The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
By Eamon O'Neill
In a career that famously saw him reinvent himself so much so that he was dubbed ‘the chameleon of rock’, with a seemingly endless well of creativity that witnessed him churn out classic after classic with almost embarrassing ease, David Bowie’s catalogue is littered with towering achievements. Creator of some of the most talked about albums in music history; from his first real classic in ‘Hunky Dory’ (1971), to final Berlin Trilogy release ‘Heroes’ (1977), and the album released mere days before his passing in 2016 (‘Blackstar’); there’s an abundance of material to choose from when reaching for a Bowie vinyl.
There's a starman waiting in the sky...
With twenty-six studio albums, as well as live releases, Record Store Day exclusives, expanded editions and more, it’s easy to get confused when flicking through the Bowie section of your local record stockist or online store. And while most will prove more than worthwhile, even the greats can get it wrong sometimes; ”My nadir was ‘Never Let Me Down” (1987), so said the man himself; “It was such an awful album”.
Bowie’s career was a labyrinth of twists and turns, confounding expectations and ploughing a furrow that was uniquely his, but it was with the ‘Ziggy Stardust’ album (or, ‘The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars’, to be given its full title) in 1972 that the world first really started to take notice of this singular talent.
From Brixton to the big time...
Released an astonishing half century ago, it is rightly regarded as not only one of the Brixton boy’s defining works, but as one of the most important albums of a generation. More than just a stylistic and visual reinvention, ‘Ziggy Stardust’ is the musical milestone that made David Bowie into a superstar.
Taking on the role of the fictional titular character, the album was recorded in November 1971 at Trident Studios in London by Bowie with his backing band the Spiders from Mars, which consisted of guitarist Mick Ronson (Ian Hunter, Van Morrison, Bob Dylan), bassist Trevor Bolder (who would later go on to spend a lengthy spell in classic rock behemoths Uriah Heep) and drummer Mick Woodmansey.
As the title suggests, the album tells the tale of Ziggy and his Spiders, in a linear rock opera format, with its eleven tracks charting their story.
I never thought I'd need so many people
Kicking things off is the exquisite ‘Five Years’, whose lyrics break the news that the Earth only has five years left before it gets destroyed by an impending disaster. Fittingly, the song is something of a drama in itself. Fading in on the beat of sticks man Wooodmansey, the song builds and builds, with Bowie’s vocal going from a calm narration, to a pained scream over the course of its four and three-quarter minutes.
It’s an arresting start, and what follows is some of the finest music of the glam rock era. From ‘Soul Love’s acoustic strumming and hypnotic percussion, to the whimsical ‘Moonage Daydream’, which utilises Ronson’s soloing skills to their fullest, to ‘Starman’, which instantly conjures that summer ‘72 Top of the Pops appearance, with Bowie’s arm scandalously draped around his six-string foil’s shoulder, it’s essential listening.
The best is arguably saved for last though, with the trio of closers among the greatest tracks Bowie ever recorded. The infectious near-title track, which closed out Bowie’s set at his November 2003 show at Dublin’s Point Theatre (available in a variety of audio and visual formats as ‘A Reality Tour’), remains one of his most well-known tracks, while the propulsive ‘Suffragette City’ may be the quintessential song from the Ziggy period. It all ends in heartbreaking fashion (just as it began), with ‘Rock ‘N’ Roll Suicide’ bringing the curtain down on both the album, and on Ziggy himself.
Like many seventies albums, it all seems to go by in the blink of an eye, and is over much too soon. With a runtime constructed with the vinyl format in mind, its forty minutes however, are perfect for the format.
Re-released on half speed mastered picture disc in June 2022 exactly fifty years and one day on from its original release, and featuring a replica promotional poster, this particular version is a fine addition to the album’s lauded legacy.
Adorned, of course with the same iconic artwork as the original (the location of which, just off London’s Mayfair is now the site of the official David Bowie Store, no less), it’s a thing of beauty.
Whether a connoisseur, or new to his work, ‘Ziggy Stardust’ is an essential addition to any David Bowie collection.
Album Details
The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars was released on 16th June 1972 and is available to buy on standard vinyl, 50th anniversary special vinyl and picture disc vinyl at Vinyl8.com
Tracklist
- Five Years
- Soul Love
- Moonage Daydream
- Starman
- It Ain't Easy
- Lady Stardust
- Star
- Hang On to Yourself
- Ziggy Stardust
- Suffragette City
- Rock 'n' Roll Suicide
