LIVE REVIEW: Holy Holy @ O2 Academy, Leeds
16th May 2025
Words by Chris Smith
A gig I've had on my radar for quite a few years, being a Bowie fan for the best part of 50 years, but just couldn't get myself to go and see a tribute band. Well, this is much more than a tribute band. Tony Visconti, the legendary record producer and longtime friend of David Bowie, playing bass as he did on the album The Man Who Sold the World. Tony, who produced at least a dozen Bowie albums, also made music for the likes of T. Rex, Thin Lizzy, and The Alarm, to mention a few.
Woody Woodmansey on the drums, the last surviving Spider From Mars, who played drums on the four early, important Bowie albums and toured with Mick Ronson, Trevor Bolder, and Bowie over the Ziggy/ Aladdin Sane years.
I last saw Woody live on one of those gigs in 1973—the gig that changed everything.
On vocals, the frontman from the great Heaven 17, Glenn Gregory, doing a brilliant job, hitting all the right notes in more than one way and the master of ceremonies.
The band came on at 8.45 to rapturous applause in a well-packed but not full venue. I was surprised at the opening song, Width of a Circle, a long song that changes tempo and chorus and can't be an easy starter, but they made it easy, and it was the sign of the goodies to follow. Straight into Lady Grinning Soul, Glenn singing with respect and justice to the classy and beautiful song.
Ziggy Stardust, followed by the once controversial Time, with the crowd singing along to the final chorus.
Next, a favourite of mine, Quicksand—all the above were album tracks, so then we were treated to the hit singles.
The band were spot on, Woody drumming like an 18-year-old, and Tony cool as f*#k, making it look so easy. The whole eight-piece band are top notch, with everything sounding as it should—from the funky vibes of Ashes to Ashes to the wonderful Life on Mars. The ladies' backing vocals on Panic in Detroit were exceptional and worked well with Glenn's voice.
Holy Holy finished with a two-song encore: Where Are We Now and the crowd pleaser Rebel Rebel—absolutely brilliant. My only regret is that I hadn't seen them earlier in my life—why had I left it so late?
If you liked Bowie, then you will love Holy Holy. No costumes, no makeup—just a celebration of the man and his music by the people who helped create it.
There were many highlights of the night, but here are a few of mine:
Woody's drumming in the intro of Five Years made the hairs on my neck stand up—how many times have I heard that on vinyl, and there he was, playing it live. The guitar-strumming intro to Space Oddity did the same.
The lead guitar solos in Moonage Daydream, the sad emotions brought on by Where Are We Now, and finally, the story told by Glenn and Tony of how they heard of the passing of David Bowie.
