The D.A.M. trio Keeps Bowie’s Berlin Sound alive on European Tour
On November 7th, at Berlin’s famed Metropol, a powerful echo of David Bowie’s innovative “Berlin Trilogy” reverberated through the venue as the two surviving members of his iconic rhythm section – guitarist Carlos Alomar and bassist George Murray – launched a 16-city European tour. The tour, a poignant tribute to their late percussionist Dennis Davis, brings the music born in the heart of Cold War Berlin back to its origins.
The opening night setlist immediately established the tour’s focus: a high-energy celebration of the D.A.M. trio’s work with Bowie. Alomar, serving as bandleader, introduced the group and launched into a blistering rendition of “Joe the lion” from the Heroes album, a song penned less than two miles away at Hansa Studios, a stone’s throw from the Berlin Wall and checkpoint Charlie.
The atmosphere was thick with history, a reminder of the unique environment that shaped Bowie’s sound during his time in the city. Cold War Berlin,a divided city steeped in espionage and simmering tension,provided a stark backdrop for Bowie and Iggy Pop’s artistic reinvention.Both artists, seeking escape from the excesses of Los Angeles and battling personal demons – heroin for Pop, cocaine for both – found solace and inspiration in the city’s fractured landscape. As one attendee noted, the era’s echoes of German Expressionism and the writings of Christopher Isherwood, author of Berlin Stories (the basis for Cabaret), deeply resonated with Bowie’s artistic vision.
The band’s performance wasn’t simply a nostalgic recreation; it was a vibrant reinterpretation of a pivotal period in Bowie’s career. alomar intentionally steered clear of slower ballads and ambient tracks, focusing instead on the driving energy of the D.A.M.-powered albums. “None of the slow stuff,” Alomar explained ahead of the tour,referring to both the ballads on station to Station and the more experimental elements of Low and Heroes.
The D.A.M. Trio – Dennis Davis, Carlos Alomar, and George Murray – frist coalesced in Los angeles during the recording sessions for Station to Station in 1975. This collaboration would extend through four subsequent studio albums: Low (1977), Heroes (1977), Lodger (1979), and Scary Monsters (and Super Freaks) (1980), effectively defining a five-album run that remains central to Bowie’s discography.
Filling the void left by the late Dennis Davis on drums was Tal Bergman, a seasoned percussionist with a diverse background.Bergman acknowledged the weight of the legacy but approached the role with enthusiasm, stating he aimed to “play what’s best for the music and keep some of his
- “Red Money” (Lodger)
- “Heroes” (Heroes)
- “Scary Monsters” (Scary Monsters (and super Creeps))
- “Golden Years” (Station to Station)
- “Fashion” (Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps))
- “Ashes to Ashes” (Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps))
- “Its No Game (No. 1)” (Scary Monsters (and Super creeps))
- “Scream like a Baby” (Scary Monsters (and super Creeps))
To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click hear.
