Alan Childs – Drummer on David Bowie’s Glass Spider Tour

From New York session drummer to Bowie’s stadium band

Before joining Bowie, Alan Childs had already built a formidable reputation as one of New York’s most in-demand drummers. Equally at home in rock, pop, sessions and television work, he became known for powerful but disciplined playing — always serving the song.

By the mid-1980s, Childs had worked with major artists and session producers, making him a natural fit for Bowie’s demanding live setup.

Joining the Glass Spider Tour

For the 1987 Glass Spider Tour, Bowie assembled a formidable live band built for both musical range and large-scale theatrical performance. Childs became the rhythmic engine of that ensemble.

With guitarist Peter Frampton, multi-instrumentalists, dancers and Bowie himself at center stage, the tour aimed far beyond a standard rock show.

The Glass Spider sound

A misunderstood but ambitious tour

Though the Glass Spider Tour divided critics at the time, it has since been reassessed as one of Bowie’s boldest live statements. Childs was central to that achievement.

The enormous staging often drew attention, but underneath it stood a remarkably strong band — with Childs providing much of its momentum.

Beyond Bowie

After Bowie, Childs continued a distinguished career with artists including Julian Lennon, Rod Stewart, John Waite, Nona Hendryx and many others.

He also became respected in session work, Broadway touring productions and later solo recordings, including his own project Alan Childs’ Aftermath.

Fellow musicians often cite his versatility — equally capable of arena rock power, studio subtlety and deep groove.

Legacy

Alan Childs may be one of Bowie’s more underrated collaborators, but among drummers and devoted fans he holds a special place. His work on Glass Spider captured Bowie in full-scale performance mode — theatrical, loud, daring and unapologetically ambitious.

His contribution was not about reinvention in the Berlin sense or avant-garde experimentation, but about giving Bowie a drummer capable of driving one of the largest productions of his career.

For many fans, Alan Childs remains one of the unsung heroes of Bowie’s live history.

Chronology