Holy Holy (tribute band)

Last updated

Holy Holy is a supergroup that performs the musical works of David Bowie. The group features drummer Woody Woodmansey, formerly of Bowie's backing band The Spiders from Mars and Tony Visconti, Bowie's long time producer and occasional bass player, as well as a number of other notable musicians. [1] Steve "Smiley" Barnard replaced Woody Woodmansey as drummer at the start of 2022. [2]

Contents

Members

Occasional and former contributors

Tours

The group undertook a short tour in the UK in September 2014 and a larger scale tour of the UK and Japan in the summer of 2015. In January 2016 they toured the east coast of the United States and followed this with a full tour of US and Canadian cities in the Spring of the same year. Their show consisted of a first half during which they performed David Bowie's classic The Man Who Sold the World and a second half during which early Bowie classics were performed. In March–April 2017 they performed another Bowie album in its entirety, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars in Hull and other UK cities. They continue to tour. [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]

Releases

In September 2014, the band released a double A side single comprising the new song "We Are King", written and sung by Steve Norman of Spandau Ballet with a cover of David Bowie's "Holy Holy" sung by Heaven 17’s Glenn Gregory. In June 2015 they released a live recording of their The Man Who Sold the World show, recorded live in London and produced by Tony Visconti. [8]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mick Ronson</span> English musician (1946–1993)

Michael Ronson was an English musician, songwriter, arranger, and producer. He achieved critical and commercial success working with David Bowie as the guitarist of the Spiders from Mars. He was a session musician who recorded five studio albums with Bowie followed by four with Ian Hunter, and also worked as a sideman in touring bands with Van Morrison and Bob Dylan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Visconti</span> American record producer and musician

Anthony Edward Visconti is an American record producer, musician and singer. Since the late 1960s, he has worked with an array of performers. His first hit single was T. Rex's "Ride a White Swan" in 1970, the first of many hits in collaboration with Marc Bolan. Visconti's lengthiest involvement was with David Bowie: intermittently from the production and arrangement of Bowie's 1968 single "In the Heat of the Morning" / "London Bye Ta-Ta" to his final album Blackstar in 2016, Visconti produced and occasionally performed on many of Bowie's albums. Visconti's work on Blackstar was awarded the Grammy Award for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical and his production of Angelique Kidjo's Djin Djin received the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary World Music Album.

<i>The Man Who Sold the World</i> (album) 1970 studio album by David Bowie

The Man Who Sold the World is the third studio album by the English musician David Bowie, originally released through Mercury Records in the United States on 4 November 1970 and in the United Kingdom on 10 April 1971. Produced by Tony Visconti and recorded in London from April to May 1970, the album features the first appearances on a Bowie record of guitarist Mick Ronson and drummer Mick Woodmansey, who later became famous as members of the Spiders from Mars.

"The Man Who Sold the World" is a song by English singer-songwriter David Bowie. The title track of Bowie's third studio album, it was released in November 1970 in the US and in April 1971 in the UK by Mercury Records. Produced by Tony Visconti, it was recorded at Trident and Advision Studios in London in May 1970, towards the end of the album's sessions; Bowie recorded his vocal on the final day of mixing for the album, reflecting his generally dismissive attitude during the sessions. Musically, it is based around a "circular" guitar riff from Mick Ronson. Its lyrics are cryptic and evocative, being inspired by numerous poems including the 1899 "Antigonish" by William Hughes Mearns. Bowie's vocals are heavily "phased" throughout and have been described as "haunting".

The Spiders from Mars were rock singer David Bowie's backing band in the early 1970s, and initially consisted of Mick Ronson on guitars, Trevor Bolder on bass guitar, and Mick Woodmansey on drums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mick Woodmansey</span> English drummer

Michael "Woody" Woodmansey is an English rock drummer best known for his work in the early 1970s as a member of David Bowie's core backing ensemble that became known as the Spiders from Mars in conjunction with the release of Bowie's 1972 LP The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. With the death of Bowie in January 2016, Woodmansey became the last surviving member of the Spiders.

"The Width of a Circle" is a song written by English musician David Bowie in 1969 for his 1970 album, The Man Who Sold the World. Recorded during the spring of 1970, it was released later that year in the United States and in April 1971 in the UK. The opening track on the album, it features hard rock and heavy metal overtones. Bowie had performed a shorter version of the song in concerts for several months before recording it.

"All the Madmen" is a song written by David Bowie in 1970 for his album The Man Who Sold the World, released later that year in the US and in April 1971 in the UK. One of several tracks on the album about insanity, it has been described as depicting "a world so bereft of reason that the last sane men are the ones in the asylums".

"Black Country Rock" is a song by English musician David Bowie, released on his 1970 album The Man Who Sold the World. The song was recorded in May 1970, with sessions taking place at Trident and Advision Studios in London. The lineup featured Bowie on lead vocals, guitarist Mick Ronson, bassist/producer Tony Visconti, drummer Mick Woodmansey and Ralph Mace on Moog synthesiser. The track was mostly composed by Ronson and Visconti, who developed it using a basic song sketch from Bowie. Labelled under the working title "Black Country Rock", Bowie used the title to write the lyrics towards the end of the sessions, resulting in a repeated two-line verse and chorus. A blues rock and hard rock number, Bowie imitates T. Rex's Marc Bolan in his vocal performance.

"After All" is a song written by David Bowie in 1970 for the album The Man Who Sold the World, released later that year in the United States and in April 1971 in the UK. One of a number of Bowie songs from the early 1970s reflecting the influence of Friedrich Nietzsche and Aleister Crowley, it has been described by biographer David Buckley as "the album's hidden gem", and by Nicholas Pegg as "one of Bowie's most underrated recordings".

"She Shook Me Cold" is a song written by David Bowie in 1970 for the album The Man Who Sold the World. Mick Ronson's solo guitar is influenced by hard rock as played by Cream, Led Zeppelin and Jeff Beck. Although solely credited to Bowie, this and other songs from the album were constructed around jams by all of the musicians. Tony Visconti, who played bass on the track in addition to producing the entire album, was quoted as saying, "The songs were written by all four of us. We'd jam in a basement, and Bowie would just say whether he liked them or not."

"The Supermen" is a song written by English singer-songwriter David Bowie in 1970 and released as the closing track on the album The Man Who Sold the World. It was one of a number of pieces on the album inspired by the works of literary figures such as Friedrich Nietzsche and H. P. Lovecraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moonage Daydream</span> 1972 song by David Bowie

"Moonage Daydream" is a song by English singer-songwriter David Bowie. It was originally recorded in February 1971 at Radio Luxembourg's studios in London and released as a single by his short-lived band Arnold Corns in May 1971 on B&C Records. Bowie subsequently re-recorded the song later that year with his backing band the Spiders from Mars—comprising Mick Ronson, Trevor Bolder and Mick Woodmansey—for release on his 1972 album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. The re-recording was co-produced by Ken Scott and recorded at Trident Studios in London in November 1971. The re-recording is a glam rock song that uses melodic and harmonic hooks, as well as percussion and guitar influenced by heavy metal. On the album, the song directly introduces the character Ziggy Stardust, who describes himself as a bisexual alien rock superstar who will save the Earth from the impending disaster described in the opening track "Five Years". It features saxophone played by Bowie and a guitar solo and string arrangement by Ronson.

"Watch That Man" is a song written by David Bowie, the opening track on the album Aladdin Sane from 1973. Its style is often compared to the Rolling Stones' Exile on Main Street. The mix, in which Bowie's lead vocal is buried within the instrumental sections, has generated discussion among critics and fans.

"Lady Grinning Soul" is a ballad written by English musician David Bowie, released on the album Aladdin Sane in 1973. It was a last-minute addition, replacing the "sax version" of "John, I'm Only Dancing" as the closing track. The composer's first meeting with American soul singer Claudia Lennear in 1972 is often cited as the inspiration for the song. In 2016, after Bowie's death, an interview with Lennear revealed that Bowie called her in 2014, and told her the song had been written about her.

<i>Bowie at the Beeb</i> 2000 compilation album by David Bowie

Bowie at the Beeb is a compilation album by English singer-songwriter David Bowie, first released in 2000. Originally, it came in a three-CD set, the third, bonus CD being a live recording made on 27 June 2000 at the Portland BBC Radio Theatre. Later editions contain only the first two CDs. The bonus disc was also released as a separate single CD entitled BBC Radio Theatre, London, June 27, 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ziggy Stardust Tour</span> 1972–73 concert tour by David Bowie

The Ziggy Stardust Tour was a 1972–73 concert tour by David Bowie, to promote the studio albums Hunky Dory, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars and Aladdin Sane. Bowie was accompanied by his backing group, the Spiders from Mars, and integrated choreography, costumes and make-up into the live shows to make them a wider entertainment package. The tour generated significant press coverage, drawing positive reviews and launching Bowie to stardom.

Hype was a band formed by David Bowie in 1970. The band were originally titled 'The David Bowie Band' for their first gig on 22 February 1970 at the Roundhouse, London. The second Hype gig on 23 February at the Streatham Arms, London was performed under the name 'Harry the Butcher', for their third gig they were billed as 'David Bowie's New Electric Band' with the subtitle 'So New They Haven't Got A Name Yet'. They were billed to appear at the Fickle Pickle Club in Westcliff-on-Sea on Friday July 17 1970 as "Debut of David Bowie with Harry The Butcher".

"Soul Love" is a song by English singer-songwriter David Bowie, released on his 1972 album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars by RCA Records. Co-produced by Bowie and Ken Scott, it features Bowie's backing band known as the Spiders from Mars — comprising guitarist Mick Ronson, bassist Trevor Bolder and drummer Mick Woodmansey. It was recorded on 12 November 1971 at Trident Studios in London and features a saxophone solo from Bowie and a guitar solo from Ronson. Lyrically, the song is about numerous characters dealing with love before the impending disaster that will destroy Earth as described in the album's opening track "Five Years". Like most tracks on the album, the song was rewritten to fit the Ziggy Stardust narrative.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Barnard</span> Musical artist

Steve "Smiley" Barnard is an English musician, songwriter and music producer, best known as a drummer for The Mock Turtles, Robbie Williams, The Mescaleros, Archive, Holy Holy, The Alarm.

References

  1. "Tony Visconti – David Bowie and Holy Holy". The Strange Brew. 5 February 2019. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  2. "Bowie supergroup Holy Holy and Woody Woodmansey part ways over 'medical differences'". Planet Rock. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
  3. "Tony Visconti's Holy Holy Concert Becomes Strange, Mad Celebration After David Bowie's Death". Billboard. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  4. Doherty, Mike (13 January 2016). "Holy Holy review – ex-Spider from Mars sees David Bowie off in style". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  5. "Tony Visconti, Woody Woodmansey, Glenn Gregory, Steve Norman and Holy Holy to perform David Bowie's 'The Man Who Sold the World' album with special guests". Classic Pop Magazine. 10 September 2014. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  6. "Holy Holy – York Barbican, 08/02/2019". God Is In The TV. 9 February 2019. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  7. "Music review: Holy Holy, Old Fruitmarket, Glasgow". www.scotsman.com. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  8. "Tony Visconti And Woody Woodmansey's Holy Holy* With Glenn Gregory And Steve Norman (2) - The Man Who Sold The World Live In London". Discogs (in French). 22 June 2015. Retrieved 3 July 2019.