David Bowie 1995–1996 – Outside Era

The Outside Tour began on 14 September 1995 and concluded on 21 July 1996. Initially a co-headline tour with Nine Inch Nails across North America, the second leg transitioned into a full David Bowie-only tour moving through the UK, mainland Europe, Scandinavia and finally the 1996 summer festival circuit.

The opening of the first North American leg preceded the release of Bowie’s album 1. Outside, which was issued on 25 September 1995. The tour was known for adventurous setlists, dark themes, and Bowie deliberately refusing to rely on classic hits.

Tour history

This was Bowie’s first tour since retiring his classic hits following the Sound+Vision Tour (1990).

Bowie stated:

“We’re going to play some older material, sure, but not obvious things.”

Older songs resurfacing during this tour included:

• Joe the Lion
• Scary Monsters
• Look Back in Anger
• Breaking Glass
• Andy Warhol

Nine Inch Nails collaboration

The first leg featured Bowie and NIN overlapping on stage during the mid-set transition:

• Subterraneans
• Hallo Spaceboy
• Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)
• Reptile
• Hurt

Bowie then continued with his own solo set.

Set design

Unlike the theatrical Glass Spider (1987) or Sound+Vision (1990), this tour featured minimal staging:

• dark banners
• mannequins
• low-key visuals
• industrial lighting

Opening acts

Co-headline (USA): Nine Inch Nails

Other support across legs:

• Prick
• Morrissey (Europe, left mid-tour)
• The Gyres
• Echobelly
• Placebo
• Various regional acts

Live recordings

• 13 December 1995 – Birmingham, National Exhibition Centre – filmed by BBC

Tour band

• David Bowie – vocals
• Reeves Gabrels – guitar
• Carlos Alomar – guitar
• Gail Ann Dorsey – bass guitar, vocals
• Zack Alford – drums
• Mike Garson – piano
• Peter Schwartz – synthesizer, musical director
• George Simms – backing vocals, keyboards