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The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars 1972
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The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars

When David Bowie released The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars in June 1972, he presented the world with a story that went beyond music. This album, which became his fifth studio production, was conceived as a rock opera with a narrative about a fictional character, Ziggy Stardust. Bowie's alter ego was an androgynous, bisexual rock star sent to Earth to be a savior in the face of an impending catastrophe. The music, which blends glam rock with proto-punk, was recorded between November 1971 and February 1972 at London's Trident Studios, with Bowie and Ken Scott as co-producers. The sound of the backing band, The Spiders from Mars, composed of Mick Ronson on guitar, Trevor Bolder on bass, and Mick Woodmansey on drums, is fundamental to the record's identity. The inspiration for the musical style came from figures like Iggy Pop and Marc Bolan, while the lyrics explore themes such as the artificiality of the music industry, sexuality, and stardom. The album cover, a retouched black and white image, was captured in London in front of a furrier's shop.

Year
1972
Songs
11
Duration
38 min 31 seg
Listen to the album ★

11 song|s

Song list

# Title Available ⏱
01

Five Years

Guitarra · Intermedio

4:43 02

Soul Love

Guitarra · Intermedio

3:34 03

Moonage Daydream

Guitarra · Intermedio

4:39 04

Starman

Guitarra · Intermedio

4:14 05

It Ain’t Easy

Guitarra · Intermedio

2:57 06

Lady Stardust

Guitarra · Intermedio

3:20 07

Star

Guitarra · Intermedio

2:47 08

Hang On to Yourself

Guitarra · Intermedio

2:39 09

Ziggy Stardust

Guitarra · Intermedio

3:13 10

Suffragette City

Guitarra · Intermedio

3:24 11

Rock ’n’ Roll Suicide

Guitarra · Intermedio

3:01

About the album

The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, according to DoReSol

The album gained significant momentum after Bowie's performance of "Starman" on the show Top of the Pops in early July 1972, which catapulted the artist to greater notoriety. This track, along with others like "Moonage Daydream" and "Hang On to Yourself", which Bowie had already worked on with his band Arnold Corns, became pillars of the record. The story of Ziggy Stardust did not end with the album; the character was maintained for the subsequent tour, and ideas for a musical based on the concept were later explored in the album Diamond Dogs. The record has been the subject of several reissues, including a 2012 remaster to commemorate its 40th anniversary.

Over time, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars has been recognized as a masterpiece by David Bowie, appearing on various lists of the best albums of all time. In 2017, its cultural and historical importance was highlighted when it was selected for preservation in the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress. The album's creation process was intertwined with that of Hunky Dory, recorded in the same studio and with the same musicians who would later form The Spiders from Mars. The need for material that could be performed live led to the prioritization of songs for this project.

Discography

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