David Bowie Major Tom Space Odyssey
I have
acquired a different version of this song than the one I grew up with. I had a black cassette tape of Changes 1 David Bowie. I always liked his music. His persona was at a greater distance from me. Granted it was 1982 or so. His
trippy stuff was from the 70s. His persona as Ziggy Stardust. But it was all David Bowie. His performances were a key to his magic.
I passed up a show in 1984 - David Bowie, Peter Gabriel, and the Tubes. My buddy, Mark, raved about it. A worthy,
trippy show. I finally saw him in 1987. A life-changing period and a wicked show. Georgia Satellites, Duran Duran, and David Bowie - Glass Spider Tour.
Satellites were
rockin. We were late. No Booze Allowed at the gate. Good thing we ate all those
shrooms.
The problem with getting intoxicated before a concert is the drug becomes the experience. I loved the music, but we had our own show going on.
When Challenger blew up in 1986 (73 seconds after take-off), I recorded a radio broadcast of its immediate and utter failure.
I kept it for years, waiting to follow it up with Space Odyssey for a killer intro to a mixed tape. It never happened.
Ground Control to Major Tom, commencing countdown, engines on.
Check ignition and may God's love be with you.
By this time, in 2010, I keep few cassettes, and my current version of Space Odyssey is not even a CD - digital only. I could probably find the original Challenger broadcast. Today's technology makes it easy.
Technology allows me to get this photo and read all about Challenger, Bowie and 1986. Because a teacher was going into space, many students watched. I only heard the radio broadcast. That was enough. Today is the anniversary of that explosion.
By Gregg Koep and Linda Hughes
Posts
