David Bowie Tin Machine Newcastle Mayfair Tuesday 5 November 1991
For my concert memory today I’m jumping ahead a few Bowie concerts to the Tin Machine era.
When I heard that David Bowie was coming to Newcastle Mayfair with his new band Tin Machine, I couldn’t believe it. Yes Bowie was stressing that “Tin Machine are a band” and that this was a new project, but hey come on, this was David Bowie coming to the Mayfair Ballroon, which he hadn’t played since the early 70s and pre-Hunky Dory days. The tickets went on sale on a Saturday morning, so I went through early to queue. I got there an hour or so before the box office opened and to my surprise there was hardly anyone there. So I joined the small queue and got my tickets without any problems at all. My daughter Ashleigh came along to the show with me. I hadn’t had the chance to hear the Tin Machine album, so didn’t know any of the songs (which was a mistake). I was hoping that Bowie would through in some classics, but suspected that he might not, and indeed it wasn’t to be. The place was full, and the set was all new Tin Machine stuff, and was thus totally unfamiliar to me. It was great to see David Bowie close up again in a small venue, but to be honest I found the songs weak, wasn’t impressed and we left before the end of the gig. This experience put me off seeing Bowie again for some time, and I missed the next couple of tours out (big mistake). On reflection, like many others I didn’t give Tin Machine a real chance. I had a fixed model in my mind of what David Bowie should be, and Tin Machine was just too much of a departure from his past. I should have gone to that gig with a more opne mind. Setlist was something like: I’ve Been Waiting For You; Goodbye Mr. Ed; Bus Stop; Under The God; A Big Hurt; Shopping for Girls; Stateside; I Can’t Read; Baby Universal; Sacrifice Yourself; Betty Wrong; You Can’t Talk; Go Now; Debaser; If There Is Something; Heaven’s In Here; You Belong in Rock & Roll; Crack City. Tomorrow I’ll go back again to the late 70s and the Low tour which came to Newcastle City Hall in 1978.
12 Jan
Vintagerock's Weblog. 
Posted by Push on January 12, 2012 at 1:43 pm
I was also very wary of Tin Machine and I passed up a couple of opportunities to see them play live. I don’t regret that, though. I think you’re right in saying the songs were weak and I really don’t think the context suited Bowie.
Posted by chris meehan on October 18, 2012 at 10:16 pm
Seen them 3 times,twice on this tour 2nd nov wolverhampton civic hall and 6th liverpool.royal court…also seen them in 89,newport center 1st july all great close up gigs.
Posted by Lily Decarlo on April 27, 2025 at 11:45 am
I was at the very front for this gig quite amazing to see Bowie so up close .Wasn’t a great fan of this music but really enjoyed the whole experience.
Posted by vintagerock on April 27, 2025 at 4:14 pm
Agree Lily
Peter
Posted by Sharon Hill on August 1, 2013 at 6:56 pm
I am a huge Bowie fan and had the opportunity to see this gig and it blew me away ….
Not sure whether it was the music , the chance to be so close to my hero or what but I loved this gig and got to meet the band afterwards…..
Posted by Robert on June 25, 2020 at 6:14 pm
I was at the same concert and thoroughly enjoyed it. As it happens, TM1 was the first Bowie album I bought, so my perspective was different. I grew up through the Let’s Dance period and it didn’t really do much for me. The harder edge of TM led me to reconsider Bowie.
I remember hearing about the tickets from a Metro Radio announcement when driving through Newcastle. Did a swift u-turn and was astonished to find they hadn’t sold out.
On the night, I have a distinct memory of the balcony looking very precarious from the weight of dancing people.
Also annexed
Posted by vintagerock on June 25, 2020 at 7:56 pm
Thanks Robert
It was the only time my daughter saw Bowie and she thought it was great. It was great to see him so close again
Happy days Peter
Posted by Shar hill on February 24, 2021 at 11:03 am
One of the best gigs …. I was right at the front . I met him the following morning ❤
Posted by vintagerock on February 24, 2021 at 11:10 am
Hi Shar you are so lucky to have met the great man himself. I am so jealous. Happy days Peter