toward the first two" because he's a rocker at heart. Back in the early 1980s, Brighton played guitar with Quiet Riot's Kevin DuBrow. The hard rock singer later produced demos for Brighton, which led to ample session work and a record deal.

"For too many years, people told me I sounded like him. It was always an issue in my (own) work, so eventually, I gave up. I loved the music and had a high regard for his artistic integrity.

So I decided to have a go at" doing an impersonation. The first "Space Oddity" show took place in 1999. Before that, Brighton, a Los Angeles native, spent several years portraying George Harrison with the original Broadway cast of "Beatlemania" as well as The Fab Four (and still occasionally fills in for both).

He spent a long time preparing to do Bowie. "It was very difficult to assimilate all the details," he said. One of the biggest challenges was securing the elaborate costumes and "finding people to go the distance with the details required; it's very expensive.

" "David Bowie music is art," Brighton said. "He's had so many different genres and characters. That, in and of itself, is unique.

" The attention to Bowie specifics extended to consulting with frequent Bowie pianist Mike Garson about his work on the 1970s albums "Aladdin Sane," "Diamond Dogs" and "Young Americans." "My keyboardist said it would be insane to learn all the arrangements by ear." Garson graciously provided the song charts.

"This is a show for Bowie fans...

we (typically) go back to the late '60s, all the way to the late '80s. Now, we've ventured into the '90s." Doing the show "really is a blast and fun to play the rock 'n' roll mutation.

I'm so proud of my band. The level of musicianship makes it a pleasure. David Bowie is the consummate showman.

" A few years ago, Brighton filmed a Vittel bottled mineral water commercial with the man himself (available on Brighton's Web site). "It was quite surreal and a remarkable experience. I remember standing next to this person I've listened to my whole life and how bizarre it was to meet my hero - not as myself - but as him .

.. I got an up close education and saw the ingredients of a superstar.

" toward the first two" because he's a rocker at heart.