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David Bowie Appearances on Top Of The Pops


DAVID BOWIE LIVE TOTP APPEARANCES, PROMO VIDEOS, DISCS AND RELATED ARTISTS
ARTIST SONG YEAR DATE SHOW PRESENTER and ADDITIONAL INFO TYPE ARCHIVE
David Bowie Space Oddity 1969 9th October Peter Murray
David's first live performance on the programme. David performed the song in Studio G, which was separate from the main studio audience. The performance was recorded on October 2nd.
Performance
[Photo]
No
1969
David Bowie Space Oddity 1969 16th October Alan Freeman Repeat Performance No
1971
Peter Noone / David Bowie Oh! You Pretty Things 1971 27th May Tony Blackburn
David's second live performance on the programme playing piano
Performance No
Peter Noone Oh! You Pretty Things 1971 3rd June Jimmy Savile Disc No
Peter Noone / David Bowie Oh! You Pretty Things 1971 10th June Tony Blackburn Repeat Performance No
1972
David Bowie Starman 1972 6th July Tony Blackburn
David's third live performance on the programme. The backing track was recorded at Trident Studios on 29th June 1972 and the performance filmed on 5th July 1972. Robin Lumley plays piano.
Performance
[Photo]
Yes
David Bowie Starman 1972 20th July Noel Edmonds Repeat Performance No
Mott The Hoople All The Young Dudes 1972 3rd August Jimmy Savile Performance No
Mott The Hoople All The Young Dudes 1972 10th August Ed Stewart Performance No
Mott The Hoople All The Young Dudes 1972 24th August Jimmy Savile Repeat Performance No
David Bowie John I'm Only Dancing 1972 21st September Ed Stewart Disc No
David Bowie John I'm Only Dancing 1972 28th September Tony Blackburn
TOTP refused to broadcast the Mick Rock directed promo film, or even an edited version. They informed MainMan "we decide what goes on our programme and we will not use your film", instead TOTP used a film of four bikers at a London gas works along with Ruth Pearson from Pan's People dancing
Promo Video
BBC commission
Yes
David Bowie John I'm Only Dancing 1972 12th October Noel Edmonds Disc No
David Bowie The Jean Genie 1972 14th December Ed Stewart Promo Video No
David Bowie The Jean Genie 1972 21st December Tony Blackburn Disc No
1973
David Bowie The Jean Genie 1973 4th January Jimmy Savile
David's fourth live performance on the programme performed on 3rd January in Studio TC8 at the BBC Television Centre.
Take 3 was used for the broadcast. This footage was unearthed in cameraman John Henshall archives in 2011. Film debut at BFI Southbank (NFT1): Missing Believed Wiped 11/12/11.
Performance
[Photo]
[Watal Asanuma in-studio photos]
[Screen Grab]
[RealAudio]
Yes
David Bowie The Jean Genie 1973 11th January Noel Edmonds Disc No
David Bowie Drive In Saturday 1973 18th May Noel Edmonds Promo Video
BBC commission
No
David Bowie Life On Mars? 1973 13th July Tony Blackburn Promo Video No
David Bowie Life On Mars? 1973 27th July Jimmy Savile Promo Video No
David Bowie The Laughing Gnome 1973 4th October Jimmy Savile, Tony Blackburn, Noel Edmonds, Kenny Everett Promo Video
BBC commission
No
David Bowie Sorrow 1973 25th October Jimmy Savile Disc No
David Bowie Starman 1973 27th December Jimmy Savile
For Christmas 1973, rather than showing a second Christmas edition, a special programme 'Ten Years of Pop Music, 1964-74' was made. Jimmy Savile looks back over the last ten years of Top of the Pops and introduces artists on film and in the studio. Note: This programme was kept in the BBC archives and the sole reason why they still had a copy of 'Starman'. Presumably after this show was made, 'Space Oddity', 'Oh! You Pretty Things' and 'The Jean Genie' were all then wiped.
Repeat Performance Yes
1974
Lulu The Man Who Sold The World 1974 10th January Johnnie Walker Performance No
Lulu The Man Who Sold The World 1974 24th January Jimmy Savile Performance No
Lulu The Man Who Sold The World 1974 7th February Tony Blackburn Performance No
David Bowie Rebel Rebel 1974 21st February Emperor Rosko
David Bowie was scheduled to perform live on this episode, but was unable to appear. Earlier on 18th February, Robin Nash (TOTP producer) contacted Ronnie Fowler (head of EMI promotion) stating that he urgently needed a live replacement. So we got an unknown band named Queen performing 'Seven Seas Of Rhye' instead. Rebel Rebel was played over the chart rundown
NA NA
David Bowie Rebel Rebel 1974 28th February Dave Lee Travis Disc No
Pan's People / David Bowie Rebel Rebel 1974 7th March Greg Edwards
Dance troupe performed to backing track
Performance No
David Bowie Knock On Wood 1974 4th October Jimmy Savile Promo Video
BBC commission
Yes
1975
David Bowie Young Americans 1975 6th March Jimmy Savile
Live performance film footage taken from ABC USA TV show Dick Cavett's 'Wide World of Entertainment' show originally broadcast 5th December 1974 (recorded 2nd November)
Repeat Performance No
David Bowie Fame 1975 14th August Dave Lee Travis Disc No
David Bowie Space Oddity 1975 16th October Noel Edmonds Promo Video No
David Bowie Space Oddity 1975 30th October Ed Stewart Promo Video No
David Bowie Space Oddity 1975 6th November Jimmy Savile Promo Video No
David Bowie Space Oddity 1975 13th November Noel Edmonds Promo Video No
David Bowie Golden Years 1975 4th December Jimmy Savile Special No
David Bowie Golden Years 1975 18th December Dave Lee Travis Special No
Pan's People / David Bowie Space Oddity 1975 23rd December Dave Lee Travis, Jimmy Savile
Dance troupe performed to backing track
Performance Yes
David Bowie Space Oddity 1975 23rd December Dave Lee Travis, Jimmy Savile Disc Yes
1976
Ruby Flipper / David Bowie TVC 15 1976 27th May Jimmy Savile
Dance troupe performed to backing track
Performance Yes
1977
Legs and Co / David Bowie Sound And Vision 1977 3rd March Jimmy Savile
Dance troupe performed to backing track
Disc No
David Bowie "Heroes" 1977 20th October Dave Lee Travis
David's fifth live performance on the programme. The backing-track recorded at Good Earth Studios features Tony Visconti on bass, Ricky Gardiner on guitar and Sean Mayes on piano
Performance Yes
David Bowie "Heroes" 1977 3rd November Peter Powell Repeat Performance Yes
1979
David Bowie Boys Keep Swinging 1979 24th May David Jensen Promo Video Yes
David Bowie John I'm Only Dancing 1979 20th December Jimmy Savile
The Mick Rock promo film finally broadcast second time around for the reissued single, after originally being banned in 1972
Promo Video Yes
1980
David Bowie John I'm Only Dancing 1980 3rd January Peter Powell Promo Video Yes
David Bowie Ashes To Ashes 1980 14th August Roger Daltrey, Tommy Vance Promo Video Yes
David Bowie Ashes To Ashes 1980 21st August Steve Wright, Cliff Richard Promo Video Yes
David Bowie Ashes To Ashes 1980 28th August Peter Powell, B.A.Robertson Promo Video Yes
Legs and Co / David Bowie Fashion 1980 30th October Peter Powell, Colin Berry
Dance troupe performed to backing track
Performance Yes
David Bowie Fashion 1980 13th November Simon Bates Promo Video Yes
David Bowie Ashes To Ashes 1980 25th December Jimmy Savile, Peter Powell Promo Video Yes
1981
Legs and Co / David Bowie Up The Hill Backwards 1981 9th April Mike Read
Dance troupe performed to backing track
Performance Yes
Zoo / Queen and David Bowie Under Pressure 1981 19th November Steve Wright
Dance troupe performed to backing track
Performance Yes
Queen and David Bowie Under Pressure 1981 31st December Mike Read Promo Video Yes
1982
Zoo / David Bowie Cat People (Putting Out Fire) 1982 22nd April Peter Powell
Dance troupe performed to backing track
Performance Yes
Bauhaus Ziggy Stardust 1982 7th October Jimmy Savile Performance Yes
Bauhaus Ziggy Stardust 1982 21st October Peter Powell Performance Yes
David Bowie and Bing Crosby Peace On Earth/Little Drummer Boy 1982 9th December Simon Bates
Film taken from Bing Crosby's 'Merrie Olde Christmas' TV show filmed at Elstree Studios, Borehamwood on 11th September 1977
Promo Video Yes
David Bowie and Bing Crosby Peace On Earth/Little Drummer Boy 1982 23rd December David Jensen Promo Video Yes
1983
David Bowie Let's Dance 1983 23rd March John Peel, David Jensen Promo Video Yes
David Bowie Let's Dance 1983 7th April Simon Bates, Peter Powell Promo Video Yes
David Bowie Let's Dance 1983 14th April Andy Peebles, Gary Davies Promo Video Yes
David Bowie Let's Dance 1983 21st April Richard Skinner, Janice Long Promo Video Yes
David Bowie Starman 1983 5th May Dave Lee Travis, Steve Wright, John Peel, Gary Davies, Mike Smith, Paul Gambaccini, Peter Powell, Simon Bates, Tommy Vance, Richard Skinner, David Jacobs, Mike Read, Tony Blackburn, Noel Edmonds, David Jensen, Janice Long, Jimmy Savile Repeat Performance Yes
David Bowie China Girl 1983 8th June David Jensen, John Peel Promo Video Yes
David Bowie Modern Love 1983 22nd September Mike Read, Simon Bates Promo Video Yes
David Bowie Modern Love 1983 6th October David Jensen, John Peel Promo Video Yes
David Bowie White Light/White Heat 1983 November - Promo Video Yes
David Bowie Let's Dance 1983 25th December Simon Bates, Janice Long, Mike Smith, Andy Peebles Promo Video Yes
1984
David Bowie Blue Jean 1984 20th September Andy Peebles, Steve Wright Promo Video Yes
1985
David Bowie and Mick Jagger Dancing In The Street 1985 5th September Peter Powell, Mike Smith Promo Video Yes
David Bowie and Mick Jagger Dancing In The Street 1985 12th September Steve Wright, Mike Read Promo Video Yes
David Bowie and Mick Jagger Dancing In The Street 1985 19th September Simon Bates, Peter Powell Promo Video Yes
David Bowie and Mick Jagger Dancing In The Street 1985 26th September Dixie Peach, Janice Long Promo Video Yes
David Bowie and Mick Jagger Dancing In The Street 1985 25th December John Peel, Janice Long, Dixie Peach, Steve Wright, Gary Davies, Jonathan King Promo Video Yes
1986
David Bowie Absolute Beginners 1986 13th March Mike Smith, Steve Wright Promo Video Yes
David Bowie Underground 1986 26th June Mike Smith Promo Video Yes
1987
David Bowie Day-In Day-Out 1987 16th April Peter Powell, Janice Long Promo Video Yes
David Bowie Time Will Crawl 1987 UNBROADCAST -
David's sixth live performance on the programme. This performance went unseen until the Christmas special show when a short clip was broadcast
Full Performance
Performance
Yes
David Bowie Never Let Me Down 1987 16th September -
David's seventh live performance on the programme. First live performance for the USA version of Top Of The Pops
Performance Yes
1988
David Bowie Starman 1988 31st December David Jacobs, Pete Murray, Alan Freeman, Kenny Everett, David Jensen, Simon Bates, Mark Goodier, Peter Powell, Tony Blackburn, Mike Read, Paul Gambaccini, Jimmy Savile, David Hamilton Repeat Performance Yes
1989
David Bowie and Mick Jagger Dancing In The Street 1989 28th December Paul Gambaccini, Mike Read Promo Video Yes
1990
Bruce Dickinson All The Young Dudes 1990 28th June Gary Davies Promo Video Yes
1991
Tin Machine You Belong In Rock N' Roll 1991 29th August Mark Goodier
David's eighth live performance on the programme. David and the band introduce the opening of the show
Performance Yes
Tin Machine Baby Universal 1991 24th October Tony Dortie, Mark Franklin
David's ninth live performance on the programme
Performance Yes
1994
David Bowie Starman 1994 4th January Smashie and Nicey (aka Harry Enfield, Paul Whitehouse) guest present 30th Anniversary Special Repeat Performance Yes
Band Aid Do They Know It's Christmas 1994 4th January Smashie and Nicey (aka Harry Enfield, Paul Whitehouse) guest present 30th Anniversary Special
David introduces the world premiere of the Band Aid video
Promo Video with Bowie intro Yes
1995
David Bowie Strangers When We Meet 1995 9th November Lee Evans
David's tenth live performance on the programme
Performance Yes
1996
David Bowie featuring The Pet Shop Boys Hallo Spaceboy 1996 29th February Nicky Campbell
David's eleventh live performance on the programme
Performance Yes
1997
David Bowie Dead Man Walking 1997 25th April Dannii Minogue
David's twelfth live performance on the programme. David wearing his Union Jack frockcoat, leather trousers and a collarless shirt
Performance Yes
Various Artists Perfect Day 1997 28th November Mark Lamarr Promo Video Yes
Various Artists Perfect Day 1997 5th December Jayne Middlemiss Promo Video Yes
1998
Various Artists Perfect Day 1998 9th January Jo Whiley Promo Video Yes
1999
David Bowie Thursday's Child 1999 24th September Jamie Theakston
Pre-recorded in August in New York City, USA
Performance
[Photo]
Yes
David Bowie Survive 1999 24th September Jamie Theakston
Pre-recorded in August in New York City, USA
Performance
[Photo]
Yes
David Bowie Thursday's Child 1999 1st October Jayne Middlemiss Repeat Performance Yes
Queen and David Bowie Under Pressure (Rah Mix) 1999 December - Video Yes
2002
David Bowie Slow Burn 2002 7th June Jamie Theakston
Live footage pre-recorded 2nd June at Kaufman Studios, New York City, USA
TOTP2 Special
Performance
Yes
David Bowie Fame 2002 18th June -
Live footage pre-recorded 2nd June at Kaufman Studios, New York City, USA
TOTP2 Special
Performance
Yes
David Bowie I Took A Trip On A Gemini Spaceship 2002 19th June -
Live footage pre-recorded 2nd June at Kaufman Studios, New York City, USA
TOTP2 Special Yes
David Bowie Everyone Says Hi 2002 27th September Sarah Cawood
Live footage pre-recorded 2nd June at Kaufman Studios, New York City, USA
TOTP2 Special Yes
2003
David Bowie New Killer Star 2003 September -
Promo Video Yes
2007
David Gilmour / David Bowie Arnold Layne 2007 6th January -
Promo Video filmed live at The Royal Albert Hall, London on 29th May 2006
Promo Video Yes
2011
David Bowie The Jean Genie 2011 21st December Mark Radcliffe
David's fourth live performance on the programme performed on 3rd January in Studio TC8 at the BBC Television Centre.
This footage was unearthed in cameraman John Henshall archives in 2011
TOTP2 Christmas Show
Repeat Performance
[Photo]
[Screen Grab]
Yes
David Bowie The Jean Genie 2011 24th December Mark Radcliffe
David's fourth live performance on the programme performed on 3rd January in Studio TC8 at the BBC Television Centre.
This footage was unearthed in cameraman John Henshall archives in 2011
TOTP2 Christmas Show (R)
Repeat Performance
[Photo]
[Screen Grab]
Yes
2012
David Bowie "Heroes" 2012 6th January Originally broadcast on 20th October 1977 BBC 4 TOTP: 1977
Repeat Performance
Yes
2013
David Bowie Love Is Lost 2013 31st December Fearne Cotton, Reggie Yates
New Year's Eve show
Promo Video Yes


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Created: January 2005 © P KinderLast Updated: 3/10/2023