The Stars of the Berklee College of Music Bowie Show!

Earlier this year, I attended an amazing concert at the Berklee College of Music in Boston titled Music and Meaning in the Works of David Bowie. The concert featured Berklee students, who were joined on stage by longtime Bowie guitarist Earl Slick — with a special video message from Diamond Dogs drummer Tony Newman.

Berklee students are serious musicians. A Bowie show by Berklee students — let alone Berklee students plus Earl Slick — is a show that you're gonna wanna see. I was lucky to be there.
And now you're in luck, because several of the student performers from that night joined me for this interview:

• Albin Sundström – Bass player from Stockholm, Sweden; also served as musical director for some songs, including "Black Star."
• Opal Gibbons – From Portland, Oregon; musical director of the show and also performed in several songs.
• Carter Siebels – From just outside Worcester, Massachusetts; vocalist who sang several songs, including "Black Star" and "Scary Monsters."
• Jake Ryan – From Centennial, Colorado; drummer who performed on four different songs in the concert.

These musicians were not simply good for students — they were flat-out terrific performers. Keep in mind that Bowie himself was making music at their age, and he recruited Earl Slick when Earl was around their age. Had they not made the decision to go to college, any one of them could be working professionally right now.

This interview is interspersed with clips from the show. Below are links to the YouTube channels of Opal, as well as Tessa Cullen (who did not appear in the interview but also performed), both of whom have more videos from the concert.

Opal's YouTube Channel:    / @opal.gibbons  
Tessa's YouTube Channel:    / @tessacullenmusic  
My interview with Earl Slick:    • Earl Slick on Maggioreonbowie.com  
My interview with Gretchen Shae:    • Gretchen Shae Schools us on David Bowie