Bowie night one to remember

The Cabana owner Roy Brown hopes people will come and celebrate the life of David Bowie at Friday's tribute night. Photo / Duncan Brown

A tribute night to the late David Bowie will be a cathartic celebration for his Hawke's Bay fans, and will help lift "the black cloud" that has been hanging over the Cabana's owner Roy Brown.

"We all grieve in different ways, but people want to grieve and celebrate their love of Bowie," he said.

"When I heard I just lost it, I stayed up all night taking calls from people who knew how much Bowie meant to me.

"There's just been this black cloud that's not going to lift until January 29, I think [the night] will really help the grieving process."

After having had a Bowie tribute only in November, Mr Brown said there hadn't been too much to organise. He knew other musicians would feel the same grief he had felt over Bowie's passing, which streamlined organising the night's set list.

"There are very few musicians who haven't been affected by him ... people were calling me saying they wanted to play, they wanted to show their respect for him."

Bands including JR, Dan Fern, Brad Gamble, Jackie Gibson, Roy Brown and friends would be performing Bowie covers on the floor, in amongst the crowd to get everyone involved.

The night would also feature video clips of the man himself, and showcase memorabilia collected by Mr Brown.

He played on the Cabana's stage for the first time when he was 20, and wouldn't have done so without Bowie.

"He was the biggest hero I've had in my life. If it wasn't for Bowie I wouldn't be a musician; without him I wouldn't have my voice."

Unlike Mr Brown's other influences, he was able to follow Bowie's career "in real time".

"I remember walking around my father's packing shed singing Golden Years, trying to imitate him."

"I've been following him in real time, I didn't have to discover him retroactively, he was just unfolding in front of me."

While the adage says you should never meet your idols, Mr Brown was "just blown away" when he met Bowie.

Mr Brown had received a call from his friend who owned an Auckland venue, who said "you'll never believe who's sitting in my bar".

After multiple clothing changes, Mr Brown arrived at the bar - where Bowie had been having a beer by himself.

"We talked for two hours, and he asked me more about myself than I could ask about him," Mr Brown said. "He just kept asking questions like 'tell me about your upbringing', because that was how he got inspired, from other peoples' stories.

"That was just the kind of guy he was."

- Don't miss your chance your celebrate the life, music, art, and film of the late David Bowie at the Cabana in Napier. The event starts at 7pm and door sales are available.