Recorded in 1987 for the King Biscuit broadcast from David Bowie’s Glass Spider Tour, this interview contains two different recordings. The first part is a formal sit-down with Bowie aimed at promoting the tour. He talks in depth about the tour’s production, as well as the meanings behind the theatrics. It is not only a testament to Bowie’s hard work and dedication to putting on a great show, but also to his artistic merit, as his explanations regarding the meanings behind different aspects of the show prove that every detail was the result of a greater vision.
The second part of the interview seems to be from a chance encounter, where David was caught at a bar after a show. It is a more relaxed chat, with highlights including talk about his work on a Monty Python movie and joking about driving his glass spider.
Part 1 00:00 – Preparing for interviews 00:47 – Nervousness and depression in anticipation of the tour 02:55 – Theatrics for the tour 03:40 – Not getting rusty between tours / staying healthy 05:18 – A self-indulgent tour 05:50 – Similarities between past tours and the Glass Spider Tour 07:37 – Elements of past tours in the Glass Spider Tour 08:13 – Writing songs based on Brian Eno’s habit of writing down dreams 09:53 – The choreography for the tour (by Toni Basil) 12:05 – The video for the tour / photographing dance 14:40 – The meanings behind the show 17:41 – Fascination with contradictions 18:36 – Different audiences: British, German, Italian, American 20:57 – Becoming comfortable with the show 21:57 – Comfort on stage vs. in studio 23:30 – The physical exertion of the show (for band and audience) 25:31 – The potential for growth within the shows 26:48 – Being daring 27:12 – Favorite pieces of the show 29:11 – Potential for being the final tour 30:23 – Thoughts on touring the USA
Part 2 00:00 – Sneaking out the back doors during tours 00:46 – The hardest part of meeting the press 01:25 – What’s left to do 02:10 – The acting career / working on Yellowbeard 04:17 – Performing a stadium-sized show 05:08 – Driving a glass spider