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The Gospel of Glam: SF Celebrated David Bowie’s Legacy at Bowie Bash

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The Gospel of Glam: Celebrating David Bowie’s Legacy at the 14th annual Bowie Bash. Photos by Kellie Hanna

By Kellie Hanna

January 10th and 11th marked the 14th year of David Bowie devotees’ annual celebration of his life and legacy. I couldn’t resist donning my best sequined attire and attending both nights this year–and I’m glad I did!

The Great American Music Hall transformed into a shimmering temple of sound and vision, radiating with sequins, face paint, and unapologetic inclusivity as a congregation of devoted David Bowie fans let their freak flags fly. Together, we were swept away on a musical and visual odyssey featuring spectacular drag, burlesque, and puppetry.

A Raucous Homage to the Starman in the Sky

As always, the First Church of the Sacred Silversexual delivered an unforgettable celebration. Led by the event’s charismatic founder Reverend Father Lysol Tony Romeo, alongside the legendary Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and the incomparable Kat Robichaud (as Kat People), the two-night event was a fittingly raucous homage to Bowie—one that left the congregation singing, dancing, and basking in the spirit of the Starman himself.

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Both nights featured electrifying renditions of Bowie’s music by “The Strangers” and  riveting acts by an eclectic cast of artists, including Nitrix Oxide, Bo Vixxen, Trixxie Carr, and  Roxanne Redmeat, as well as puppet masters Shadow Circus Creature Theatre

Night One: The Book of Stardust 

Night one paid tribute to the glam-rock brilliance of The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. Standouts for me included Lady Satan‘s stunning feather dance to ‘Lady Stardust,’  and an exhilarating performance of ‘Suffragette City,’ with Kitty Von Quim taking center stage. Toward the end, I had the transcendent experience of being blessed with ashes by Reverend Father Tony Romeo.

Night Two: The Book of Young Americans

Night two focused on the soulful sounds of Young Americans on its 50th anniversary and included several Bowie hits through the decades. Shadow Circus Creature Theatre put on a disturbingly fun puppet fight, “Debate 2025” during a perfectly executed performance of I’m afraid of Americans, and Bo Vixxen’s sizzling hot dance number took our collective breaths away. Still, one of my favorite moments from that night was Kat People’s captivating rendition of Life on Mars. As one of my friends put it, “She really just went for it.” 

A Very Special Midnight Mass

Both nights culminated in an all-out dance party at midnight, with the band playing a mix of Bowie favorites that had the crowd’s energy soaring. My friends and I couldn’t help but get swept up in the movement, dancing our glittery heels off. It was the perfect way to end each evening, and we left feeling uplifted and fulfilled. 

As we walked out of the Great American Music Hall each night, the good vibes were palpable. Every face I saw was decorated in an ear-to-ear grin, and I felt like I had shared communion with my fellow Church of Bowie congregants. It was a much-needed reminder that moments of togetherness, acceptance, and joy are still possible–even in  our chaotic and divided world. 

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