Watch this thought-to-be-lost footage of David Bowie performing live on Top of The Pops in 1973.
Back in the 70s artists used to perform live on Top Of The Pops, the British music institution that started going downhill in the late 90s and early 200s, when artists ended up miming their performances. Due to the cost of recording new episodes it was commonplace for places like The BBC to just record over tapes that already had footage on them.
This performance of “The Jean Genie” which aired only once on January 4th 1973 and was thought to have been recorded over was actually kept by one of the cameramen until it was played this week on TOTP. Not only is it lengthy but it’s completely live and fucking awesome. Watch out for the harmonica part towards the end where Bowie slips in a little homage to The Beatles with a couple of bars from “Love Me Do”. Love it.
