When did Bowie start using the prompter and why? It is not uncommon for older performers to use one but previously Bowie had worked through 2 hours without using one!
He probably started using it for the reasons that anyone would...he got tired of messing up the lyrics (or tired of people saying 'Hey, Dave, you messed up the words to 'Modern Love' again').
He is using Garwood in-ear monitoring for himself and the band. With all members of the band using Garwood Radio Stations, there are no floor monitors at all.
He prefers to wear just one earpiece - he apparently likes the open ambient feel on one side and a full mix with a tiny bit of reverb in just one ear.
i don't think i have ever seen him live when he has NOT messed up the lyrics to sufferagette city!
but it is a hard song to remember ... try singing it without the record on ... and you have probably heard the song more than he has if you are an old skool fan.
as for the prompter who cares ? i have seen young and old use 'em ... it's just a tool.
It's most obvious during Word On A Wing, where he almost doesn't get to the words in time.
I like on the 2002 broadcast where he did Belway Brothers for the first time. "There's more words in this than in Tolstoy's War & Peace, it goes on and on. Not just this page, but this entire book!"
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