Arcade Fire and Preservation Hall Jazz Band have shut down the streets of New Orleans for a huge celebration of David Bowie‘s life and music, and it looks like it was a whole lotta’ fun.
Joined by hundreds of punters who came out in their best Bowie gettup, Arcade Fire and company held their ‘Pretty Things’ parade (named after the Hunky Dory track Oh! You Pretty Things) in Bowie’s honour, singing his music as they moved through the city.
Footage of the ‘Pretty Things’ parade has emerged online (via Arcade Fire Tube), showing Arcade Fire’s Win Butler and Régine Chassagne singing Bowie tracks like Oh! You Pretty Things and Heroes while the crowd join in on all the good vibes.
Arcade Fire collaborated with Bowie multiple times in his later years, performing their song Wake Up with him in 2005 and later featuring him on their most recent album, 2013’s Reflektor.
In a statement posted to Facebook following Bowie’s death, Arcade Fire said, “David Bowie was one of the band’s earliest supporters and champions. He not only created the world that made it possible for our band to exist, he welcomed us into it with grace and warmth.
“We will take to the grave the moments we shared; talking, playing music and collaborating as some of the most profound and memorable moments of our lives. A true artist even in his passing, the world is more bright and mysterious because of him, and we will continue to shout prayers into the atmosphere he created.”
The ‘Pretty Things’ parade wasn’t the first time Preservation Hall Jazz Band had helped a band shut down the streets of New Orleans, having helped Foo Fighters shut down an entire block back in 2014.
Catch a bunch of footage from Arcade Fire’s ‘Pretty Things’ parade below, and try to ignore the FOMO feelings which are about to wash over you.
Watch: Arcade Fire & Preservation Hall Jazz Band – Heroes (At New Orleans David Bowie Parade)
https://twitter.com/ArcadeFiretube/status/688512484391661568
At the Bowie Memorial Parade in New Orleans. Yes that's Arcade Fire. -MB #prettythings @DavidBowieReal @arcadefire pic.twitter.com/PQY6h8ushi
— hammock (@hammockmusic) January 16, 2016
https://twitter.com/ArcadeFiretube/status/688496694057680896
