The sheer mention of Bryan Ferry immediately brings to mind the word class. Mention his music and the conversation turns to the seductive, sensual, and most importantly—legendary.
His band Roxy Music had two top ten albums and a number one album in the UK before I was even born. They were the original glam rock band and paved the way for so many, and while Bowie tends to get much of the credit for pushing the genre forward, I would argue that Ferry transformed glam into something no one had ever heard nor seen prior.
Some even go so far as to cite Roxy Music as the “first true band of the ’70s,” and while I’m certainly not the most qualified person to write a brief history of Roxy Music or discuss the legacy of Bryan Ferry, I can tell you that I was incredibly fortunate to see one of his sold-out London performances on his UK tour—and a first for me.
The Eventim Apollo was completely sold out. Every seat in the house was taken, and it was virtually impossible even to find a place to stand in the venue. Bryan Ferry took to the stage with a substantial backing band launching directly into the Roxy Music classic “The Main Thing,” quickly followed by Ferry’s signature tune, “Don’t Stop the Dance.” It was immediately clear that not only was Ferry still at the top of his game, but that his music is timeless.
The balance of the set was a brilliant mix of old and new spanning the Roxy Music catalog while celebrating Ferry’s solo work. Wrap it all up with a brilliant encore of “Let’s Stick Together” and a stellar rendition of the John Lennon masterpiece “Jealous Guy,” and you have a show for the ages.
Bryan Ferry seems to have found the fountain of youth as I don’t think he ages at all and I would expect to see several more years of touring. The only question that remains is when will Bryan Ferry be awarded the honor of Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire? Time will tell, but it’s certainly long overdue.
Opening the evening was Australian born singer-songwriter Juanita Stein, who sounded more like her band was from Texas with a sort of an Americana edge and one hell of a powerful voice and some masterful guitar playing.
Bryan Ferry’s tour continues across Europe and you can find current dates on his site here.
