David Bowie & The Story of Ziggy Stardust

In the mid-1970s, glam rock was sweeping the music scene, redefining the way artists presented themselves on stage and in the media. It was against this backdrop that David Bowie, one of the most innovative and forward-thinking musicians of his generation, embarked on a revolutionary experiment. Over the course of several months, Bowie would craft a character that would alter the course of rock history: Ziggy Stardust. A BBC documentary delves into the creative process that led to this groundbreaking creation, as told through the recollections of Bowie's contemporaries and admirers. As the early 1970s wore on, Bowie's own star was on the rise, following the relative success of albums 'The Man Who Sold the World' and 'Hunky Dory'. With their unique blend of art rock, folk, and glam sensibilities, Bowie's recent releases had captured the imagination of fans across the UK. However, Bowie was already itching to reinvent himself once more. His fascination with the concept of celebrity and identity had been growing, fueled by his experiences in acting and his love of classic Hollywood stars. In 1972, while working with his manager Tony Defries and his production company MainMan, Bowie conceived of Ziggy Starkiss, a science fiction-inspired character who would allow him to fully explore these themes. The development of Ziggy Stardust was a gradual one. Bowie was influenced by the music of the Velvet Underground and the work of artist Brian Eno. In turn, Eno, who would go on to play a pivotal role in the production of Bowie's 'Low' album, recalled that Bowie was drawn to the ideas of chaos theory and the idea of a being 'out of this world'. As we learn from Brian Eno's own contribution to the documentary, these concepts merged to form the core of Ziggy's personality, a being from outer space with a penchant for rock stardom and existential crisis. Around the same time, Bowie collaborated with his songwriting partner, Ronny Wood, on some of the initial material that would come to define the Ziggy character. Tracks like 'Moonage Daydream' and 'Ziggy Stardust' capture the sense of a world on the brink of collapse, yet simultaneously infused with the thrill of creative rebellion and the power of music to transcend societal norms. In interviews and behind-the-scenes footage contained within the documentary, it becomes clearer that the creation of Ziggy Stardust was not solely an artistic process, but also an exercise in psychological liberation. The public's perception of Bowie's personality underwent a profound transformation once he stepped into the role of Ziggy Stardust. Gone were the soft rock ballads and sensitive songwriting of his earlier work, replaced by an irrepressible energy and an unquenchable desire to push the boundaries of what was regarded as acceptable. Ziggy Stardust became the antithesis of everything that Bowie stood for previously: he was loud, flamboyant and reckless - embodying the very excesses of the 1970s that so many other artists were hesitant to confront head-on. For the public, the enigmatic Ziggy had emerged overnight, as if pulled directly from a science fiction novel. In reality, however, Bowie had spent months perfecting his craft, developing the character and working tirelessly to create a fully immersive experience for his audience. It was during this moment, captured by iconic images of Bowie in costume, surrounded by the glittering costumes and elaborate set designs of Tony Defries' MainMan, that David Bowie was finally, unapologetically and completely himself. Bowie's collaborators and friends - including Mick Ronson, Mike Garson and even the infamous Mick Jagger - recall the sense of excitement and anticipation that swirled around Bowie during this period. For these individuals, David Bowie was the catalyst for an entire creative movement, as if he had single-handedly sparked a revolution that would transform the very fabric of the music industry. Throughout the documentary, interviews with fans of the era - including the iconic musician Debbie Harry - offer a fascinating glimpse into the cultural and social context of the time. How did Ziggy Stardust and his band of fellow outcasts capture the imagination of audiences so thoroughly? In an age defined by the glamour of excess and the liberation of rebellion, David Bowie had tapped into the hearts and minds of a generation. In a broader sense, however, Ziggy Stardust stands as an emblem of artistic experimentation and innovation - a fearless foray into uncharted territory that yielded both a defining moment for David Bowie's own career and an indelible mark on rock history. For it was Ziggy who, by embodying the very duality of creativity - at once an act of self-expression and an assertion of control - pushed artists, fans, and society at large to question everything about what it means to create, to perform and to push boundaries in the name of art. By crafting an icon that was, at once, both androgynous and masculine, an outcast and an everyman, Bowie not only redefined the boundaries of rock and roll but also illuminated the enduring and inescapable connection that exists between art, identity, and the quest for self-expression.