Laurence Knight On The “Bowie Experience,” The Legacy Of David Bowie, Meeting Bowie & More
Vocalist, actor and multi-instrumentalist Laurence Knight is widely considered the world’s number one David Bowie performer. As David Bowie, Knight has performed at the official David Bowie Is exhibition at the V&A London, and also at the Royal Albert Hall. He has also performed alongside many notable artists, including The Cure, Boney M, The Boomtown Rats, and The Rolling Stones’ Ron Wood. Furthermore, in 2012, Knight was invited to play at Heddon Street to recreate the album cover for the 40th anniversary of the release of the classic Bowie album, Ziggy Stardust.
This Friday, February 1st, the Bowie Experience — with Laurence Knight as its leader — will be visiting Hackney Empire for an 8:00 PM performance. I spoke with Mr. Knight about this and more on behalf of The Hype. More on Knight, including tour dates, can be found at www.bowieexperience.com.
When did you first get into David Bowie? Do you have a first Bowie memory?
Laurence Knight: Do you know, I really can’t remember, was there a time before David Bowie?. I may have a first memory of David, but there have been so many memorable moments I can’t pick them apart.
Did you ever have the chance to meet David Bowie? Any of the people in his band?
Laurence Knight: I did meet David, it was after one of his serious Moonlight tour shows, as everyone says, he was a very nice man. I haven’t met any of the many musicians that worked with him throughout his career, I don’t think so anyway, maybe without realizing.
Is there a Bowie era you like best?
Laurence Knight: Yes, I have a couple of eras I like best, from Station To Station — 1976 through to 1981 — Scary Monsters and Super Creeps, and then from the Outside album — 1996 right up to the last album Blackstar.
For someone who hasn’t seen the the Bowie Experience live yet, what should be expected? Is it a hits-driven show?
Laurence Knight: Expect virtuoso musicianship, wonderful costumes, vivid presentation, and whilst the song content of the show is largely the hits, we do also take a couple of detours to include songs that whilst popular you wouldn’t call hits. But it’s those songs which partly illustrate the breadth and scope of his song writing and imagination.
What does the rest of 2019 look like for the Bowie Experience?
Laurence Knight: It’s looking good with shows everywhere and some radio and television appearances.
Beyond the Bowie Experience, are there any other projects you’re working on which you can talk about?
Laurence Knight: Well, I continue to write and record my own material with the forlorn hope that someone might notice!
When not busy with performing, how do you like to spend your free time?
Laurence Knight: With the little free time I do get, I like to read, listen to radio plays, walk in the countryside and coast and go for rides on my vintage motorcycle.
David Bowie aside, who are some of your favorite musical artists these days?
Laurence Knight: I have always had a fairly narrow taste in popular music. I listen to classical music more than popular music, so it is difficult to think of any current acts that I like. But there is one act of more recent years that does interest me and that is IAMX.
Finally, Laurence, any last words for the kids?
Laurence Knight: Pay attention to your oral hygiene and David Bowie.
About the Author
Darren Paltrowitz Darren Paltrowitz is a New York resident with over 20 years of entertainment industry experience. He began working around the music business as a teenager, interning for the manager of his then-favorite band Superdrag. Since then, he has worked with a wide array of artists including OK Go, They Might Be Giants, Mike Viola, Tracy Bonham, Loudness, Rachael Yamagata, and Amanda Palmer. Darren's writing has appeared in dozens of outlets including the New York Daily News, Inquisitr, The Daily Meal, The Hype Magazine, All Music Guide, Guitar World, TheStreet.com, Businessweek, Chicago Tribune, L.A. Times, and the Jewish Journal. Beyond being "Editor At Large" for The Hype Magazine, Darren is also the host of weekly "Paltrocast With Darren Paltrowitz" series, which airs on dozens on television and digital networks. He has also co-authored 2 published books, 2018's "Pocket Change: Your Happy Money" (Book Web Publishing) and 2019's "Good Advice From Professional Wrestling" (6623 Press), and co-hosts the world's only known podcast about David Lee Roth, "The DLR Cast."
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