Day 4- The London Diaries

Gobsmacked!!!!

Day four was always going to be special. We are going to see David Bowie in Moonage Daydream at the BFI IMAX theatre in Waterloo. We bought tickets online, and as luck would have it, we were just across the aisle from our London friends, Matt and Laura. I met Matt back in the 80’s; Matt is a drummer, having played in Psychic TV, Pressure Point and Greedy Beat Syndicate. We had not met his wife Laura before, but were charmed from the start. She hails from Texas, having grown up in Lufkin, which coincidentally is a place my brother Brian and and his family lived about 40 years ago. We went out to dinner with them the night before at Dishoom, an Iranian- Indian restaurant. Then to an after hours private club. Read more in the Day 3 post. Anyway tonight is Bowie on the IMAX screen, previously known for ski films or mountain climbing epics, Jurassic Park and Avatar.

This documentary was directed by Brett Morgen, who did Boy in the Picture, about Robert Evans and Montage of Heck with Kurt Cobain. He had the authorization of the Bowie estate for Moonage Daydream.

It is a bit of a hot mess, but full of incredible moments, songs and BOWIE. Giant shots of screaming young fans watched by the same grey haired fans today. What with the drinks before the film and the steep incline of the stairs, it was good to have 30 minutes of commercials to allow the codgers time to have another piddle snd buy another pint.

All the favourites were played in the amazing surround-me-in-a Bowie- blanket of sound.

After the final credits a politic smattering of applause, stunted only by the arthritis more than any lack of appreciation.

We then went in search of a pub that was still open. We went down one underground pathway and came upon The Vault, a regular haunt of graffiti artists. Apparently art is left up at least a day before being painted over.

We found a place open for one beer before closing, then made it to a second place after that with another few minutes left.

This place had a dead cat in the window. A blue dead cat. The wonders of taxidermy.

Inside the bar was a jungle theme, with a tree house. Of course that was where we sat and enjoyed another pint.

A lively discussion ensued, a little Open Carry/Carry On mashup, our senses heightened on Bowie IMAX and beer.

Coming up Day 5 and the Tate Modern, then on to Portugal.