The legendary British musician visited the country only once, when he performed in front of 40,000 people and connected with the Mexican culture at the Pyramids of Teotihuacan and the National Palace
This day, January 8, 2024, the legendary British musician David Bowie would have turned 77. He died in 2016, at his home in New York, after suffering from liver cancer for 18 months, leaving a legacy that, of course, also reached Mexico.
The iconic artist visited the country in 1997, immersing himself in the local culture during his Earthling Tour.
On October 19 of that year, known as “The Chameleon” and “The White Duke”, he landed in the then Federal District at 5:00 p.m., coming from Dallas, Texas.
Although his concert was scheduled for Thursday of that week, he took advantage of his stay to visit emblematic places such as the Pyramids of Teotihuacan and the Frida Kahlo Museum.
On October 20, from the Four Seasons Hotel, Bowie embarked on a trip to the Pyramids of Teotihuacan.
In this historical site, accompanied by his entourage, he toured the pyramids of the Sun and the Moon and was fascinated by the acoustics of the place, expressing admiration with phrases such as “Wow” and “Fantastic”, according to records of the time.
In addition, the interpreter of Life on Mars? and Fashion performed a purification ritual and even recited a prayer in Nahuatl.
The images of this visit to Mexico, captured by the Mexican photographer Fernando Aceves, have transcended internationally, and in them you can see a happy Bowie immersed in the local culture.
The actor also visited other cultural corners of the capital, such as the Frida Kahlo Museum, on October 21, and the Palace of Fine Arts, where he marveled at the murals of Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco and David Alfaro Siqueiros.
About that visit, Fernando Aceves commented in 2016 to El País “David loved the cultural richness of Mexico, and in 1997 he simply wanted to document himself in front of certain works. There was no better tribute to the artistic heritage of Mexico than that. Bowie breathed everything, integrated, looked in silence, smiled and did not comment. As the documentary filmmaker that I am, the most precious thing was to have the opportunity to have been with the universal man.”
Bowie’s affection for Mexico was palpable, and before his presentation, he expressed his desire to return to the country. Already on October 23, 1997, David Bowie gave a historic concert at the Foro Sol of the Hermanos Rodríguez Racetrack in Mexico City.
Control Machete and Erasure acted as openers in front of an audience that filled the venue. Throughout the night, Bowie delighted the 40,000 attendees with more than 20 songs, including The man who sold the world, Fame and Dead Man Walking, and although he left aside classics from his glam discography of the 70s, the mere presence of the artist pleased his Mexican fan base.
Although Bowie showed his enthusiasm for returning to Mexico, he never did. He died on January 10, 2016, but his passage through Mexico, although ephemeral, continues to resonate as a highlight in the musical history of the country.
Source: Infobae