Rock 100: David Bowie

HE IS, AS HE HAD PLANNED, MAGNIFICENT. The stage appears impeccably struck, lights arranged to catch the finer angles of his face, making him seem at times wonderfully apelike and primitive, at others supremely regal, capable of the grand gesture. The band stands behind him in a shock of silver reflections, just a stride or two to hint the presence, precise, punctuating, emphatic. There is never any question of whether they will make a mistake, lose their footing, leave a stone unturned. David Bowie has waited a long time for his time, and now that it's here, five years stuck on his eyes, he's not about to let it pass him by.