Hype Concert at the Roundhouse
1970
The Hype marked the first meeting of David Bowie and Mick Ronson. Bowie's drummer John Cambridge had played with Ronson in Hull band The Rats, and was keen to get him in Bowie's outfit. Their first engagement was a John Peel session on 5 February 1970, which was followed on the 22nd by an appearance at The Roundhouse supporting Noel Redding's Fat Matress. The group dressed up in superhero costumes, with Bowie as Rainbowman, bassist Tony Visconti as Hypeman, Ronson as Gangsterman, and Cambridge as Cowboyman; their special powers remain a mystery, but arguably this gig marks the birth of glam.
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Where's Marc Bolan & T Rex? Marc bought glam to the masses,and enabled Bowie to become accepted
Smallone, BerkshireI was at a David Bowie concert at the Roundhouse (part of a Sunday Imposion) in mid 1970. At that time 16 year old "hippie's" from suburbia like myelf saw David Bowie as a one hit wonder. He came on stage wearing what looked like a long dress and played an acoustic guitar. He sang some fey hippie-ish folkish and camp songs about Shepton Mallet and what appeared to be a Watership Down influenced rabbit story. He was booed off stage after two numbers. I heard nothing more about him until a year plus later when he reappeared as Ziggy Stardust and took glam rock into a more radical post Marc Bolan direction; which I followed with glee afixing tinsel, glitter and stick on stars and dressing in the new satin and stack heel look bought at Kenny market.
Martin, London
Mick Ronson, John Cambridge, and Tony Visconti
Musicians
All played with Bowie in The Hype.
Neil Landon, Jim Leverton and Eric Dillon
Musicians
Played in Noel Redding's band, Fat Mattress.