About 300 fans of David Bowie strolled along the Beltline Sunday afternoon in an impromptu parade honoring the late rock star.
Many dressed up for the occasion, wearing orange hair and Ziggy Stardust facepaint. Several brought acoustic guitars and played “Rebel Rebel,” “Suffragette City” and other tunes from Bowie’s catalog while fellow marchers sang along.
It was a spur-of-the-moment get-together for those who felt the need to note the passing of a pop culture giant.
"When we put this up on Facebook on Wednesday I thought I'd see maybe ten of my friends," said parade organizer Jez de Wolff. Instead hundreds began following the page, from around the world.
Gathering at Piedmont Park, parade-goers hoisted signs reading “Our Starman” and “Bowie4Ever.” One or two enterprising marchers pulled wagons with battery-powered stereos pounding out such hits as “Let’s Dance” and “China Girl.”
The parade wound through the Old Fourth Ward and arrived at the venerable music hall, the Masquerade, another institution that may soon be gone. The land beneath the scruffy former mill building was sold last year.
“This may be the last event that happens at the Masquerade,” de Wolff told the crowd that gathered in the muddy yard behind the club.
Atlanta guitarist Arrie Bozeman was not yet born when Bowie put out his first album — nor when Bowie put out his 15th album — but was affected strongly by his death. “This has been a rough two weeks,” she said. For the parade she brought along her acoustic guitar and helped lead the sing-along at the end.
The event served as a balm to a hurtful moment. “What a great time,” she said.
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