David Bowie’s performance at the Isle of Wight Festival in 2004 has been named the winner of a fan-voted poll, announced last night at the launch of Experience 25, an exhibition celebrating the festival’s rich history at London’s O2.
Fans participated by voting on the festival’s official social media channels, and Bowie’s performance triumphed over other iconic moments, including Joni Mitchell captivating a crowd of 500,000 and Amy Winehouse’s unforgettable collaboration with The Rolling Stones in 2007.
Festival organizer John Giddings recounted the unique atmosphere surrounding Bowie’s performance, which took place during the UEFA Euros. “When I went to collect David from the dressing room, England was leading 1-0. By the time we reached the stage, France had taken the lead at 2-1, and he walked out to a silent crowd. If it had been anyone else, they might have faltered, but he opened with ‘Rebel Rebel,’ and the rest is history,” Giddings recalled.
The top five “Magic Moments” from the Isle of Wight Festival, as voted by fans, are:
5. Andrea Corr & Gary Kemp performing “Starman” in tribute to Bowie, with thousands in the crowd wearing masks of his face (2016).
4. The Rolling Stones’ first UK festival performance since 1976, featuring Amy Winehouse onstage for “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg” (2007).
3. Jimi Hendrix’s final UK performance (1970).
2. Fleetwood Mac’s return as a full band since the late 90s (2015).
1. David Bowie’s last ever UK performance (2004).
During his speech at the exhibition launch, Giddings also shared insights about Amy Winehouse’s performance with The Rolling Stones. “In 2007, I thought the hardest part would be convincing Mick Jagger to let Amy join them. He was immediately on board, but when I approached Amy, she expressed her nerves. It took me about half an hour to persuade her, but the result was amazing,” he noted.
