A Lot Of People Still Aren’t Over The Time Bowie Was Replaced By The Darkness At Oxegen 2004

Sadly, there’s a whole generation of Irish people who never got to see Bowie perform live – but many of them did come agonisingly close in 2004.

Having been scheduled to headline Oxegen that year (along with Scottish twin festival T In The Park), he was forced to withdraw for health reasons.

His replacement – The Darkness – left a lot of people rather underwhelmed. And now, with the knowledge that the chance to see him perform has passed forever, it seems the scars have been reopened…

‘That feeling but forever’

Thinking about the time he didn’t show up for Oxegen and all we got was Muse and The Darkness. That feeling but forever. #Bowie

— DaveTynan (@dave_tynan) January 11, 2016

Remember the only time I actually had tickets to see #bowie but he cancelled due to ill health and we got The Darkness instead at Oxegen.

— Fungus McTooshwick (@kirkmeister) January 11, 2016

This is even sadder than the time he was replaced by The Darkness at Oxegen ???? #Bowie

— enda (@endacan) January 11, 2016

Never got to see Bowie live. He was due to play Oxegen one year but pulled out and got replaced by The Darkness ???? #RIP

— Bri (@AngryDots) January 11, 2016

Even if you don’t speak French, the ellipsis here says it all…

2004. Je dois le voir clôturer le festival Oxegen à Dublin. Mais il se luxe l’épaule et est remplacé par… The Darkness. #RIP David Bowie.

— Rodighiero (@Rodighiero_) January 11, 2016

To be fair, The Darkness had been second on the bill and the withdrawal was at very short notice – so they were probably only delighted to step up to the mark and headline a festival gig after having one hit (and one festive follow-up).

But still.

The Darkness.

Brings a smile to my face when I think of how @mcd_productions once replaced Bowie with Darkness at Oxegen 04.#bowie

— Des Shiels (@jerkbenedict) January 11, 2016