David Bowie reportedly disliked the rigid, highly theatrical Diamond Dogs tour of 1974, saying it left him with “no freedom”. The production’s complexity limited his ability to perform spontaneously, even though it was among the most ambitious live shows of its era.

The North American tour promoted Diamond Dogs and initially featured elaborate sets, costumes, choreography and machinery intended to recreate its dystopian world. It ran from June to December 1974, with 78 performances across three legs, before Bowie substantially stripped back the show and shifted towards the soul-influenced material that would lead into Young Americans.