Here are the key line-ups in David Bowie’s touring band history.
Some early dates are approximate. Additionally, some collaborations which lasted for a very brief time – often a matter of days or a single show – have been excluded, with some exceptions such as Live Aid and some of Bowie’s final live appearances. Although it is impossible to include every permutation of line-up in Bowie’s many concerts, this should provide the key information.
Band/tour name
Dates
Members
The Konrads
1962/3
George Underwood: vocals
Neville Wills: guitar
Alan Dodds: guitar
Rocky Shahan: bass guitar
Luther/Alexis Jay (David Jones): saxophone, vocals
Dave Crook: drums
The Konrads
1963
George Underwood: vocals
Neville Wills: guitar
Alan Dodds: guitar
John: bass guitar
Dave Jay (David Jones): saxophone, vocals
Dave Hadfield: drums
Stella and Christine Patton: backing vocals
The Konrads
1963
Dave Jay (David Jones): saxophone, vocals
Roger Ferris: vocals
Neville Wills: guitar
Alan Dodds: guitar
Rocky Shahan: bass guitar
Dave Hadfield: drums
Stella and Christine Patton: backing vocals
The Hooker Brothers/Dave’s Reds and Blues
1963/4
Davie Jones: vocals, saxophone
George Underwood: rhythm guitar, harmonica
Viv Andrews: drums
Davie Jones and the King Bees
1964
Davie Jones: vocals, saxophone
George Underwood: vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica
Roger Bluck: lead guitar
Dave Howard: bass guitar
Robert Allen: drums
The Manish Boys
1964/5
Davie Jones: vocals, saxophone
Johnny Flux: lead guitar
Paul Rodriguez: tenor saxophone, trumpet
Woolf Byrne: baritone saxophone
Bob Solly: keyboards
John Watson: bass guitar
Mick White: drums
Davie Jones and the Lower Third
1965
Davie Jones: vocals, saxophone, guitar
Denis Taylor: guitar
Graham Rivens: bass guitar
Les Mighall: drums
Davie Jones and the Lower Third
1965/6
Davie Jones: vocals, saxophone, guitar
Denis Taylor: guitar
Graham Rivens: bass guitar
Phil Lancaster: drums
David Bowie and the Buzz
1966
David Bowie: vocals
John Hutchinson: guitar
Derek Boyes: keyboards
Derek Fearnley: bass guitar
John Eager: drums
David Bowie and the Buzz
1966
David Bowie: vocals
Billy Gray: guitar
Derek Boyes: keyboards
Derek Fearnley: bass guitar
John Eager: drums
David Bowie and the Buzz
1966/7
David Bowie: vocals
Derek Boyes: keyboards
Derek Fearnley: bass guitar
John Eager: drums
The Riot Squad
1967
David Bowie: vocals
Bob Evans: saxophone, flute
Rod ‘Rook’ Davis: guitar
George Butcher: keyboards
Brian ‘Croke’ Prebble: bass guitar, vocals
Derek ‘Del’ Roll: drums
Turquoise
1968
David Bowie: vocals, guitar, mime
Hermione Farthingale: vocals, guitar, dance
Tony Hill: vocals, guitar
Feathers
1968/9
David Bowie: vocals, guitar, mime
Hermione Farthingale: vocals, guitar, dance
John ‘Hutch’ Hutchinson: vocals, guitar, tape op
David Bowie and Hutch
1969
David Bowie: vocals, guitar
John ‘Hutch’ Hutchinson: vocals, guitar, tape op
David Bowie
1969/70
David Bowie: vocals, guitar
Mick Wayne: guitar
Tim Renwick: guitar
John ‘Honk’ Lodge: bass guitar
John Cambridge: drums
David Bowie
1970
David Bowie: vocals, guitar
Tony Visconti: bass guitar
Tex Johnson: congas (occasional shows)
Hype
1970
David Bowie: vocals, guitar, organ
Mick Ronson: guitar, vocals
Tony Visconti: bass guitar
John Cambridge: drums
Benny Marshall: harmonica (occasional shows)
Hype
1970
David Bowie: vocals, guitar, organ
Mick Ronson: guitar, vocals
Tony Visconti: bass guitar
Mick ‘Woody’ Woodmansey: drums
Mark Pritchett: guitar (occasional shows)
Benny Marshall: harmonica (occasional shows)
The Arnold Corns
1971
David Bowie: vocals, guitar
Rudi Valentino (Freddie Burretti): vocals (stand-in)
Mark Carr-Pritchett: guitar
Pete De Somogyl: bass guitar
Tim Broadbent: drums
The Arnold Corns
1971
David Bowie: vocals, guitar
Mick Ronson: guitar, bass guitar
Mark Carr-Pritchett: guitar, vocals
Trevor Bolder: bass guitar
Mick ‘Woody’ Woodmansey: drums
David Bowie and Mick Ronson
1971
David Bowie: vocals, guitar, organ
Mick Ronson: guitar, bass guitar, vocals
Trevor Bolder: bass guitar (occasional shows)
Mick ‘Woody’ Woodmansey: drums (occasional shows)
Rick Wakeman: piano (one show)
Tom Parker: piano (one show)
David Bowie and the Spiders From Mars
1972
David Bowie: vocals, guitar, saxophone
Mick Ronson: guitar, vocals
Nicky Graham: piano
Trevor Bolder: bass guitar
Mick ‘Woody’ Woodmansey: drums
David Bowie and the Spiders From Mars
1972
David Bowie: vocals, guitar, saxophone
Mick Ronson: guitar, vocals
Robin Lumley: piano
Trevor Bolder: bass guitar
Mick ‘Woody’ Woodmansey: drums
Matthew Fisher: piano (two shows)
David Bowie and the Spiders From Mars
1972/3
David Bowie: vocals, guitar, saxophone
Mick Ronson: guitar, vocals
Mike Garson: piano
Trevor Bolder: bass guitar
Mick ‘Woody’ Woodmansey: drums
David Bowie and the Spiders From Mars
1973
David Bowie: vocals, guitar, saxophone, mime
Mick Ronson: guitar, vocals
Mike Garson: piano
Trevor Bolder: bass guitar
Mick ‘Woody’ Woodmansey: drums
John Hutchinson: rhythm guitar
Ken Fordham: saxophone
Brian Wilshaw: saxophone, flute
Geoffrey MacCormack: vocals, percussion
The 1980 Floor Show
1973
David Bowie: vocals, guitar, saxophone
Mick Ronson: guitar
Mark Pritchett: guitar
Trevor Bolder: bass guitar
Aynsley Dunbar: drums
The Astronettes –Ava Cherry, Geoff MacCormack, Jason Guess: vocals
The Diamond Dogs Tour
1974
David Bowie: vocals
Michael Kamen: electric piano, Moog synthesizer, oboe, musical director
Earl Slick: guitar
Mike Garson: piano, Mellotron
David Sanborn, Richard Grando: saxophone, flute
Herbie Flowers: bass guitar
Tony Newman: drums
Pablo Rosario: percussion
Gui Andrisano, Warren Peace (Geoff MacCormack): backing vocals
The Diamond Dogs Tour
1974
David Bowie: vocals
Michael Kamen: electric piano, Moog, oboe
Earl Slick, Carlos Alomar: guitar
Mike Garson: piano, Mellotron
David Sanborn, Richard Grando: saxophone, flute
Doug Rauch: bass guitar
Greg Errico: drums
Pablo Rosario: percussion
Gui Andrisano, Warren Peace (Geoff MacCormack), Ava Cherry, Robin Clark, Anthony Hinton, Diane Sumler, Luther Vandross: backing vocals
The Soul Tour/Philly Dogs Tour
1974
David Bowie: vocals
Earl Slick, Carlos Alomar: guitar
Mike Garson: piano, Mellotron
David Sanborn: saxophone, flute
Willie Weeks: bass guitar
Dennis Davis: drums
Pablo Rosario: percussion
Warren Peace (Geoff MacCormack), Ava Cherry, Robin Clark, Anthony Hinton, Diane Sumler, Luther Vandross: backing vocals
Isolar – 1976 Tour
1976
David Bowie: vocals, saxophone
Stacy Heydon: lead guitar: vocals
Carlos Alomar: rhythm guitar, vocals
George Murray: bass guitar, vocals
Tony Kaye: keyboards
Dennis Davis: drums, percussion
Isolar II – The 1978 World Tour
1978
David Bowie: vocals, Chamberlin
Adrian Belew: lead guitar, vocals
Carlos Alomar: rhythm guitar, vocals
Sean Mayes: piano, string ensemble, vocals
Roger Powell: keyboards, synthesizer, vocals
Dennis Garcia: keyboards, synthesizer
Simon House: electric violin
George Murray: bass guitar, vocals
Dennis Davis: drums, percussion
Serious Moonlight
1983
David Bowie: vocals, guitar, saxophone
Earl Slick: guitar
Carlos Alomar: guitar, vocals
Dave Lebolt: keyboards, synthesizers
Steve Elson: saxophones
Stan Harrison, Lenny Pickett: saxophones, woodwinds
Carmine Rojas: bass guitar
Tony Thompson: drums, percussion
George Simms, Frank Simms: backing vocals
Live Aid –Wembley Stadium, London
15 July 1985
David Bowie: vocals
Kevin Armstrong: guitar, vocals
Thomas Dolby: keyboards, synthesisers
Clare Hirst: saxophone
Matthew Seligman: bass guitar
Neil Conti: drums
Pedro Ortiz: percussion
Tessa Niles, Helena Springs: vocals
Glass Spider Tour
1987
David Bowie: vocals, guitar
Carlos Alomar, Peter Frampton, Charlie Sexton*: guitar, vocals
Erdal Kızılçay: keyboards, trumpet, congas, violin, vocals
Richard Cottle: keyboards, saxophone, tambourine, vocals
Carmine Rojas: bass guitar
Alan Childs: drums
* Guest performer during some North American/Australian shows
Tin Machine Tour
1989
David Bowie: vocals, guitar
Reeves Gabrels: guitar
Tony Sales: bass guitar, vocals
Hunt Sales: drums, vocals
Sound + Vision Tour
1990
David Bowie: vocals, guitar, saxophone
Adrian Belew: guitar, vocals
Erdal Kızılçay: bass guitar, vocals
Rick Fox: keyboards, vocals
Michael Hodges: drums
Tin Machine: It’s My Life Tour
1991-2
David Bowie: vocals, guitar, saxophone
Reeves Gabrels: lead guitar, vocals
Eric Schermerhorn: rhythm guitar, vocals
Tony Sales: bass guitar, vocals
Hunt Sales: drums, vocals
Outside Tour
1995-6
David Bowie: vocals
Reeves Gabrels: guitar
Carlos Alomar: guitar, backing vocals
Mike Garson: piano
Peter Schwartz: synthesizer
George Simms: keyboards, vocals
Gail Ann Dorsey: bass guitar, vocals
Zachary Alford: drums
Outside Summer Festivals Tour
1996
David Bowie: vocals
Reeves Gabrels: guitar, vocals
Mike Garson: keyboards, vocals
Gail Ann Dorsey: bass guitar, vocals
Zachary Alford: drums
Earthling Tour
1997
David Bowie: vocals, guitar, saxophone
Reeves Gabrels: guitar, vocals
Mike Garson: keyboards, vocals
Gail Ann Dorsey: bass guitar, keyboards, vocals
Zachary Alford: drums, percussion
Hours Tour
1999
David Bowie: vocals, acoustic guitar
Page Hamilton: guitar
Mark Plati: guitar, bass guitar, vocals
Mike Garson: piano, keyboards
Gail Ann Dorsey: bass guitar, rhythm guitar, vocals
Sterling Campbell: drums, percussion
Holly Palmer: vocals, percussion
Emm Gryner: backing vocals
Mini Tour
2000
David Bowie: vocals, acoustic guitar, harmonica
Earl Slick: guitar
Mark Plati: guitar, bass guitar, vocals
Mike Garson: keyboards, piano
Gail Ann Dorsey: bass guitar, rhythm guitar, clarinet, vocals
Sterling Campbell: drums, percussion
Holly Palmer: percussion, vocals
Emm Gryner: keyboard, clarinet, vocals
Heathen Tour
2002
David Bowie: vocals, guitar, saxophone, harmonica, stylophone
Earl Slick: guitar
Gerry Leonard: guitar, keyboards, vocals
Mark Plati: guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, vocals
Mike Garson: piano, keyboards
Gail Ann Dorsey: bass guitar, guitar, vocals
Sterling Campbell: drums, percussion
Catherine Russell: keyboards, percussion, vocals
A Reality Tour
2003-4
David Bowie: vocals, guitars, stylophone, harmonica
Earl Slick: guitar
Gerry Leonard: guitar, vocals
Gail Ann Dorsey: bass guitar, vocals
Sterling Campbell: drums
Mike Garson: piano, keyboards
Catherine Russell: keyboards, percussion, guitar, vocals
Condé Nast Fashion Rocks
8 September 2005
‘Life On Mars?’ (with Mike Garson)
‘Wake Up’ (with Arcade Fire)
‘Five Years’ (with Arcade Fire)
Royal Albert Hall, London
29 May 2006
‘Arnold Layne’
‘Comfortably Numb’
David Bowie: vocals
David Gilmour: guitar, vocals
Richard Wright: keyboards, vocals
Phil Manzanera: guitar, vocals
Dick Parry: saxophone
Jon Carin: keyboards, guitar, vocals
Guy Pratt: bass guitar, vocals
Steve DiStanislao: drums, vocals
Hammerstein Ballroom, NYC
9 November 2006
‘Wild Is The Wind’ (with Mike Garson)
‘Fantastic Voyage’ (with Alicia Keys’ band)
‘Changes’ (with Alicia Keys)