This weekend marks five years since the passing of David Bowie. To honour the legend (and the significance of it being Five Years!) I’ll be playing some my favourite Bowie songs and most of your favourites too this Saturday, January 9 at the San Fran bar in Wellington. From 5pm.

I’ll never forget the day i heard the news – I was out for an evening walk when the newspaper rang asking for a quick-fire, last-minute eulogy – which you can read in the link above.

A couple of days later I was part of a team of DJs paying tribute to Bowie at the San Fran. We returned the following year to mark what would have been his 70th birthday.

His was the most marvelously stage-managed death – that magnificent new album, arriving on his birthday. And then as people were just starting to process the glory of what weould be the final record the news came that Bowie had died.

Since his death, like many Bowie fans around the world, I’ve thought of his passing, reflected on his life and continued to love the music. I’ve also got a pet dog named Bowie. And, a personal highlight was having my essay about the album 1. Outside selected and used in the pages of this book.

And back before any of the sadness and reflection, I played my first full DJ set of Bowie tunes up at the San Fran back in 2013. Here’s the playlist from that night which might offer some indication of the hits and b-sides and album cuts you might hear again this weekend – in a different order of course.

So come on down to Wellington’s San Fran this Saturday, January 9, from 5pm. We’ll raise a glass (specials on tap beer and prosecco) and enjoy the best of the best from one of the greatest and most influential musi”Itcians of the 20th Century. How lucky we were to be alive at the time when this man fell to earth to share his gifts with us.

“It’s been five years…”
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