David Bowie Empire Pool Wembley London 8th May 1976
A car load of us went to this gig, which was the last of a series of 6 shows at Wembley Empire Pool in 1976. These were Bowie’s only UK gigs and were his first in the country since 1973. We’d sent our postal orders off through the mail and had been allocated our seats; mine was Entrance 55 Row K seat 45. We were all very excited about seeing Bowie again, not quite knowing what to expect. There had been a lot written about these gigs in the music press and anticipation was high. I drove us down to London, and we stayed at my mate’s aunt’s house in Walthamstow after the gig, driving back the next morning. The drive down wasn’t without incident in that we broke down just past Wetherby, and waited for a friendly AA man who got us going again and on our way.
My memories of the gig are quite strong. The Empire Pool (now Wembley Arena; having been rebuilt) was a cold, cavernous shed. Arena gigs were still by no means the norm in those days and places like the Empire Pool hadn’t been designed with concerts in mind at all.
There was no support act, instead the avant garde black and white film Un Chien Andalo was shown before Bowie took to the stage. I still recall one segment, showing a razor blade cutting into an eyeball. The whole set up and lighting were built around a black and white concept. The stage was bathed in white light, and Bowie and the band wore black trousers, white shirts. The programme (left) entitled ISOLAR (I still don’t know what that means?…) was a newspaper with pictures and no text, very arty. This was a gig which, at the time, I didn’t quite get. It was just too different to the rock n roll splendour and sass of Ziggy for me. However, I would love to go back again now and revisit it. The set was a mixture of Bowie classics and tracks from the recent (then) Station to Station lp. These were performed in the white soulboy manner that Bowie was getting into at that stage. On the day I remember feeling some disappointment at what we experienced at that gig. Looking back it was pretty clever, great theatre, and a massive development from Ziggy. Wish I could go back and see it again (has anybody got a time machine?). Setlist: Station to Station; Suffragette City; Fame; Word On A Wing; Stay; Waiting For The Man; Queen Bitch; Life on Mars?; Five Years; Panic in Detroit; Changes; TVC15; Diamond Dogs; Rebel Rebel; The Jean Genie
10 Jan
Vintagerock's Weblog. 
Posted by fred smith on August 16, 2012 at 3:52 pm
My first concert at the age of 15 and the memory still stays with me today (2012).Mr Bowie and band were magnificent.
Posted by chris meehan on October 18, 2012 at 9:37 pm
Went on Friday 7th,also my first bowie gig and 15 years old myself….unforgetable !
Posted by Francoleon Dollarhyde on May 3, 2014 at 11:40 am
I always wanted to know something.
Did The Duke Undress himself, I mean his shoes, socks, and shirt.
Posted by Keith Worley on May 19, 2020 at 12:20 am
I went to the concert in 76, made the trip down from Manchester as the 5 nights at Wembley Empire Pool were the only concerts in the UK. Fantastic concert, although as stated the Empire Pool was not a great venue acoustically.
Posted by vintagerock on May 19, 2020 at 11:36 am
Happy days. The thin White Duke; so cool cheers Peter
Posted by Ashley Oulton on June 29, 2020 at 3:40 pm
Great article. I was there at Wembley too on Saturday, 8th May. I absolutely loved it! I had a restricted view ticket so at the side of the stage but it was amazing because Bowie kept coming off stage right next to use to have a cheeky Gitanes and a drink during the set so although we were watching him from the back most of the time when he was performing we got to see him close up. It was an incredible atmosphere outside before the gig with lots of Ziggy’s and thin white dukes. The reason I just found your blog as I watched his Glastonbury performance on BBC iplayer this morning and he played Station to Station with the same extended intro which I absolutely love. \Thanks again for bringing it all back.
Posted by vintagerock on June 29, 2020 at 5:54 pm
Happy days Ashley and happy memories of the Thin White Duke cheers Peter
Posted by Thomas Fitzgerald on August 14, 2025 at 8:26 pm
I missed the gig but I did manage the see Bowie when he arrived in London by train at Victoria Station. Waited all afternoon and he eventually arrived waving and smiling on an open topped carriage. He shook hands with a few of us on the platform before being whisked away. Great day and well worth the walk in from Kilburn High Road where I worked.