This Day in Rock History: Bowie Releases ‘The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust’
June 16, 1972: David Bowie’s landmark album The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars was released. The 48 year old album still continues to gain popularity every year, especially since Bowie’s unexpected passing in 2016.
The only thing potentially greater than the album itself is the grandeur and wonder that was Ziggy Stardust.
Bowie had unleashed Ziggy on the world just four months before the album’s release, so it was just as shocking when he announced at his July 3, 1973 gig at the Hammersmith Odeon in London that it was “the last show we’ll ever do.” The persona was retired after a mere 17 months.
There’s no better way of grasping the mania around the album than to view the Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars concert film, which chronicles that aforementioned July 3rd show. As incredible as the album was on a turntable, the live show was simply unworldly, and there was no better way for Ziggy to leave the stage than with Ziggy album closer “Rock ‘n’ Roll Suicide.”
In honor of the album’s anniversary, here’s the final Ziggy performance of “Rock ‘n’ Roll Suicide.” Thank you, David, for letting us know we’re not alone and helping us with the pain for all these years.
David Bowie: Iconic Ziggy Stardust Photos
