David Bowie’s record-breaking shows in Hong Kong in 1983
Despite complaints about audience behaviour, Bowie’s sold-out performances at the Coliseum were a resounding success 41 years ago
“Rock superstar David Bowie will give one performance in Hong Kong on December 7,” reported the South China Morning Post on October 26, 1983. “He will become the highest-paid artist to perform here, with promoters Jesu International shelling out an undisclosed fortune to bring pop’s hottest property to the Coliseum.
“The deal was finalised only on Saturday when local impresario Mr Rigu Jesu flew to Tokyo expressly to see Bowie’s manager, Mr Wayne Forte.
“Bowie (36) will finish his tour of Japan in two weeks’ time. After a brief rest, he will appear in Australia and Bangkok before coming here. It will be the closest he has ever got to fulfilling one of his main ambitions – to perform in China.
“In a radio interview some years ago, Bowie revealed it was a dream he had always cherished. But after a London concert in which he appeared wearing nothing but a pair of briefs and full make-up, the press declared he was enough to shock any uninitiated audience and that he would probably start another Cultural Revolution.”
On November 11, the Post reported that “anxious fans had been queuing at [ticket] sale counters as early as 7am – nearly four hours before they opened. One girl said she arrived at 7.45am at the Central branch of the Tom Lee Piano Co, only to find that all the $180 tickets – the top priced – were sold out when her turn came.
“So many people were lining up at each of the two Tom Lee outlets that numbered chips had to be distributed, and there were angry scenes when fans jumped queues. The situation was further confused as it was also the first day tickets for another hot show, the Teresa Tang concert, were on sale.”
