Bruce Gowers
Bruce Gowers was a British television director and producer, best known for his work on large-scale live music and event productions.
Life and career
Gowers was born in West Kilbride, Ayrshire, Scotland on 21 December 1940. He started his career in his native United Kingdom, where his music video for Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" brought him international recognition, leading to his relocation to the United States in the late 1970s.His career included credits for the live episodes of American Idol which he directed from its inception, and awards shows including the Emmys, the MTV Video Music Awards, the Billboard Awards, and the American Music Awards, event specials including Live Earth, Live 8, and President Bill Clinton's Inaugural Concert at the Lincoln Memorial. He also directed musical specials for Michael Jackson and the Jacksons, the Rolling Stones, Ray Charles, Paul McCartney, Rod Stewart, and Britney Spears.
Gowers died of an acute respiratory infection in Santa Monica, California, on 15 January 2023, at the age of 82.
Television series
Music- American Idol 2002–2007, 2009–2010
- Celebrity Duets 2006
- Your Mama Don't Dance 2008
- So You Think You Can Dance 2005
- Pepsi Smash 2004
- Big Break 1990
- Dancin' to the Hits 30 episodes 1986–1987
- Dick Clark Live 1988–1989
- Solid Gold 1985
- Rock of the 80s – 1984 Ace Award Nominee
- Britt Ekland's Jukebox 1979
- Whose Line Is It, Anyway? 1998–2007
- Penn & Teller's Sin City Spectacular 1998
- American Juniors 2003
- All That 1999
- The Amanda Show 1999
- Roundhouse 1993–1994
- The Kidsongs Television Show , 1987–1988, 1994–1995, 1997–1998
- The Spectacular World of Guinness Records 52 episodes, 1987–1989
- This Is Your Life 1983
- We Interrupt This Week
- Headliners with David Frost 1978
Award shows
- The 57th & 59th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards 2005, 2007
- People's Choice Awards 2005-2009
- The Billboard Awards 1995 - 2006
- Kids' Choice Awards 2005 - 2007, 1995, 1994
- Teen Choice Awards 2004-2009
- Miss America 2006, 2008
- The World Music Awards 2005, 2004
- Tributo A Nuestros Heroes 2004
- Spike Video Game Awards 2004
- The American Music Awards 2003, 2002, 2001
- The Blockbuster Awards 1996-2001
- Academy of Country Music Awards 2002, 2001
- MTV Movie Awards 1992 - 2002
- The 72nd Annual Academy Awards Pre-Show 2002, 2000
- Muhammad Ali 60th Birthday Celebration 2002
- My VH1 Awards 2000
- The MTV Video Music Awards 2000, 1995–1994, 1992-1988—Winner of the 1990 Monitor Award for Best Director, multiple Ace & Monitor Award nominations
- The Essence Awards 1997, 1996, 1995, 1994, 1993 & 1992—1995 NAACP Image Award for Best Special
- The ESPY Awards 1997, 1996 & 1995
- The American Comedy Awards 2000, 1999, 1998 & 1995
- The AFI Salutes... 2000, 1999
- MTV's Fashionably Loud 1998, 1997, 1996 & 1995
- VH1 Fashion Awards 1998, 1997 & 1996
- 1998 Skate, Rattle and Roll Championships 1998
- VH1 Honors 1995, 1994
- MTV European Music Awards 1996, 1995, 1994
- All Star Pro Sports Awards 1990
- American Video Awards 1983, 1985–1986
Television specials
- Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration, The Solo Years 2001
- Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve 2007, 2008
- I Walk the Line: A Night for Johnny Cash 2005
- An All-Star Salute to Patti LaBelle: Live From Atlantis 2005
- Live 8 Philadelphia 2005
- Genius: A Night for Ray Charles 2004 – Winner of the 2004 DGA Award for Best Musical Variety Director. Emmy Award Nominee, Best Director
- Prince Musicology 2004
- Ultimate Manilow 2002
- All Star Tribute to Brian Wilson 2001
- NSYNC - Atlantis Concert 2001
- Women Rock: Girls with Guitars 2001, 2000
- Experience Music Project 2000
- Arista's 25th Anniversary 2000
- Sarah Brightman: La Luna Concert 2000
- Britney Spears in Hawaii 2000
- Britney Spears: There's No Place Like Home 2000
- A Home for the Holidays 2001, 2000
- Radio City Grand Re-Opening 1999
- Ricky Martin: One Night Only 1999
- American Express Concert in Central Park 1999
- L'Oreal Summer Music Mania 1999
- Fleetwood Mac: The Dance 1997 B DGA & EMMY Nominee for Best Director
- Rolling Stones: Bridges to Babylon 1997
- Woodstock 1994
- An American Reunion: The Lincoln Memorial Inaugural Concert 1993
- MTV'S Inaugural Gala Ball 1993
- Up-close: Paul McCartney 1993
- Rod Stewart Valentine Vagabond 1992
- Dwight Yoakam 1991
- MTV Unplugged With Paul McCartney 1991—Ace Award Nominee
- Arista's 15th Anniversary "That's What Friends Are For" 1990
- Huey Lewis and the News 1985—Grammy Award winner for Best Director
- Men at Work "Live in San Francisco" 1984—Monitor Award winner
- Soul Session: James Brown & Friends – 1987 Ace Award for Best Director
- Harry Belafonte: Don't Stop the Carnival 1985
- The Doobie Brothers Farewell Concert 1985
- Rod Stewart, Tonight He's Yours 1981
- Legends of Rock 'N Roll 1989
- 3 Cats From Miami 1998
- Rodney Dangerfield's 75th Birthday Toast 1997
- Paula Poundstone Goes to Harvard 1995
- TV's All Time Classic Comedy 1994
- Dame Edna's Hollywood I, II & III 1992, 1991
- Paul Rodriguez Special 1992
- The 14th Annual Young Comedians Show 1991 with Richard Lewis
- Paula Poundstone: Cats, Cops and Stuff 1990 – Ace Award nominee 1991
- Richard Lewis "I'm Doomed" 1990 – Ace Award nominee 1990
- Harry Anderson's Sideshow 1987
- This Is Your Life, 30th Anniversary Special 1987
- Richard Lewis: "I'm Exhausted" 1988
- George Carlin's "What Am I Doing in New Jersey?" 1988
- The 11th Annual Young Comedian's Special 1988
- Robin Williams, an Evening at The Met – 1988 Monitor Award nominee and 1987 Ace Award nominee, both for Best Director
- Harry Anderson "Hello Sucker" 1986
- Jerry Seinfeld Special 1987
- Greater Tuna 1984—Monitor Award Winner for Best Cable Program, Ace Award Nominee for Best Director
- Billy Crystal - A Comic's Line 1984
- Richard Belzer Caught in the Act 1984
- Eddie Murphy Delirious 1983
- Explosion! 1997
- City Kids All-star Celebration 1995
- World of Entertainment 1982
- All-Star Salute to Mother's Day 1981
- The II, III, IV & V International Guinness Book of World Records
- David Frost with The Shah of Iran 1980
Videos
| Year | Song | Artist | Notes |
| 1973 | "Keep Yourself Alive" | Queen | |
| 1973 | "Liar" | Queen | |
| 1975 | "Bohemian Rhapsody" | Queen | |
| 1975 | "I'm Not in Love" | 10cc | |
| 1975 | "In Dulce Jubilo" | Mike Oldfield | |
| 1976 | "You're My Best Friend" | Queen | |
| 1976 | "Somebody to Love" | Queen | |
| 1976 | "Robbery, Assault, and Battery" | Genesis | |
| 1976 | "Ripples..." | Genesis | |
| 1976 | "A Trick of the Tail" | Genesis | |
| 1976 | "I'm Mandy Fly Me" | 10cc | |
| 1976 | "Rockaria!" | Electric Light Orchestra | |
| 1976 | "Hot Stuff" | The Rolling Stones | |
| 1976 | "Hey Negrita" | The Rolling Stones | |
| 1976 | "Fool to Cry" | The Rolling Stones | |
| 1976 | "The Killing of Georgie" | Rod Stewart | |
| 1976 | "Tonight's the Night " | Rod Stewart | |
| 1977 | "The First Cut Is the Deepest" | Rod Stewart | |
| 1977 | "Tie Your Mother Down" | Queen | |
| 1977 | "How Much Love" | Leo Sayer | |
| 1977 | "Stayin' Alive" | The Bee Gees | |
| 1977 | "How Deep is Your Love" | The Bee Gees | |
| 1977 | "You're Insane" | Rod Stewart | |
| 1977 | "You're in My Heart " | Rod Stewart | |
| 1978 | "I Was Only Joking" | Rod Stewart | |
| 1978 | "Hot Legs" | Rod Stewart | |
| 1978 | "Baby Come Back" | Player | |
| 1978 | "Emotion" | Samantha Sang | |
| 1978 | "Dust in the Wind" | Kansas | |
| 1978 | "Lights" | Journey | |
| 1978 | "Life Beyond L.A." | Ambrosia | |
| 1978 | "How Much I Feel" | Ambrosia | |
| 1978 | "I'm Every Woman" | Chaka Khan | |
| 1978 | "How You Gonna See Me Now" | Alice Cooper | |
| 1978 | "Blue Collar Man " | Styx | |
| 1978 | "Sing for the Day" | Styx | |
| 1978 | "I'm OK" | Styx | |
| 1978 | "I Love the Nightlife" | Alicia Bridges | |
| 1978 | "Love Don't Live Here Anymore" | Rose Royce | |
| 1978 | "Reunited" | Peaches & Herb | |
| 1978 | "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?" | Rod Stewart | |
| 1979 | "Ain't Love a Bitch" | Rod Stewart | |
| 1979 | "Blondes " | Rod Stewart | |
| 1979 | "Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'" | Journey | |
| 1979 | "Lovin' You is Easy" | Journey | |
| 1979 | "Just the Same Way" | Journey | |
| 1979 | "Turn Me On" | The Tubes | |
| 1979 | "TV is King" | The Tubes | |
| 1979 | "Prime Time" | The Tubes | |
| 1979 | "The Logical Song" | Supertramp | |
| 1979 | "Goodbye Stranger" | Supertramp | |
| 1979 | "Breakfast in America" | Supertramp | |
| 1979 | "La dolce Vita" | Sparks | |
| 1979 | "The Number One Song in Heaven" | Sparks | |
| 1979 | "Dancing Jones" | Nicolette Larson | |
| 1979 | "Small Paradise" | John Cougar | |
| 1979 | "I Need a Lover" | John Cougar | |
| 1979 | "Miami" | John Cougar | |
| 1979 | "99" | Toto | |
| 1979 | "Rock with You" | Michael Jackson | |
| 1980 | "She's Out of My Life" | Michael Jackson | |
| 1980 | "Hydra" | Toto | |
| 1980 | "St. George and the Dragon" | Toto | |
| 1980 | "All Us Boys" | Toto | |
| 1980 | "Ride Like the Wind" | Christopher Cross | |
| 1980 | "This Time" | John Cougar | |
| 1981 | "Ain't Even Done with the Night" | John Cougar | |
| 1981 | "Tom Sawyer" | Rush | |
| 1981 | "Vital Signs" | Rush | |
| 1981 | "Limelight" | Rush | |
| 1981 | "Controversy" | Prince | |
| 1981 | "Sexuality" | Prince | |
| 1981 | "Nightwalker" | Gino Vannelli | |
| 1981 | "Winning" | Santana | |
| 1981 | "Searchin'" | Santana | |
| 1981 | "I Love You Too Much" | Santana | |
| 1981 | "E Papa Re" | Santana | |
| 1981 | "Changes" | Santana | |
| 1981 | "Over and Over" | Santana | |
| 1981 | "A World Without Heroes" | Kiss | |
| 1982 | "I" | Kiss | |
| 1982 | "Keep the Fire Burnin'" | REO Speedwagon | |
| 1982 | "Sweet Time" | REO Speedwagon | |
| 1982 | "Girl With the Heart of Gold" | REO Speedwagon | |
| 1982 | "I'll Follow You" | REO Speedwagon | |
| 1982 | "The Key" | REO Speedwagon | |
| 1982 | "Back in My Heart Again" | REO Speedwagon | |
| 1982 | "Stillness of the Night" | REO Speedwagon | |
| 1982 | "Good Trouble" | REO Speedwagon | |
| 1982 | "1999" | Prince | |
| 1982 | "Jack and Diane" | John Cougar | |
| 1982 | "Hurts So Good" | John Cougar | |
| 1983 | "Waiting for Your Love" | Toto | |
| 1984 | "The Heart of Rock & Roll" | Huey Lewis and the News | |
| 1984 | "I Don't Want to Talk About It" | Rod Stewart | |
| 1987 | "In My Dreams" | REO Speedwagon | |
| 1993 | "People Everyday" | Arrested Development | |
| 1996 | "Why Does It Hurt So Bad" | Whitney Houston | |
| 2005 | " Amarillo" | Tony Christie and Peter Kay |