David Bowie 1999 Hours Era
David Bowie – Hours Tour (1999)
The Hours Tour was a short promotional concert tour in support of the album Hours….
It began on 9 October 1999 and concluded on 7 December 1999, totalling 8 shows.
📅 Start date: 1999-10-09
📅 End date: 1999-12-07
🎟️ Shows: 8
📅 End date: 1999-12-07
🎟️ Shows: 8
Tour band
🎤 David Bowie – vocals, acoustic guitar
🎸 Page Hamilton – guitar
🎸 Mark Plati – rhythm guitar, acoustic guitar, bass guitar
🎸 Gail Ann Dorsey – bass guitar, rhythm guitar
🥁 Sterling Campbell – drums, percussion
🎹 Mike Garson – keyboards, piano
🎤 Holly Palmer – backing vocals
🎤 Emm Gryner – backing vocals
🎸 Page Hamilton – guitar
🎸 Mark Plati – rhythm guitar, acoustic guitar, bass guitar
🎸 Gail Ann Dorsey – bass guitar, rhythm guitar
🥁 Sterling Campbell – drums, percussion
🎹 Mike Garson – keyboards, piano
🎤 Holly Palmer – backing vocals
🎤 Emm Gryner – backing vocals
1999 – THE HOURS ERA: MELODIC REFLECTION (JAN – MAY)
📅 1999-01-08
📍 New York City, 🇺🇸 USA
🏛️ Looking Glass Studios
🎤 Artist: David Bowie
🗒️ Notes: Bowie celebrates his 52nd birthday. He is deeply immersed in writing sessions for the ‘Omikron: The Nomad Soul’ soundtrack. This project marks a significant shift, as the music begins to evolve from game-score textures into the foundational tracks for the upcoming studio album.
📍 New York City, 🇺🇸 USA
🏛️ Looking Glass Studios
🎤 Artist: David Bowie
🗒️ Notes: Bowie celebrates his 52nd birthday. He is deeply immersed in writing sessions for the ‘Omikron: The Nomad Soul’ soundtrack. This project marks a significant shift, as the music begins to evolve from game-score textures into the foundational tracks for the upcoming studio album.
📅 1999-01-20
📍 New York City, 🇺🇸 USA
🏛️ Looking Glass Studios
🎤 Artist: David Bowie
🗒️ Notes: Following the birthday celebrations, Bowie and Reeves Gabrels record the vocal tracks for the ‘Omikron: The Nomad Soul’ characters. Bowie voices ‘Boz’, a virtual rebel leader, while Iman provides the voice and motion capture for another character.
📍 New York City, 🇺🇸 USA
🏛️ Looking Glass Studios
🎤 Artist: David Bowie
🗒️ Notes: Following the birthday celebrations, Bowie and Reeves Gabrels record the vocal tracks for the ‘Omikron: The Nomad Soul’ characters. Bowie voices ‘Boz’, a virtual rebel leader, while Iman provides the voice and motion capture for another character.
📅 1999-02-15
📍 London, 🇬🇧 UK
🏛️ BBC Studios
🎤 Artist: David Bowie
🗒️ Notes: Rehearsals for the BRIT Awards. Bowie works with Placebo to perfect the T. Rex cover, signaling his return to a more traditional glam-rock aesthetic after the industrial ‘Earthling’ years.
📍 London, 🇬🇧 UK
🏛️ BBC Studios
🎤 Artist: David Bowie
🗒️ Notes: Rehearsals for the BRIT Awards. Bowie works with Placebo to perfect the T. Rex cover, signaling his return to a more traditional glam-rock aesthetic after the industrial ‘Earthling’ years.
📅 1999-02-16
📍 London, 🇬🇧 UK
🏛️ Docklands Arena
🎤 Artist: David Bowie & Placebo
🗒️ Notes: Bowie makes a high-profile appearance at the BRIT Awards. He joins Placebo for a glam-rock rendition of T. Rex’s ’20th Century Boy’.
📜 Performance: 20th Century Boy.
📍 London, 🇬🇧 UK
🏛️ Docklands Arena
🎤 Artist: David Bowie & Placebo
🗒️ Notes: Bowie makes a high-profile appearance at the BRIT Awards. He joins Placebo for a glam-rock rendition of T. Rex’s ’20th Century Boy’.
📜 Performance: 20th Century Boy.
📅 1999-03-10
📍 New York City, 🇺🇸 USA
🏛️ Various Locations
🗒️ Notes: Bowie starts a series of conceptual photo sessions with Tim Bret-Day. These sessions result in the iconic ‘Hours’ imagery: the ‘old’ short-haired Bowie being cradled by the ‘new’ long-haired, more vulnerable version of himself.
📍 New York City, 🇺🇸 USA
🏛️ Various Locations
🗒️ Notes: Bowie starts a series of conceptual photo sessions with Tim Bret-Day. These sessions result in the iconic ‘Hours’ imagery: the ‘old’ short-haired Bowie being cradled by the ‘new’ long-haired, more vulnerable version of himself.
📅 1999-03-29
📍 New York City, 🇺🇸 USA
🏛️ Irving Plaza
🎤 Artist: David Bowie & Placebo
🗒️ Notes: Bowie makes a surprise guest appearance during Placebo’s New York concert. The collaboration highlights Bowie’s ongoing interest in the new generation of alternative rock.
📜 Setlist: Without You I’m Nothing, 20th Century Boy.
📍 New York City, 🇺🇸 USA
🏛️ Irving Plaza
🎤 Artist: David Bowie & Placebo
🗒️ Notes: Bowie makes a surprise guest appearance during Placebo’s New York concert. The collaboration highlights Bowie’s ongoing interest in the new generation of alternative rock.
📜 Setlist: Without You I’m Nothing, 20th Century Boy.
📅 1999-04-15
📍 New York City, 🇺🇸 USA
🏛️ Looking Glass Studios
🎤 Artist: David Bowie
🗒️ Notes: Intensive recording sessions for the album ‘hours…’ move into high gear. Bowie and Reeves Gabrels intentionally strip away the jungle and drum ‘n’ bass elements of the previous era, opting for a more acoustic and melodic approach.
📍 New York City, 🇺🇸 USA
🏛️ Looking Glass Studios
🎤 Artist: David Bowie
🗒️ Notes: Intensive recording sessions for the album ‘hours…’ move into high gear. Bowie and Reeves Gabrels intentionally strip away the jungle and drum ‘n’ bass elements of the previous era, opting for a more acoustic and melodic approach.
📅 1999-04-28
📍 New York City, 🇺🇸 USA
🏛️ Looking Glass Studios
🎤 Artist: David Bowie
🗒️ Notes: The song ‘What’s Really Happening?’ is written and recorded. In a pioneering move for BowieNet, Bowie invites fans to write the lyrics for the song. Alex Grant is eventually chosen as the winner.
📍 New York City, 🇺🇸 USA
🏛️ Looking Glass Studios
🎤 Artist: David Bowie
🗒️ Notes: The song ‘What’s Really Happening?’ is written and recorded. In a pioneering move for BowieNet, Bowie invites fans to write the lyrics for the song. Alex Grant is eventually chosen as the winner.
📅 1999-05-15
📍 London, 🇬🇧 UK
🏛️ Abbey Road Studios
🎤 Artist: David Bowie
🗒️ Notes: Bowie oversees the final mastering of the ‘Hours’ album. He decides to include the track ‘The Pretty Things Are Going To Hell’, which was originally written for the ‘Stigmata’ film soundtrack.
📍 London, 🇬🇧 UK
🏛️ Abbey Road Studios
🎤 Artist: David Bowie
🗒️ Notes: Bowie oversees the final mastering of the ‘Hours’ album. He decides to include the track ‘The Pretty Things Are Going To Hell’, which was originally written for the ‘Stigmata’ film soundtrack.
📅 1999-05-24
📍 New York City, 🇺🇸 USA
🏛️ Looking Glass Studios
🎤 Artist: David Bowie
🗒️ Notes: Final vocal overdubs for tracks such as ‘Thursday’s Child’ and ‘Survive’ are completed. Bowie’s vocal delivery is notably more soulful and vulnerable compared to the aggressive style of 1997.
📍 New York City, 🇺🇸 USA
🏛️ Looking Glass Studios
🎤 Artist: David Bowie
🗒️ Notes: Final vocal overdubs for tracks such as ‘Thursday’s Child’ and ‘Survive’ are completed. Bowie’s vocal delivery is notably more soulful and vulnerable compared to the aggressive style of 1997.
📅 1999-06-01
📍 New York City, 🇺🇸 USA
🏛️ Looking Glass Studios
🎤 Artist: David Bowie
🗒️ Notes: Final mixing sessions for ‘hours…’ are completed. Bowie and Mark Plati focus on a lush, multi-layered production that contrasts the raw, industrial sound of the 1997 tour.
📍 New York City, 🇺🇸 USA
🏛️ Looking Glass Studios
🎤 Artist: David Bowie
🗒️ Notes: Final mixing sessions for ‘hours…’ are completed. Bowie and Mark Plati focus on a lush, multi-layered production that contrasts the raw, industrial sound of the 1997 tour.
📅 1999-06-15
📍 New York City, 🇺🇸 USA
🏛️ Virgin Records Offices
🗒️ Notes: High-level meetings regarding the marketing of ‘hours…’. Bowie proposes the revolutionary idea of making the album available for digital download before the physical release, a move that meets significant resistance from traditional retailers.
📍 New York City, 🇺🇸 USA
🏛️ Virgin Records Offices
🗒️ Notes: High-level meetings regarding the marketing of ‘hours…’. Bowie proposes the revolutionary idea of making the album available for digital download before the physical release, a move that meets significant resistance from traditional retailers.
📅 1999-06-21
📍 New York City, 🇺🇸 USA
🏛️ Various Locations
🎤 Artist: David Bowie
🗒️ Notes: Bowie participates in a series of promotional interviews for the upcoming ‘Omikron: The Nomad Soul’ game. He discusses the dual role of the music as both a game soundtrack and a standalone studio album.
📍 New York City, 🇺🇸 USA
🏛️ Various Locations
🎤 Artist: David Bowie
🗒️ Notes: Bowie participates in a series of promotional interviews for the upcoming ‘Omikron: The Nomad Soul’ game. He discusses the dual role of the music as both a game soundtrack and a standalone studio album.
📅 1999-06-25
📍 New York City, 🇺🇸 USA
🏛️ Looking Glass Studios
🎤 Artist: David Bowie
🗒️ Notes: Bowie and Reeves Gabrels record ‘No One Calls’, a haunting, atmospheric track that remains an outtake from the ‘Hours’ sessions. It later surfaces as a bonus track, highlighting the duo’s last purely experimental studio collaboration.
📍 New York City, 🇺🇸 USA
🏛️ Looking Glass Studios
🎤 Artist: David Bowie
🗒️ Notes: Bowie and Reeves Gabrels record ‘No One Calls’, a haunting, atmospheric track that remains an outtake from the ‘Hours’ sessions. It later surfaces as a bonus track, highlighting the duo’s last purely experimental studio collaboration.
📅 1999-07-01
📍 New York City, 🇺🇸 USA
🏛️ SIR Studios
🎤 Artist: David Bowie
🗒️ Notes: Rehearsals begin for the upcoming promotional appearances. The band lineup sees a significant shift: Mark Plati joins on guitar and bass, while Page Hamilton (of Helmet) is brought in to replace Reeves Gabrels for specific harder-edged tracks.
📍 New York City, 🇺🇸 USA
🏛️ SIR Studios
🎤 Artist: David Bowie
🗒️ Notes: Rehearsals begin for the upcoming promotional appearances. The band lineup sees a significant shift: Mark Plati joins on guitar and bass, while Page Hamilton (of Helmet) is brought in to replace Reeves Gabrels for specific harder-edged tracks.
📅 1999-07-02
📍 London, 🇬🇧 UK
🏛️ Various Locations
🎤 Artist: David Bowie
🗒️ Notes: Bowie makes a low-key visit to London to oversee the final artwork for the ‘Omikron’ game. He also meets with Alexander McQueen’s team, but this time to discuss a more understated, ‘human’ wardrobe, moving away from the iconic Union Jack coat era.
📍 London, 🇬🇧 UK
🏛️ Various Locations
🎤 Artist: David Bowie
🗒️ Notes: Bowie makes a low-key visit to London to oversee the final artwork for the ‘Omikron’ game. He also meets with Alexander McQueen’s team, but this time to discuss a more understated, ‘human’ wardrobe, moving away from the iconic Union Jack coat era.
📅 1999-07-10
📍 New York City, 🇺🇸 USA
🏛️ Looking Glass Studios
🎤 Artist: David Bowie
🗒️ Notes: The song ‘1917’ is finalized. Originally intended for the ‘Omikron’ soundtrack, its heavy, dark textures provide a bridge between the ‘Outside/Earthling’ sound and the more melodic ‘Hours’ material.
📍 New York City, 🇺🇸 USA
🏛️ Looking Glass Studios
🎤 Artist: David Bowie
🗒️ Notes: The song ‘1917’ is finalized. Originally intended for the ‘Omikron’ soundtrack, its heavy, dark textures provide a bridge between the ‘Outside/Earthling’ sound and the more melodic ‘Hours’ material.
📅 1999-07-15
📍 New York City, 🇺🇸 USA
🏛️ Looking Glass Studios
🎤 Artist: David Bowie
🗒️ Notes: Recording of the ‘Hours’ version of ‘The Pretty Things Are Going To Hell’. This version is slightly more melodic than the aggressive mix intended for the ‘Stigmata’ film soundtrack.
📍 New York City, 🇺🇸 USA
🏛️ Looking Glass Studios
🎤 Artist: David Bowie
🗒️ Notes: Recording of the ‘Hours’ version of ‘The Pretty Things Are Going To Hell’. This version is slightly more melodic than the aggressive mix intended for the ‘Stigmata’ film soundtrack.
📅 1999-07-20
📍 New York City, 🇺🇸 USA
🏛️ SIR Studios
🎤 Artist: David Bowie
🗒️ Notes: Intensive band rehearsals reveal growing creative tensions between Bowie and Reeves Gabrels. Bowie’s desire for a ‘stripped-back’ and ‘vulnerable’ sound begins to clash with Gabrels’ preference for complex, industrial guitar treatments.
📍 New York City, 🇺🇸 USA
🏛️ SIR Studios
🎤 Artist: David Bowie
🗒️ Notes: Intensive band rehearsals reveal growing creative tensions between Bowie and Reeves Gabrels. Bowie’s desire for a ‘stripped-back’ and ‘vulnerable’ sound begins to clash with Gabrels’ preference for complex, industrial guitar treatments.
📅 1999-07-28
📍 New York City, 🇺🇸 USA
🏛️ Various Locations
🎤 Artist: David Bowie
🗒️ Notes: Bowie films the music video for ‘Thursday’s Child’, directed by Walter Stern. The video features the pioneering use of ‘face-replacement’ CGI technology to create a younger version of Bowie in the mirror.
📍 New York City, 🇺🇸 USA
🏛️ Various Locations
🎤 Artist: David Bowie
🗒️ Notes: Bowie films the music video for ‘Thursday’s Child’, directed by Walter Stern. The video features the pioneering use of ‘face-replacement’ CGI technology to create a younger version of Bowie in the mirror.
📅 1999-07-30
📍 New York City, 🇺🇸 USA
🏛️ Various Locations
🎤 Artist: David Bowie
🗒️ Notes: Bowie holds a series of private listening sessions for ‘Hours’ with select journalists. He emphasizes that the album is ‘an album for my peers’—a record for people his own age, focusing on memory and regret.
📍 New York City, 🇺🇸 USA
🏛️ Various Locations
🎤 Artist: David Bowie
🗒️ Notes: Bowie holds a series of private listening sessions for ‘Hours’ with select journalists. He emphasizes that the album is ‘an album for my peers’—a record for people his own age, focusing on memory and regret.
North America
📅 1999-08-23
📍 New York City, 🇺🇸 USA
🏛️ Manhattan Center
🎤 Artist: David Bowie
🗒️ Notes: Recording of VH1 Storytellers]. A career-spanning set with humorous anecdotes. This marks the final live performance of Reeves Gabrels with David Bowie; he leaves the band immediately after the session due to artistic differences regarding the ‘Hours’ direction.
📜 Setlist includes: Life On Mars?, Rebel Rebel, Thursday’s Child, Can’t Help Thinking About Me, Seven, Drive-In Saturday.
📍 New York City, 🇺🇸 USA
🏛️ Manhattan Center
🎤 Artist: David Bowie
🗒️ Notes: Recording of VH1 Storytellers]. A career-spanning set with humorous anecdotes. This marks the final live performance of Reeves Gabrels with David Bowie; he leaves the band immediately after the session due to artistic differences regarding the ‘Hours’ direction.
📜 Setlist includes: Life On Mars?, Rebel Rebel, Thursday’s Child, Can’t Help Thinking About Me, Seven, Drive-In Saturday.
📅 1999-09-21
🗒️ Notes: Official release of the album ‘hours…’. It is the first album by a major artist to be made available as a digital download two weeks prior to the physical release.
🗒️ Notes: Official release of the album ‘hours…’. It is the first album by a major artist to be made available as a digital download two weeks prior to the physical release.
Europe
📅 1999-10-07
📍 London, 🇬🇧 UK
🏛️ John Henry Rehearsal Complex
🎤 Artist: David Bowie
🗒️ Notes: Final production rehearsals for the ‘Hours’ mini-tour. Mark Plati takes over lead guitar duties following the departure of Gabrels. The band focuses on a more melodic, acoustic-driven sound.
📍 London, 🇬🇧 UK
🏛️ John Henry Rehearsal Complex
🎤 Artist: David Bowie
🗒️ Notes: Final production rehearsals for the ‘Hours’ mini-tour. Mark Plati takes over lead guitar duties following the departure of Gabrels. The band focuses on a more melodic, acoustic-driven sound.
📅 1999-10-09
📍 London, 🇬🇧 UK
🏛️ Wembley Stadium
🎤 Artist: David Bowie
🗒️ Notes: NetAid Charity Concert. Bowie opens the global event. It is his first major UK appearance in the new ‘Hours’ aesthetic, featuring longer hair and an understated wardrobe.
📜 Setlist: Life On Mars?, Survive, Thursday’s Child, The Pretty Things Are Going To Hell.
📍 London, 🇬🇧 UK
🏛️ Wembley Stadium
🎤 Artist: David Bowie
🗒️ Notes: NetAid Charity Concert. Bowie opens the global event. It is his first major UK appearance in the new ‘Hours’ aesthetic, featuring longer hair and an understated wardrobe.
📜 Setlist: Life On Mars?, Survive, Thursday’s Child, The Pretty Things Are Going To Hell.
📅 1999-10-10
📍 Dublin, 🇮🇪 Ireland
🏛️ HQ Hall of Fame
🎤 Artist: David Bowie
🗒️ Notes: The first proper club show of the ‘Hours’ era. The setlist includes the live rarity ‘Can’t Help Thinking About Me’, the first time Bowie has performed this 1965 single since the sixties.
📍 Dublin, 🇮🇪 Ireland
🏛️ HQ Hall of Fame
🎤 Artist: David Bowie
🗒️ Notes: The first proper club show of the ‘Hours’ era. The setlist includes the live rarity ‘Can’t Help Thinking About Me’, the first time Bowie has performed this 1965 single since the sixties.
📅 1999-10-14
📍 Paris, 🇫🇷 France
🏛️ Elysée Montmartre
🎤 Artist: David Bowie
🗒️ Notes: A highly acclaimed intimate performance. Part of the show is recorded for future broadcast and the ‘LiveAndWell.com’ project.
📜 Setlist highlights: Something In The Air, Word On A Wing, Always Crashing In The Same Car.
📍 Paris, 🇫🇷 France
🏛️ Elysée Montmartre
🎤 Artist: David Bowie
🗒️ Notes: A highly acclaimed intimate performance. Part of the show is recorded for future broadcast and the ‘LiveAndWell.com’ project.
📜 Setlist highlights: Something In The Air, Word On A Wing, Always Crashing In The Same Car.
📅 1999-10-17
📍 Vienna, 🇦🇹 Austria
🏛️ Libro Music Hall
🎤 Artist: David Bowie
🗒️ Notes: Continuation of the promotional tour. Bowie’s vocal performance is noted for its newfound vulnerability and soulful baritone range.
📍 Vienna, 🇦🇹 Austria
🏛️ Libro Music Hall
🎤 Artist: David Bowie
🗒️ Notes: Continuation of the promotional tour. Bowie’s vocal performance is noted for its newfound vulnerability and soulful baritone range.
North America
📅 1999-11-19
📍 New York City, 🇺🇸 USA
🏛️ Kit Kat Klub
🎤 Artist: David Bowie
🗒️ Notes: An intimate show for BowieNet members and invited guests. This performance is filmed and later released as part of the ‘David Bowie Is’ exhibition and ‘Brilliant Live Adventures’ series.
📜 Setlist highlights: Life On Mars?, The Pretty Things Are Going To Hell, Something In The Air, Stay.
📍 New York City, 🇺🇸 USA
🏛️ Kit Kat Klub
🎤 Artist: David Bowie
🗒️ Notes: An intimate show for BowieNet members and invited guests. This performance is filmed and later released as part of the ‘David Bowie Is’ exhibition and ‘Brilliant Live Adventures’ series.
📜 Setlist highlights: Life On Mars?, The Pretty Things Are Going To Hell, Something In The Air, Stay.
📅 1999-11-23
📍 New York City, 🇺🇸 USA
🏛️ NBC Studios
🎤 Artist: David Bowie
🗒️ Notes: Appearance on ‘Late Night with Conan O’Brien’. 📜 Performance: Thursday’s Child.
📍 New York City, 🇺🇸 USA
🏛️ NBC Studios
🎤 Artist: David Bowie
🗒️ Notes: Appearance on ‘Late Night with Conan O’Brien’. 📜 Performance: Thursday’s Child.
Europe
📅 1999-12-02
📍 London, 🇬🇧 UK
🏛️ The Astoria
🎤 Artist: David Bowie
🗒️ Notes: A legendary homecoming show in London. The atmosphere is electric as Bowie performs a set heavy on both ‘Hours’ and reworked classics. 📜 Setlist includes: Word On A Wing, Can’t Help Thinking About Me, Changes, Rebel Rebel.
📍 London, 🇬🇧 UK
🏛️ The Astoria
🎤 Artist: David Bowie
🗒️ Notes: A legendary homecoming show in London. The atmosphere is electric as Bowie performs a set heavy on both ‘Hours’ and reworked classics. 📜 Setlist includes: Word On A Wing, Can’t Help Thinking About Me, Changes, Rebel Rebel.
📅 1999-12-04
📍 Milan, 🇮🇹 Italy
🏛️ Alcatraz
🎤 Artist: David Bowie
🗒️ Notes: Part of the ‘Quelli che… il Calcio’ TV appearance earlier in the day, followed by the full concert.
📍 Milan, 🇮🇹 Italy
🏛️ Alcatraz
🎤 Artist: David Bowie
🗒️ Notes: Part of the ‘Quelli che… il Calcio’ TV appearance earlier in the day, followed by the full concert.
📅 1997-12-07
📍 Copenhagen, 🇩🇰 Denmark
🏛️ Vega
🎤 Artist: David Bowie
🗒️ Notes: The final show of the ‘Hours’ mini-tour. Bowie delivers a soulful performance, cementing the era’s focus on melodic storytelling and vocal depth.
📍 Copenhagen, 🇩🇰 Denmark
🏛️ Vega
🎤 Artist: David Bowie
🗒️ Notes: The final show of the ‘Hours’ mini-tour. Bowie delivers a soulful performance, cementing the era’s focus on melodic storytelling and vocal depth.
📅 1999-12-10
📍 Stockholm, 🇸🇪 Sweden
🏛️ SVT Studios
🎤 Artist: David Bowie
🗒️ Notes: Recording for the Swedish TV show ‘Sen kväll med Luuk’. 📜 Performance: Thursday’s Child, Survive.
📍 Stockholm, 🇸🇪 Sweden
🏛️ SVT Studios
🎤 Artist: David Bowie
🗒️ Notes: Recording for the Swedish TV show ‘Sen kväll med Luuk’. 📜 Performance: Thursday’s Child, Survive.
📅 1999-12-31
🗒️ Notes: Bowie ends the millennium as a leading figure in digital culture. He is voted ‘Greatest Star of the Century’ by the Sun newspaper and continues to oversee the expansion of BowieNet into the year 2000.
🗒️ Notes: Bowie ends the millennium as a leading figure in digital culture. He is voted ‘Greatest Star of the Century’ by the Sun newspaper and continues to oversee the expansion of BowieNet into the year 2000.