David Bowie: Glass Spider

I remember watching this on TV, back in the day, and thinking it was one of the best things I'd ever seen on television. It's still a good show today.

Of course, this is a concert, and it's about the music. It's David Bowie, so what else needs to be said? I'm not even a fan really, but they've gathered together here his most accessible and popular pieces, and the result is very enjoyable. That voice is irreplaceable. It helps if you already know the lyrics through (or through the wonders of the internet, you just look them up...). I gained a new respect for the music this second time around.

The visual elements are showing their age, particularly on VHS (hey, the thing still works!). If only Bowie had had access to digital HD like today's performers do. Still, this is a fun time capsule from the late '80s.

The dancing is low-key but theatrical, and I liked it, although some others didn't. Your mileage may vary.

OK, the spider thing is a bit silly, and whatever little story they tried to weave with it didn't really work. But you remembered it after two decades, didn't you? I think that's the point.

Now that it's out on DVD, this irredeemably embarrassing and excruciatingly funny spectacle is graven for posterity! In search of a persona and fighting to stay inside rock's credibility jungle, the Great Man cowls behind a self-aggrandizing third-rate variety extravaganza, 80's style, by descending from a giant glass spider, instantly reminiscent of the tacky flying saucer from which the Electric Light Orchestra used to emerge. The embarrassment level of the on-stage antics seriously rivals that of Kiss, Genesis, Queen, Blue Öyster Cult or Led Zeppelin at their pantomimic worst. He continually tries to ingratiate himself with the crowd by putting on a nauseating Phil Collins-style false bonhomie, with a barrage of smiling, winking, grimacing and looks of false surprise as the stage troupe drags him back from the edge of the stage when he tries to touch hands with the audience. And gee whiz! A girl in the crowd gets up on stage and turns out to be one of the troupe! High comedy points include the tatty, pretentious introduction to 'Time' and Bowie performing levitation on a girl as a resurrected Peter Frampton wails out an off-key rendition of 'Sons of the Silent Age', but what really rolled me out of bed in stitches was the look on Bowie's face during the hysterical 'sitting-on-the-toilet' dance in the middle of 'Fame' – a real belter. If you see a copy, snap it up without a second thought: will correct all manic depressives, potential suicides and those with delusions of grandeur! Hellzapoppin'!

A good show that I remember seeing in the 80's. The film is an excellent way to see the concert tour again, or for the first time. The tour featured guest Peter Frampton who was excellent at sharing the guitar time with long time Bowie band member Carlos Alomar. As with each David Bowie album over the years, fans understand that David led the way at evolving his "art". Each album in the Bowie collection has a progressive shift in the music, Bowie is all about artistic expression. This film is his "artistic statement" for the late 80's period. I view this concert tour show as his dance party show. The dancers that he toured with were all practiced in modern dance, every step, every move on cue and in time. The dance as, performance art is meant to supplement the music and entertain the audience. The play-list of songs is a statement for the time, not a rehash of "Ziggy Plays Guitar". David has fun and wants the audience to enjoy themselves as they get lost in familiar tunes. Hopefully we will see a re-release of the Glass Spider on DVD in the near future, If you are a David Bowie fan, this show is a lot of fun to watch. It is like most rock performance films, out there for fans. I honesty have thrown this film in the tape player at least 3 times a year for as long as I have owned it. It remains a standard in my rock show collection .... Enjoy!

Bowie was never HUGE if you compare him to Zep or Van Halen, but he does have a loyal following if this film is any indication. I liked the stage setup with the performers strutting their stuff under a giant spider, however I did object to quite a bit of the choreography. Judging from a few of Bowie's steps he appears to be able to dance well, so why didn't he? Instead of hoofing along with his high energy songs he instead spends his time flopping around on the floor, making exaggerated Kama Sutra/kung fu arm and hand movements, and staging one very juvenile skit with a stooge from the audience. If all this was Bowie's idea he needs to hire someone with more creativity; if not he should fire some of the help. Having said all that, this is still an interesting concert and I especially appreciated the guitar licks of Peter Frampton.

Great show, but it has a less than amazing set list. It does improve in the second half (some cool covers, of both Iggy and the Stooges and The Velvet Underground), but was there really no Ziggy Stardust or Hunky Dory songs featured? Unless I'm misremembering.

I guess he made a show out of retiring the Spiders From Mars band, but I have to assume he still played some of the Ziggy Stardust songs live after he retired the character and the associated band. Also, he didn't play anything from Station to Station in this almost two-hour concert, so that was a bit of a shame. I guess Bowie has so many great songs it's understandable he'd miss a bunch, but no songs off arguably his three best albums is strange.

Still, it remains a good show. All the backup dancers and skits are pretty weird and interesting in a very David Bowie way. Also, I never realised Bowie danced so much; he's really lively and active in this show.

And of course, it's good a concert like this exists at all, as David Bowie is unfortunately one of those artists no one will be able to see live ever again.