February 10, 1972 - David Bowie The Fox Tolworth
- GlamSlam
- Feb 10, 1972
- 2 min read
David Bowie's concert at "The Fox" in Tolworth refers to a performance held at the Toby Jug pub in Tolworth, Surrey. This event is notable as it is said to have marked the debut live performance of Bowie's famous Ziggy Stardust persona.
Venue: The Toby Jug pub, which was located in Tolworth, Kingston upon Thames. This venue has since been demolished, but it was pivotal in Bowie's early career.
Performance: The concert was the inaugural show of what would become the Ziggy Stardust Tour. Bowie, with his band The Spiders from Mars - consisting of Mick Ronson on guitar, Trevor Bolder on bass, and Mick Woodmansey on drums - performed in full Ziggy Stardust regalia for the first time.
Setlist: While specific set lists from this exact performance are not comprehensively documented, the set likely included early renditions of songs from "The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars" like "Starman," "Ziggy Stardust," and "Suffragette City," along with other tracks from Bowie's repertoire at the time.
Audience: Around 60 people were in attendance. This was a small, intimate setting compared to the larger venues Bowie would later play as Ziggy Stardust's fame grew.
Impact: This performance marked the beginning of an 18-month tour that catapulted Bowie into international stardom. The Ziggy Stardust character, with its flamboyant costumes, makeup, and theatrical performance style, became a defining moment in rock music, influencing glam rock and Bowie's career trajectory.
Commemoration: The 50th anniversary of this concert in 2022 was celebrated with various tributes, including a mural in Tolworth, which underscores the cultural impact of this event. Posts on X and articles in local media highlighted this milestone, celebrating Bowie's legacy and the historical significance of the Toby Jug concert.
This concert is often romanticized for its role in launching one of the most famous personas in rock history, showcasing Bowie's ability to merge music with performance art.

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