 18 June 2004 saw Bowie being struck in the left eye with a lollipop thrown by a member of the audience. On 6 May 2004, a performance at the James L. Knight Center, Miami, FL was cancelled after a lighting technician fell to his death prior to Bowie going onstage.

Live recordings
Main article: A Reality Tour (film)
A DVD video of the Point Theatre, Dublin performances of 2003 was released as A Reality Tour in 2004. A CD of the same performances was released as A Reality Tour in 2010.

Tour Band
David Bowie – vocals, guitars, stylophone, harmonica
Earl Slick – guitar
Gerry Leonard – guitar
Mark Plati – bass guitar, guitar
Gail Ann Dorsey – bass guitar, backing vocals
Sterling Campbell – drums
Mike Garson – keyboards, piano
Catherine Russell – keyboards, percussion, acoustic guitar, backing vocals

Tour date

Date – City – Country – Venue
Europe
07 October 2003 Copenhagen,Denmark,Forum Copenhagen
08 October 2003 Stockholm,Sweden,Globen Arena
10 October 2003 Helsinki,Finland,Hartwall Areena
12 October 2003 Oslo,Norway,Oslo Spektrum
15 October 2003 Rotterdam,Netherlands,Ahoy Rotterdam
16 October 2003 Hamburg,Germany,Color Line Arena
18 October 2003 Frankfurt,Germany,Festhalle Frankfurt
20 October 2003 Paris ,France ,Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy
21 October 2003 Paris ,France Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy
23 October 2003 Milan,Italy,Forum D’Assago
24 October 2003 Zurich,Switzerland,Hallenstadion
26 October 2003 Stuttgart,Germany,Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle
27 October 2003 Munich,Germany
29 October 2003 Vienna,Austria,Wiener Stadthalle
31 October 2003 Cologne,Germany,Kölnarena
01 November 2003 Hanover,Germany,Preussag Arena
03 November 2003 Berlin,Germany,Max-Schmeling-Halle
05 November 2003 Antwerp,Belgium,Sportpaleis
07 November 2003 Lille,France,Zénith de Lille Grand Palais
08 November 2003 Amnéville,France,Galaxie Amnéville
10 November 2003 Nice,France,Palais Nikaia
14 November 2003 Marseille,France,Le Dôme de Marseille
15 November 2003 Lyon,France,Halle Tony Garnier
17 November 2003 Manchester,EnglandManchester Arena
19 November 2003 Birmingham,England,National Exhibition Centre
20 November 2003 Birmingham England,National Exhibition Centre
22 November 2003 Dublin ,Ireland ,Point Theatre
23 November 2003 Dublin, Ireland ,Point Theatre
25 November 2003 London,England,Wembley Arena
26 November 2003 London,England,Wembley Arena
28 November 2003 Glasgow,Scotland,Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre

North America
13 December 2003 Montreal,Canada,Bell Centre
15 December 2003 New York City,US,Madison Square Garden
16 December 2003 Uncasville,Mohegan ,Sun Arena

Atlantic
20 December 2003 Nassau,Bahamas,Atlantis Paradise Island Hotel

North America
07 January 2004 Cleveland,United States,CSU Convocation Center
09 January 2004 Auburn Hills,The Palace of Auburn Hills
11 January 2004 Minneapolis,Target Center
13 January 2004 Rosemont ,Rosemont Theatre
14 January 2004 Rosemont ,Rosemont Theatre
16 January 2004 Rosemont ,Rosemont Theatre
19 January 2004 Denver,Fillmore Auditorium
21 January 2004 Calgary,Canada,Pengrowth Saddledome
24 January 2004 Vancouver,General Motors Place
25 January 2004 Seattle,United States,Paramount Theatre
27 January 2004 San Jose,HP Pavilion at San Jose
30 January 2004 Las Vegas,The Joint
31 January 2004 Los Angeles,Shrine Auditorium
02 February 2004 Los Angeles ,Shrine Auditorium
03 February 2004 Wiltern Theatre
05 February 2004 Phoenix,Dodge Theater
06 February 2004 Las Vegas,The Joint
07 February 2004 Los Angeles,Wiltern Theatre

Oceania
14 February 2004 Wellington,New Zealand,Westpac Stadium
17 February 2004 Brisbane,Australia,Brisbane Entertainment Centre
20 February 2004 Sydney ,Sydney Entertainment Centre
21 February 2004 Sysney ,Sydney Entertainment Centre
23 February 2004 Adelaide,Adelaide Entertainment Centre
26 February 2004 Melbourne ,Rod Laver Arena
27 February 2004 Melborne ,Rod Laver Arena
01 March 2004 Perth,Supreme Court Gardens

Asia
04 March 2004 Kallang,Singapore,Singapore Indoor Stadium
08 March 2004 Tokyo ,Japan ,Nippon Budokan
09 March 2004 Tokyo ,Japan ,Nippon Budikan
11 March 2004 Osaka,Osaka-jo Hall
14 March 2004 Kowloon,Hong Kong,Convention  Exhibition Centre

North America
29 March 2004 Philadelphia,United States,Wachovia Center
30 March 2004 Boston,FleetCenter
01 April 2004 Toronto,Canada,Air Canada Centre
02 April 2004 Ottawa,Corel Centre
04 April 2004 Quebec City,Colisée Pepsi
07 April 2004 Winnipeg,Winnipeg Arena
09 April 2004 Edmonton,Rexall Place
11 April 2004 Kelowna,Skyreach Place
13 April 2004 Portland, Oregon,United States,Rose Garden Arena
14 April 2004 Seattle,KeyArena
16 April 2004 Berkeley ,Berkeley Community Theatre
17 April 2004 Berkeley Berkeley Community Theatre
19 April 2004 Santa Barbara ,Santa Barbara Bowl
22 April 2004 Los Angeles,Greek Theatre
23 April 2004 Anaheim,The Theatre at The Arrowhead Pond
25 April 2004 Loveland,Budweiser Events Center
27 April 2004 Austin,The Backyard Amphitheater
29 April 2004 The Woodlands,Cynthia Woods ,Mitchell Pavilion
30 April 2004 New Orleans,Saenger Theatre
05 May 2004 Tampa,Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center
08 May 2004 Atlanta,Chastain Park Amphitheater
10 May 2004 Kansas City,Starlight Theatre
11 May 2004 St. Louis,Fox Theatre
13 May 2004 Hershey,Star Pavilion
14 May 2004 London,CanadaJohn Labatt Centre
16 May 2004 Fairfax,United States,Patriot Center
17 May 2004 Pittsburgh,Benedum Center
19 May 2004 Milwaukee,Milwaukee Theatre
20 May 2004 Indianapolis,Murat Shrine
22 May 2004 Moline,The Mark of the Quad Cities
24 May 2004 Columbus,Columbus Veterans Memorial Auditorium
25 May 2004 Buffalo,Shea’s Performing Arts Center
27 May 2004 ScrantonFord Pavilion at Montage Mountain
29 May 2004 Atlantic City,The Borgata Event Center
30 May 2004 Atlantic City The Borgata Event Centre
01 June 2004 Manchester, NH Verizon Wireless Arena
02 June 2004 Uncasville,Mohegan Sun Arena
04 June 2004 Wantagh,Tommy Hilfiger at Jones Beach Theatre
05 June 2004 Holmdel,PNC Bank Arts Center

Europe
11 June 2004 Amsterdam ,Netherlands ,Amsterdam Arena
13 June 2004 Isle of Wight ,England ,Seaclose Park
17 June 2004 Bergen ,Norway ,Koengen
18 June 2004 Oslo ,Frognerbadet
20 June 2004 Seinäjoki,Finland ,Provinssirock
23 June 2004 Prague ,Czech Republic ,T-Mobile Arena
25 June 2004 Scheeßel ,Germany ,Eichenring

On 19 August 2003 Bowie performed a one off show in Poughkeepsie, New York at The Chance, as a warm up show.
On 8 September 2003 Bowie performed a show at the Riverside Studios in London which was a ‘satellite show’. This was a live performance beamed via satellite to cinemas and theatres across Europe and due to time delay the following day across Asia, Australia,

North and South America.
Festivals and other miscellaneous performances
A This concert was a part of “Isle of Wight Festival”
B This concert was a part of “Bergen Festival”
C This concert was a part of “Norwegian Wood Festival”
D This concert was a part of “Provinssirock”
E This concert was a part of “Hurricane Festival”
Cancellations and rescheduled shows

12 November 2003 Toulouse ,Le Zénith ,de Toulouse Cancelled
06 December 2003 Atlantic City ,The Borgata Events Center – Rescheduled to 29 May 2004
07 December 2003 Fairfax,Patriot Center – Rescheduled to 16 May 2004
09 December 2003 Boston,Fleet Center – Rescheduled to 30 March 2004
10 December 2003 Philadelphia,Wachovia Center – Rescheduled to 29 March 2004
12 December 2003 Toronto,Air Canada Centre – Rescheduled to 1 April 2004
06 May 2004 Miami,James L. Knight Center –Cancelled
26 June 2004 Tuttlingen,Southside Festival –Cancelled
29 June 2004 Vienna,Schloss Schönbrunn –Cancelled
30 June 2004 Salzburg,Residenzplatz –Cancelled
02 July 2004 Roskilde,Roskilde Festival –Cancelled
04 July 2004 Werchter,Rock Werchter –Cancelled
06 July 2004 Ile De Gaou,Festival de la Gaou –Cancelled
07 July 2004 Carcassonne,Festival de la Cite –Cancelled
10 July 2004 KinrossBalado, T in the Park –Cancelled
11 July 2004 County Kildare,Oxegen Festival -Cancelled
14 July 2004 Bilbao,Bilbao Festival –Cancelled
16 July 2004 Compostela,Xacobeo Festival –Cancelled
17 July 2004 Oporto,The Dragon Festival –Cancelled
20 July 2004 Nyon,Paléo ,Festival Nyon –Cancelled
21 July 2004 Monte Carlo,Club du Sporting –Cancelled
23 July 2004 Carhaix,Vieilles Charrues Festival –Cancelled

Songs
Notation:
DVD/CD Included on A Reality Tour and A Reality Tour
CD Included on A Reality Tour
iTunes Available as Digital download bonus tracks (iTunes) for A Reality Tour
From Space Oddity
“Space Oddity”
From The Man Who Sold the World
“The Man Who Sold the World” DVD/CD
“The Supermen”
From Hunky Dory
“Changes” DVD/CD
“Life on Mars?” DVD/CD
“Quicksand”
“The Bewlay Brothers”
“Queen Bitch”
From The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
“Five Years” DVD/CD
“Starman”
“Hang on to Yourself” DVD/CD
“Ziggy Stardust” DVD/CD
“Suffragette City”
From Aladdin Sane
“Panic in Detroit”
“The Jean Genie”
From Diamond Dogs
“Diamond Dogs”
“Rebel Rebel” DVD/CD
From Young Americans
“Win”
“Fame” DVD/CD (Bowie, John Lennon, Carlos Alomar)
From Station to Station
“Station to Station”
“Golden Years”
From Low
“Breaking Glass” CD (Bowie, Dennis Davis, George Murray)
“Sound and Vision”
“Always Crashing in the Same Car”
“Be My Wife” DVD/CD
“A New Career in a New Town”
From “Heroes”
“Heroes” DVD/CD (Bowie, Brian Eno)
From Lodger
“Fantastic Voyage” DVD/CD (Bowie, Eno)
From Scary Monsters
“Ashes to Ashes” DVD/CD
“Fashion”
From Let’s Dance
“Modern Love”
“China Girl” CD (originally from The Idiot by Iggy Pop, written by Pop and Bowie)
“Let’s Dance”
From Tonight
“Loving the Alien” DVD/CD
“Blue Jean”
From Outside
“Hallo Spaceboy” DVD/CD (Bowie, Eno)
“The Motel” (Bowie, Eno) DVD/CD
From Earthling
“Battle for Britain (The Letter)” DVD/CD (Bowie, Reeves Gabrels, Mark Plati)
“I’m Afraid of Americans” DVD/CD (Bowie, Eno)
From Heathen
“Sunday” DVD/CD
“Cactus” DVD/CD (originally from Surfer Rosa by Pixies, written by Black Francis)
“Slip Away” DVD/CD
“Afraid” DVD/CD
“I’ve Been Waiting for You” (originally from Neil Young by Neil Young, written by Young)
“5:15 the Angels Have Gone” iTunes
“Heathen (The Rays)” DVD/CD
From Reality
“New Killer Star” DVD/CD
“Pablo Picasso”
“Never Get Old” DVD/CD
“The Loneliest Guy” DVD/CD
“Looking for Water”
“She’ll Drive the Big Car”
“Days” iTunes
“Fall Dog Bombs the Moon” CD
“Try Some, Buy Some”
“Reality” DVD/CD
“Bring Me the Disco King” DVD/CD

Other songs:
“A Hard Day’s Night” (from A Hard Day’s Night by The Beatles, written by Lennon and McCartney)
“All the Young Dudes” DVD/CD (from All the Young Dudes by Mott the Hoople, written by Bowie)
“Bang a Gong (Get It On)” (from Electric Warrior by T.Rex, written by Marc Bolan)
“Do You Know the Way to San José” (from Dionne Warwick in Valley of the Dolls by Dionne Warwick, written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David)
“Here Comes the Sun” (from Abbey Road by The Beatles, written by George Harrison)
“It Can’t Happen Here” (from Freak Out! by The Mothers of Invention, written by Frank Zappa)
“Liza Jane” (the first ever Bowie’s single, released under the name Davie Jones and the King Bees, written by Leslie Conn)
“Puppet on a String” (a single by Sandie Shaw, written by Bill Martin and Phil Coulter)
“Rumble” (a single by Link Wray & His Ray Men, written by Milt Grant and Link Wray)
“Sister Midnight” DVD/CD (from The Idiot by Iggy Pop, written by Pop, Bowie and Alomar)
“Song 2” (from Blur by Blur, written by Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, Alex James and Dave Rowntree)
“Summertime” (from the opera Porgy and Bess, written by George Gershwin, DuBose Heyward, Dorothy Heyward and Ira Gershwin)
“Under Pressure” DVD/CD (a single by Bowie and Queen from the Queen’s Hot Space, written by Bowie, John Deacon, Brian May, Freddie Mercury, Roger Taylor)
“White Light/White Heat” (from White Light/White Heat by The Velvet Underground, written by Lou Reed)
“Y.M.C.A.” (from Cruisin’ by Village People, written by Henri Belolo, Jacques Morali and Victor Willis)