Back in Poole to play Lighthouse and ready to deliver a crash course for the ravers, The Bowie Experience is widely regarded as one of the most authentic tributes to the musical and creative genius of David Bowie.
Founded by Dorset-based frontman Laurence Knight in 1997, the show has been constantly refreshed to include different songs, but remains a loving celebration of Bowie’s golden years enjoyed by tens of thousands of Bowie fans all over the world.
“All I’ve ever tried to do with The Bowie Experience is do the best I can by David and by his fans, because they are who I play for,” says Laurence. “I’ve worked incredibly hard at it and been honoured to feature on David’s website in his lifetime and to have performed these songs in some incredible places.”
Now, he’s bringing the show back to its roots in Poole.
“When I was finding my feet I used to do solo pub gigs, but the full band shows took shape at the much-missed Mr Kyps venue in Ashley Cross, Poole, so this is me bringing The Bowie Experience back home.
“Those shows were such good fun and the band was all together so I’m really happy to have the original guitarist Mark Arnold and keyboards player Stuart Darling back in the fold. The Bowie Experience band is amazing, they’ll play the parts but it’s an interpretation and they’re able to bring something extra that somehow elevates the live show.”
A Bowie fan man and boy, Laurence is incredibly protective of the material and knows it inside out, including album tracks and fan favourites alongside the classic hits in a two-hour show. His partner Amy makes his incredible costumes and for all that he downplays his stage craft – “No, really, I’m just a bloke who sings the songs” – everything is true to the spirit of the originals.
“It has to be because these songs mean so much to so many people. I have four basic costume changes in the set and they all have to feel authentically Bowie.
“That’s why I don’t do Ziggy any more. I still play the songs, but coming on as Ziggy – who had a very specific way of moving and behaving on stage and was only a tiny part of David’s 58-year career anyway – would be too limiting. Instead, I can do the songs from that era in a post-Ziggy costume that is true to how David approached them later in his career.
“They’re great songs to play, but I’m not an actor or a cabaret artiste, The Bowie Experience is my version of those songs. I’m not trained in pretending, my background is playing in bands and that’s what I do.”
The band:
Laurence Knight – lead vocal, acoustic guitar, saxophone and ‘David’.
Mark Arnold – Lead guitar. The Bowie Experience’s original lead guitarist rejoined the band after lockdown. Also gigs with Loose Chippings, Dumb Poets and others.
Simon Wood – Second lead guitar. Well known locally from many years with The Stilettos, now also gigging with Groovemeister.
Stuart Darling – Keyboards. An original member of The Bowie Experience, plays with many other projects, runs Bandeoke at Aruba and conducts orchestras.
Dave Eales – Drums. Almost legendary figure on the local music scene with a professional career spanning more than 30 years in international touring bands.
Clare Manners – Saxophone, flute. Professional sax player with a wealth of experience at home and abroad.
Leona Passow – Backing vocals. Much in-demand, Leona is a fantastic singer with a talent for fitting in and making the lead vocalist sound even better.
:: The Bowie Experience is at Lighthouse on Friday 25 October. Tickets available now at https://www.lighthousepoole.co.uk/event/the-bowie-experience/
(NC)