03/09/2026
Before he became David Bowie, he was a 15-year-old saxophonist named David Jones playing in a small Bromley band called The Konrads.
Formed in 1962 by drummer Dave Crook and guitarist Neville Wills, the group became the stage for Bowie’s very first public performance—June 16, 1962 at the Bromley Technical School fête. Bowie joined primarily as the band’s saxophonist, but history quietly shifted in August 1963 when the group recorded a demo of “I Never Dreamed” at Decca Studios. Though he wasn’t the band’s regular singer, Bowie was chosen to handle the lead vocal—creating the earliest known recording of his voice.
That fragile moment of music history nearly disappeared. Decades later, in 2018, former drummer David Hadfield rediscovered the tape tucked inside an old bread basket. When it went to auction, the recording sold for nearly £40,000, preserving the first audible glimpse of the artist Bowie would become.
By late 1963, Bowie left The Konrads due to creative differences—he wanted to explore blues and rock ’n’ roll, while the band preferred covering pop standards.
The original lineup included Bowie on saxophone and occasional vocals, Neville Wills on guitar, Dave Crook (later David Hadfield) on drums, Rocky Shanan on bass, Roger Ferris on lead vocals, and George Underwood—Bowie’s lifelong friend who would later design the iconic Ziggy Stardust album cover.
Even the band’s name carried a Bowie touch. Introduced by singer Jess Conrad as “My Konrads,” the group originally stylized it as The Kon-rads—until Bowie insisted the hyphen be removed. A small edit… from someone who would soon redefine rock history.
🎷🎶
