THE BOWIE EXPERIENCE

Interview with Laurence Knight (Bowie). I’m guessing hard-core Bowie fans can get quite emotional at your shows. How does that emotion manifest itself? You guess right. Just about all emotions are on display from sadness to joy, from riotousness to introspection. The reactions are as diverse as people are – shouldn’t be any surprise, should it? Bowie was a multi-instrumentalist, playing – most notably – sax, piano and guitar live and on record. Are you similarly blessed? Blessed? Ha! You make it sound like you can pick these skills from a tree. Like all musicians I have worked at learning to use the tools of my trade and continue to work at it – it’s a life-long project. I play acoustic guitar pretty well; saxophone a bit, but not so good; the piano I use as a work station and can make my way round the keyboard slowly. Do you own any Bowie memorabilia? Yes, but you know it’s a funny thing, I’ve never sought it out or bought any. Kind-hearted people have given me stuff. Isn’t that nice? Do you think somewhere in the world a tribute to Tin Machine exists? Are you a fan of this Bowie offshoot? Now this is where a lot of David Bowie fans would disagree with me. I thought Tin Machine were a breath of fresh and corrupt stale air all in one lungful: a real hit. We have performed some of their songs and would love the opportunity to do more, and in fact and know there is a Tin Machine tribute act, they are Italian, in Italy. Do you have to work hard to stay in shape to play Bowie? Particularly during the Thin White Duke era? Bowie as Elvis in his later years wouldn’t be good, would it? The thing is to remember how active you were when you were a child (of course that doesn’t apply to the current crop of thumb twitchers) and try to keep at it as much as you can. Also, when you were a child you ate to grow; when you stop growing you should change your diet to that of an adult, someone who isn’t growing anymore. If you do that, any gym exercise or jogging or suchlike is just the cherry on the cake, it’s common sense really. Did you ever get to meet the great man?

Yes, and yes he was great in ways you might anticipate and in ways you might not. There’s no getting away from it: Bowie’s death has increased demand for shows such as yours. How do you answer accusations that such shows are merely a ‘cashing in’ on his passing? Yes, I know some so-called Bowie acts that have sprung up since David died. I guess it’s the deplorable aspect of human nature to mine whatever resource is available, regardless of the morality. To answer the accusation though, if it’s aimed at me/us – I started Bowie Experience in September 1997, so that’s 20 years now. The accusation if it’s aimed at me is irrelevant. Where were you when you found out he’d died? Did you join crowds who gathered in areas of London to pay tribute? I was at home when I heard the news. I didn’t join the crowds in Brixton or any other public gathering. The truth is, I couldn’t move even if I’d wanted to because as the news spread I was inundated with messages from bereft fans, enquiries for shows and media interviews. I was very flattered that at that time Radio 4 interviewed me for a documentary. I’ve been performing my Bowie show for 20 years now, for which I am grateful. That’s my tribute. Visit: www.bowieexperience.com