Tin Machine Tour


The Tin Machine Tour was a concert tour headlined by Anglo-American hard rock band Tin Machine. The tour commenced on 14 June 1989, following a performance of "Heaven's in Here" at the International Music Awards in New York City on 31 May 1989. It comprised 12 performances in six countries in venues with a capacity of 2,000 or less. Joined onstage by Kevin Armstrong, Tin Machine performed the entirety of their eponymous debut album with the exception of "Video Crime," augmented with cover version of songs from Bob Dylan and Johnny Kidd & The Pirates.

Tour performance details

The band played in "fashionable black suits" in front of stark lighting in what was described as a departure from Bowie's previous tour. The 17 June show was added at the last minute when Bowie saw the long lines for tickets to 16 June's performance; the show was at midnight and tickets were sold at half-price. For 24 June's performance in Amsterdam, video screens were erected outside the venue for those unable to obtain tickets. The video for "Maggie's Farm" was recorded at the same venue.

Live recordings

The 25 June performance at La Cigale, Paris was recorded with excerpts broadcast on Westwood One FM radio. Four songs from the same performance were released as b-sides to the 1989 singles; "Tin Machine" and "Prisoner of Love." 8 songs performed at this show were released digitally on the album Live at La Cigale, Paris, 25th June, 1989 in August 2019, to coincide with the album's 30th anniversary. The digital release was mastered by original album producer Tim Palmer.

Tour reviews

The Los Angeles Times had a positive review of Tin Machine's first show of the tour in New York City, saying "the band was full of life, raucous and brash, good-natured and smart."
Rolling Stone described fans who had gone to see "the Thin White Duke crooning 'Young Americans'" as receiving a rude awakening as Bowie offered "no oldies, no encores and no apologies." Reactions to the US shows were mixed as fans and critics felt that the proximity to Bowie was often more exciting than the music the band was playing. Ultimately, Rolling Stone magazine stated that it was Bowie's presence that "elevated the songs from the level of average grunge to that of theatrical avant-garage rock", and later said it helped Bowie regain some of the credibility he had lost during his previous album and tour.

Tour band

;Additional musicians
SET LIST: Sacrifice Yourself, Heaven's in Here, Amazing, Working Class Hero, Tin Machine, Sorry,
Prisoner of Love, Bus Stop, Bus Stop, I Can't Read, You've Been Around, Baby
Can Dance, Run, Crack City, Pretty Thing, Under The God

SET LIST: Sacrifice Yourself, Heaven's in Here, Amazing, Working Class Hero, Tin Machine, Prisoner of
Love, Sorry, Bus Stop, Bus Stop, Run, I Can't Read, Baby Can Dance, Pretty Thing,
Crack City, Under The God

SET LIST: Sacrifice Yourself, Heaven's in Here, Working Class Hero, Sorry, Bus Stop,
Bus Stop, I Can't Read, Run, Pretty Thing, Crack City, Baby Can Dance, Under The God

SET LIST: Sacrifice Yourself, Heaven's in Here, Amazing, Working Class Hero, Tin Machine, Prisoner of
Love, Sorry, Bus Stop, Bus Stop, Run, I Can't Read, Baby Can Dance, Pretty Thing,
Crack City, Under The God

SET LIST: Amazing, Sacrifice Yourself, Heaven's in Here, Working Class Hero, Tin Machine, Sorry,
Bus Stop, Bus Stop, Run, Maggie's Farm, Baby Can Dance, I Can't Read, Pretty
Thing, Crack City, Under The God

SET LIST: Amazing, Sacrifice Yourself, Heaven's in Here, Working Class Hero, Prisoner of Love,
Tin Machine, Sorry, Bus Stop, Bus Stop, Run, Maggie's Farm, I Can't Read,
Baby Can Dance, Pretty Thing, Crack City, Under The God

SET LIST: Amazing, Heaven's in Here, Sacrifice Yourself, Working Class Hero, Prisoner of Love, Tin
Machine, Sorry, Bus Stop, Bus Stop, Run, Maggie's Farm, I Can't Read, Baby Can
Dance, Pretty Thing, Crack City, Under The God

Opening Band : La Place
Local Promoter : Alain Lahana
SET LIST: Amazing, Heaven's in Here, Sacrifice Yourself, Working Class Hero, Prisoner of Love, Sorry,
Bus Stop, Run, Maggie's Farm, I Can't Read, Baby Can Dance, Pretty Thing, Crack City, Under The God

Opening Band : Jesus Jones
SET LIST: Bus Stop, Bus Stop, Amazing, Working Class Hero, Sacrifice Yourself,
Heaven's in Here, Prisoner of Love, Sorry, Now, Run, Baby Can Dance, Tin Machine, Maggie's
Farm, I Can't Read, Shakin' All Over, Pretty Thing, Crack City, Under The God

SET LIST: Amazing, Heaven's in Here, Sacrifice Yourself, Working Class Hero, Prisoner of Love, Sorry,
Bus Stop, Bus Stop, Shakin' All Over, Run, Baby Can Dance, I Can't Read, Maggie's
Farm, Pretty Thing, Crack City, Under The God

SET LIST: Now, Amazing, Heaven's in Here, Bus Stop, Bus Stop, Working Class Hero,
Prisoner of Love, Sacrifice Yourself, Sorry, Run, I Can't Read, Maggie's Farm, Tin Machine, Baby Can
Dance, Shakin' All Over, Pretty Thing, Crack City, Under The God

SET LIST: Amazing, Heaven's in Here, Working Class Hero, Shakin' All Over, Sorry, Sacrifice Yourself,
Bus Stop, Bus Stop, Run, I Can't Read, Maggie's Farm, Baby Can Dance, Tin Machine,
Pretty Thing, Crack City, Under The God

The songs

From Tin Machine
From Tin Machine II
From Black Tie White Noise
Other songs: