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

#Bowie is one of the greats I never got to see. Came so close in 2004 but then, for health reasons, he was replaced by The Darkness. ????

— kDamo (@kDamo) January 11, 2016

I was supposed to see Bowie at an Irish festival in 2004 but he fell ill and was replaced by...The Darkness. Seriously like!

— Dee Dee Remoan (@justintime4tea) January 12, 2016

I almost saw David Bowie live in 2004 but he pulled out and we got The Darkness instead. I'm still mad about it.

— Mel Burt (@raisethewaves) January 11, 2016

And across the water in Scotland, T in the Park veterans were equally pissed...

David Bowie was supposed to headline my first T in the Park in 2004 but he pulled out and was replaced by The Darkness. Life is cruel.

— Jamie Ross (@JamieRoss7) January 11, 2016

This is why I missed Bowie at T in the Park 2004 - they put The Darkness on instead. The Darkness! pic.twitter.com/IM2qs6Av0i

— Will Findlater (@willfindlater) January 11, 2016

'Criminal'

Was gutted back in 2004 when Bowie pulled out of T in the Park due to injury. Replaced by the Darkness. Criminal.Always wished I'd seen him

— Adam Coates (@AdamCoates1334) January 11, 2016

'Bebo AGM'. Amazing.

I mind I got tickets to the bebo AGM 2004 (TITP) as Bowie was headlining the Saturday. He pulled out and was replaced by The Darkness !!!

— mark lindsay (@markybhoy75) January 11, 2016

'The fucking Darkness'

Main reason for going to T in the Park 2004 was to see Bowie play. Unfortunately he fell ill, replaced by The Darkness. The fucking Darkness

— Phil Scott-Long (@PhilLong80) January 11, 2016