David Bowie's Legendary 1983 Auckland Concert: A Historic Night at Western Springs
On November 26, 1983, David Bowie delivered an electrifying performance at Auckland’s Western Springs Stadium, marking the grand finale of his Serious Moonlight Tour. The concert set a record that still stands: with an estimated 74,480 attendees, it was the largest crowd ever recorded for an Australasian concert and the biggest gathering per capita anywhere in the world at that time.
According to some accounts, the actual crowd size may have surpassed 90,000. Bowie fans recall how concertgoers pushed down the perimeter fences, swelling the crowd beyond expectations. Paul, a fan from Auckland, remembers the scene: "The security guards just stood there scratching their heads before moving to assist folks over the broken fence and preventing any crush injuries. It was a great show."
Bowie’s Serious Moonlight Tour was an extraordinary mix of old hits and new material, as the musician had released three albums since his last world tour. The concert at Western Springs was no exception, with Bowie opening the night with "Look Back In Anger" from Lodger (1979) and including timeless classics like "Heroes," "Space Oddity," and "Modern Love."
Frank Simms, Bowie’s backing singer, described the atmosphere: "It was so wonderful—young people, old people, babies. It felt like a family affair." Lenny Pickett, the sax player, recalled the unique setting of the stadium, surrounded by nature and with the massive crowd. "It was a striking juxtaposition of art and reality," he said, referencing the ancient landscape blending with the "faux ancient set" of the concert.
The crowd's energy was palpable, as Gabrielle Pike, a fan, noted, "Everybody was up, everybody was screaming, everybody was dancing, everybody was singing. They all sang along to the songs because by then, they were so well known."
A standout moment of the night came when Geeling Ng, the New Zealand actress featured in the "China Girl" video, recalled hearing the song live for the first time. "When they played my song, I cried," she said, overwhelmed by the experience. Ng had toured with Bowie in Europe earlier in the year and was invited backstage in Auckland after the show by the band members.
The encore was a triumphant celebration, with Bowie performing "Stay" followed by "The Jean Genie" and closing with "Modern Love." The concert also saw a poignant moment when Bowie, joined by Kiwi actor James Malcolm (his co-star in Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence), released two white doves into the sky as a statement against the nuclear arms race, declaring, "I wish our world leaders would stop their insane inability to recognise that we wish to live peacefully."
After the show, Bowie hosted a party with Polynesian dancers, marking the end of the Serious Moonlight Tour. But the excitement didn’t stop there. The local group Dance Exponents and Australian band Models opened for Bowie, adding to the electric atmosphere of the night.
Michael Chunn, manager of Dance Exponents, recalls the surreal moment when he saw Bowie and his bandmates casually hanging out with the New Zealand group before the performance. "It was like he was just one of the mates," Chunn said. The sight of Bowie in such a relaxed, down-to-earth setting was a striking contrast to the grandeur of the concert.
For many, that Bowie show in 1983 remains one of the most memorable experiences of their lives. As Madeline Holden recalled in a 2023 article, her father still remembers the thrill of the concert vividly, despite being "high as a kite" from pre-show celebrations. "It was just spectacular," he said, looking back at one of the best nights of his life.
The Serious Moonlight Tour’s Auckland stop has since become a legendary moment in music history, remembered not just for the music but for the sense of community and joy that Bowie brought to New Zealand's shores.
Auckland Setlist (November 26, 1983):
Look Back In Anger
Heroes
What In The World
Golden Years
Fashion
Let's Dance
Breaking Glass
Life On Mars
Sorrow
Cat People
China Girl
Scary Monsters
Rebel Rebel
White Light, White Heat
Station To Station
Cracked Actor
Ashes To Ashes
Space Oddity
Young Americans
Fame
TVC-15
Star
Encore:
23. Stay
24. The Jean Genie
25. Modern Love