Ziggy Stardust

The song Ziggy Stardust is the heart of an album that narrates the rise and fall of a fascinating figure. In it, Ziggy is presented, an androgynous and bisexual alien rock star, who arrives on Earth as a messenger from beings from other worlds. Although the character appears earlier on the record, it is on this track where his complete story is condensed, from his appearance to his eventual decline, all told from a very human perspective. Musically, the piece dives headfirst into glam rock, with a guitar melody that has become fundamental, the work of Mick Ronson.

David Bowie wrote Ziggy Stardust and Lady Stardust in a span of a few days in early 1971. Before the definitive version of the album, Bowie recorded an acoustic demo of the song between February and March 1971 at Radio Luxembourg studios in London. In that same period, he also recorded Moonage Daydream and Hang On to Yourself with his group Arnold Corns. This demo, which offers a more intimate view of the composition, was later included as a bonus track on reissues of the album. The recording we know from the album was completed at Trident Studios in London on November 11, 1971. It was co-produced with Ken Scott and featured the participation of Bowie's backing band, the Spiders from Mars, made up of Mick Ronson, Trevor Bolder, and Mick Woodmansey. The lyrics begin with Ziggy's arrival, described as "a meteorite from a distant galaxy," and the phrase "Ziggy played guitar," marking the beginning of his legend.