David Bowie interviewed on the Dick Cavett Show 1974 – Part 2

After a total of 74 concerts, David Bowie’s Diamond Dogs/Philly Dogs Soul Tour closed in Atlanta on 1st December 1974. three days later on the 4th December, Dick Cavett’s...

After a total of 74 concerts, David Bowie’s Diamond Dogs/Philly Dogs Soul Tour closed in Atlanta on 1st December 1974. three days later on the 4th December, Dick Cavett’s Wide World Of Entertainment screened this pre-recorded appearance of David Bowie that had been taped in New York on 2nd November while Bowie was there for his Radio City Music Hall shows. During the Dick Cavett Show, Bowie and his band gave excellent performances of ‘1984’, ‘Young Americans’ and ‘Footstompin’. Another song ‘Can You Hear Me?’ was not televised, due to broadcast time limitations.

During the interview with Cavett, Bowie’s exhausted physical and mental state was all too painfully obvious. He fended off Cavett’s questions with hostile and garbled answers, whilst at the same time flirting and pouting his lips. He was described as being like a caged tiger moving from side to side. During this interview, Bowie sniffed obsessively due to his cocaine addiction at the time, and jabbed at the carpet with a walking cane. Incidentally, the walking cane was not used as a stage prop (as Bowie then claimed) but to support his weak frame. Yet during his performances of the songs, Bowie came to life like a creation of Frankenstien.

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