My schoolmate (at Bromley grammar) and bandmate Steve Brown met David Bowie on several occasions playing at the Three Tuns pub in Beckenham. Steve first performed with his schoolfriend Keith McCulloch, playing Bob Dylan’s I Dreamed I Saw St Augustine, during which Bowie picked up a tambourine and played along with his familiar broad smile. Steve also played at the Three Tuns with his band Big John.
Bromley grammar produced an eclectic alumni, from the sublime to the ridiculous – including the Beatles’ George Martin, Pete Frampton and Billy Idol (Bill Broad, as he was then). Bill watched Steve and co first perform in the school dining hall. This was all before Steve hit 16.