When Bowie wowed the King’s Lynn crowd
Ye Olde Maydens Heade - Tuesday Market Place, King's Lynn
News that David Bowie has topped the charts again with his 66th birthday single, Where Are We Now?, reminded one Lynn man of an early appearance in the town by the famous singer.
George Chappell, 70, of Hillington Square, who used to book Sunday night bands at the then Maids Head – now Ye Olde Maydens Heade – pub in Tuesday Market Place in the 1960s, recalled one particular booking in 1966.
He said: “I was offered a band called David Bowie and the Buzz for £20 for the entire band. Colin Atkinson, the landlord, thought they were too expensive, but we let them play because I believed that the singer could progress.
“We were charging five shillings (25p) to gain admission. On talking to Bowie, I understood it was his very last gig with the Buzz.”
Until the mid-60s, David Bowie had been using his real name Davy (or Davie) Jones. But as this invited possible confusion with Davy Jones of The Monkees, he chose David Bowie as his stage name. He also became particularly well-known during the ‘70s glam rock era under his alter ego, Ziggy Stardust.
David Bowie’s latest single, written and recorded by him in New York, topped the UK ITunes Chart within hours of its release on Tuesday, his birthday.
Mr Chappell, a well-known character around Lynn, said the Sunday live acts at the Maids Head at that time had often appeared at the Boston Gliderdrome the previous night.
He said David Essex and his band made regular appearances in Lynn and some members of the Tea Time Four went on to join famous rock band Bad Company.
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Weather for King's Lynn
Sunday 19 May 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 10 C to 16 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 9 C to 15 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: North
