Photo: Michael Ochs Archive/Getty
Last week a ludicrous rumor made the rounds that David Bowie was going to revive Ziggy Stardust at Coachella. Obviously, when the artist lineup made the rounds his name was nowhere to be seen. About two and a half years ago Bowie himself announced he was going to return to the stage. It was going to be the culminating event of the High Line Festival, curated by Bowie. “His live performance will be enjoyed by tens of thousands of spectators at the festival itself,” read the press release. “Millions more will experience the concert online and on satellite radio.” Months later came the bad news: “Due to ongoing work on a new project, David Bowie has announced that it will not be possible for him to perform at the Highline Festival in May.”
Needless to say, his “new project” hasn’t seen the light of day. He also hasn’t performed in public since joining David Gilmour at the Royal Albert Hall for a couple of tracks in the summer of 2006. What’s going on here? The mysterious absence comes just when Bowie was on a huge creative roll. 2002’s Heathen and 2003’s Reality — his first albums with producer Tony Visconti since 1980 — were stellar returns to form. The accompanying tour was even better. Backed his best band since the Spiders From Mars and with Bowie in flawless voice, the show mixed hits (”Changes,” “Rebel Rebel”) with rarities (”Station To Station,” “Hallo Spaceboy”) and covers (”White Light, White Heat”). Every night ended with a block of songs from The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust & The Spiders From Mars. It ranks high among the greatest shows I’ve ever seen. If you doubt me, check out this clip of “Five Years.”
Bowie hasn’t pulled a J.D. Salinger and retreated into his house. Two weeks ago he was all over the Sundance Film Festival. He’s also a regular on the New York black-tie fundraiser circuit. Bowie suffered a massive heart attack at the tail end of the Reality Tour, but that was five years ago. The longest distance between albums prior to this was two and a half years. It’s going to be six in September. The man has every right to retire and his health problems may worse than people realize, but let’s hope he’s in tip-top shape and gearing up for a glorious return. Coachella 2010?