The night David Bowie went solo in Wolverhampton - for £60
Music fans around the world mourned his death this month – but almost 50 years ago icon David Bowie was a near unknown artist travelling to Wolverhampton for a gig.
Disaster then struck when a breakdown to his band's van meant he was the only one who turned up to the former Park Hall Hotel in the city on the summer evening in 1969.
However, thanks to the quick thinking of former promotion agency director Tony Perry, the father of TV presenter Suzi Perry, he was given a microphone and stool to perform in front of the audience.
But instead of getting his full fee of £100, Bowie left with just £60 for the gig.
Mr Perry said: "I didn't know that much about him back then.
"We were getting ready to open in the ballroom, and I had a call from David, who was at hotel, and he wanted to speak to me.
"When I went back to the room he told me his band's van had broken down and the show couldn't go on.
"I said 'Why don't you do this show by yourself for around 20 minutes or half an hour?'"
Mr Perry's agency dealt with live music events and operated for more than 20 years. They built the Lafayette club in Wolverhampton, where their offices were based above, and played a huge role in bringing big name acts to the city.
Some of the big name acts they promoted included Moody Blues, Elton John, Led Zepplin, AC/DC and Tina Turner.
The London-born artist took up Tony's offer to perform solo at the hotel.
And although Bowie agreed for the show to go on, he wasn't able to receive a full pay cheque.
Mr Perry said: "When I went back to see David after congratulating him on his performance, I said to him I won't be able to pay you the full fee of £100 because your band hasn't turned up."
Mr Perry then got an offer from the rock star that could have changed the course of his life.
He said: "I asked him where are you appearing next and he didn't know.
"He then asked me if I would be interested in looking after his affairs, but I shook his hand and didn't respond and he went into the night."
Other clubs owned by Astra, the agency Mr Perry was director of, include the Catacombs Club and the Kingfisher pub.
Bowie died on January 10, two days after his 69th birthday and release of his final album Blackstar.
