A previously unseen David Bowie 1978 concert film, Stage, will debut at Berlin’s Uber Arena on Feb. 14 in an experience that will combine the archival live footage with immersive sound and light. According to a press release announcing the project, the sound and vision experience was designed around recently discovered and restored footage from the 1978 Isolar II world tour, on which Bowie performed songs from his landmark Heroes album.
The production is a collaboration between Wonderworld, the David Bowie Estate and documentary filmmaker Brett Morgen, who directed the mind-bending 2022 Bowie documentary Moonage Daydream. Morgen discovered the original camera negatives while working on the Grammy Award-winning Bowie doc.
The film will be presented in a three-screen format, combining large-scale projections of footage assembled from raw, unseen 35mm film and transparent LED screens with an elaborate lighting design by acclaimed lighting designer Patrick Woodroffe (Rolling Stones, Elton John). The newly created sound mix was made by Oscar-winner Paul Massey (Bohemian Rhapsody, Michael).
Bowie conceived and produced Stage in 1978 during his Isolar II concerts at London’s Earls Court, with the legendary footage going untouched in the late singer’s archives for more than 50 years, according to the release, which promises that it showcases “Bowie at the zenith of his powers as a live performer” in what is said to be one of his best live performances.
Using cutting-edge spatial audio and visual tech, Morgen and his team brought Bowie’s vision to life for a film that producers say will feel like attending a real Bowie concert. “David Bowie has bestowed upon us an extraordinary treasure — an unprecedented concert experience that has yet to be witnessed,” said former AEG Live president of international and Wonderworld founder Rob Hallett in a statement. “Working hand-in-hand with David Bowie’s Estate and Brett Morgen, we are ensuring this experience is 100% faithful to his legacy while making his genius accessible to global fans and a new generation.”
Morgan has reportedly spent nearly a decade “reconfiguring, editing, color-grading and hand-painting the archival footage, utilizing longer, uninterrupted takes of Bowie’s performance to create an “intimate atmosphere that mimics a real-time live performance.”
Bowie is backed by one of his all-time bands in the film, including lead guitarist Adrian Belew, rhythm guitarist/music director Carlos Alomar, bassist George Murray, drummer Dennis Davis, keyboardist Roger Powell, pianist Sean Mayes and electric violin player Simon House playing such hits as “Ziggy Stardust,” “Rebel Rebel,” “Suffragette City,” “Fame” and “‘Heroes,’” among others.
The film uses Immersive Audio Mapping and a spread-out flown array system to deliver pristine 7.1 surround sound to every seat in the venue will also feature Unilumin/Roe full-range transparent LED screen to create the illusion that Bowie and his band are in the room. The show is reportedly designed for auditoriums and venues with capacities starting at 5,000. The world premiere will take place on Valentine’s Day as part of the 77th Berlin Film Festival, with tickets on sale now through Eventim; click here for details.
A 30-second teaser dropped on Tuesday (Oct. 27), featuring footage of stage hands setting up the rigging for the show, as well as fans excitedly entering the venue in their Ziggy Stardust-inspired makeup and outfits.
Check out the teaser below.
