During my search for Bowie’s mystery guest, I’ve come across many inconsistencies and inaccuracies about the party.  This shouldn’t be a surprise as the myth-building machine surrounding Bowie and MainMan in the summer of 1973 had been turned up to 11. The party was David’s coronation as the king of rock and roll. It was only correct that the press was fed all the A-list names who’d descended on the Café Royal to pay deference to Ziggy Stardust. One of the problems with trying to unpick a 50-year-old mythical party is unearthing what actually occurred on the night. I’ve realised that the uncertainty about the facts begins with the fundamentals of the occasion: was Ziggy’s Last Supper held on 4th July 1973?

When was Ziggy’s party at the Café Royal?

Now, I wasn’t there, as I hadn’t been born. Let’s defer to some of the best Bowie brains in the business.

On 5 July 1973, the day after Ziggy Stardust’s wake at the Café Royal, David and Angela attended the royal premiere of the latest James Bond movie, Live and Let Die
The Complete David Bowie by Nicholas Pegg

What Nicholas Pegg doesn’t know about David Bowie can be written on a grain of rice. His books grace the shelf of most fans and David himself told Nicholas how fantastic they were. This line, from his fantastic book, suggests that Ziggy’s Last Supper occurred on 4th July 1973. This seems to be the perceived wisdom. The party at the Café Royal took place on the 4th of July 1973, the night after the final Ziggy gig at Hammersmith on the 3rd of July 1973. Nicholas isn’t alone.

Presiding over the glittering gathering marking the tour’s close at the Cafe Royal the next night, David posed alongside Mick Jagger
Starman by Paul Trynka

In Starman, Paul Trynka also confirms that the Café Royal was brimming with celebs on the 4th of July 1973.

4th July 1973
The Last Supper . . . David’s retirement party held at the Cafe Royal in Regent Street. The guest list probably made the party the social rock event of the decade. Amongst the guests were Mick and Bianca Jagger, Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney, Keith Moon, Britt Ekland, Lulu, Tony Curtis, Cat Stevens (David’s old Deram buddy), Richard Penne- baker, Lou Reed, Jeff Beck, Elliot Gould, Ryan O’Neil, Sonny Bono, Barbra Streisand, Peter Cook and Dudley Moore. The party trailed well on into the early hours. Live music was supplied by Dr John.
David Bowie, a Chronology by Kevin Cann

Kevin Cann is the last word on the Bowie timeline.  If he says the party happened on the 4th of July, then it did.  Didn’t it?

What about the people who were at Ziggy’s last supper?

The swank Cafe Royal in Regent Street seemed the right place to celebrate the triumph of Britain’s foremost rock star, and a menu of strawberries and champagne, exclusively, seemed the right refreshment. He liked that idea (who wouldn’t?), and we settled on the date — July 4, the day after the last show of the tour, at the Hammersmith Odeon in London
Backstage Passes by Angie Bowie

It was clear that among the most effective wavs of promoting David was to supply the print media with an endless series of photographs. An expensive promotional looseleaf book of stills was prepared including photographs of David from the “retirement” concert, the party at the Cafe Royale after the show, and three different recording sessions. Each showed him with a different look, visual evidence that his year away had been a year of work and continual change.
StarDust by Tony Zanetta

So Angie is certain that she and David chose the 4th of July for the party at the Café Royal. Tony Zanetta uses the phrase ‘after the show’ , which suggests the 3rd. Which date do you think it was?  If you’re not certain, I’ve got something else for you to think about.

Photographic evidence

I’ll be honest, it was the photos that made me realise something was amiss. I’ve studied so many shots of this event, that I simply hadn’t processed what I’d seen time and again.

Firstly, please excuse my awful image editing. These two images concern Lulu, not only a guest at Ziggy’s last supper but in the photo with Bowie’s mystery guest. The top shot is her arriving at the Hammersmith Odeon on July 3rd for the final Ziggy gig. Highlighted (badly) in yellow, are her handbag and the fluffy pom-pom decoration on her top. The bottom shot was taken at Ziggys last supper and Lulu is clutching the same handbag and sporting the same pom-pom. Maybe her luggage got lost somewhere. You’ll also notice she’s standing between Bowie and Ringo Starr, who is wearing a distinctive jacket. Let’s look at Ringo a little closer too.

The top photo is grabbed from Ziggy Stardust: The Motion Picture. This short scene is about 47 minutes into the film and shows Ringo chilling out with David before the show. Note that I’ve highlighted in red, a badge on Ringo’s jacket and a decorative flourish on his shirt. You’ll spot both of these on the bottom shot, along with Lulu and her pom-pom, squeezed beside Jeff Beck. The bottom shot, not that you need reminding, was taken at the Cafe Royal at Ziggy’s last supper and the whole reason we’re here is due to the unknown guy, top right.

What does this mean?

It means that if Ziggy’s Last Supper took place on the 4th of July 1973, then neither Lulu nor Ringo bothered to get changed from the clothes they were wearing at Hammersmith on July 3rd.  Although I haven’t included her here, there are a few frames of Maureen Starkey in Bowie’s dressing room at Hammersmith, wearing the same top at Ziggy’s last supper.

Clearly there are conflicting stories and accounts in play, so we need some clarity. What we need is to ask someone who was at both the Hammersmith gig and Ziggy’s last supper.  Step forward Edgar Broughton.

In 2016, Edgar wrote a moving blog post about his time with David Bowie, including Hammersmith and Ziggy’s last supper:

I will always remember the final Ziggy gig in Hammersmith. I remember what appeared to be a look of surprise on the faces of The Spiders when Ziggy broke up the band on stage, announcing it would be their last gig. Any way it was a great gig. The after show party at the Cafe Royale was a lavish affair and we all had a great time.

Edgar also mentions ‘after show’ but luckily for us, Edgar was one of the first people to respond when I began Bowie’s Mystery Guest.  I dropped him a line, asking for clarification:

The party was directly after the Hammersmith show which I also attended.

Best

Edgar Broughton

That’s a 1 – nil lead for the 3rd of July and I would say game over. Let’s be certain though. Let’s ask someone else who was also at both events.

It was the night of the 2nd Hammersmith gig  After the concert.

Woody

Woodmansey scores and brings the debate to a conclusion. The reason that Ringo, Lulu and Maureen were in the same clothes at Ziggy’s Last Supper as at Bowie’s gig at Hammersmith, is that they took place on the same day. That day was Tuesday, 3rd July 1973.

Correcting Bowie’s timeline.

I hope you can see how Bowie’s timeline has unintentionally wobbled a little. Ultimately, the date of the party isn’t getting me any closer to discovering who Bowie’s mystery guest was, but it’s important that we correct the historical record to sit alongside the MainMan myths as we plough through the research.

So, was Ziggy’s Last Supper held on 4th July 1973?

No.

If you’ve got this far, then very well done.  Also, if you think you’ve spotted a flaw in my argument or know something I don’t, then please drop me a message.

I wish to extend my most grateful thanks to Edgar Broughton and Woody Woodmansey for sorting this one out for all of us.  Also, huge thanks to @Weird_n_Gilly for encouragement, support and cake talk!