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David Bowie and the Story of Ziggy Stardust

Documentary telling the story of how David Bowie arrived at one of the most iconic creations in pop history - Ziggy Stardust - with contributions from colleagues and famous fans.

The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars is arguably the most important album in the mind-blowing career of David Bowie. Released in 1972, it's the record that set the mercurial musician on course to becoming one of the best-known pop stars on the planet. In just over a year, Bowie's messianic Martian invaded the minds of the nation's youth with a killer combination of extraterrestrial rock 'n' roll and outrageous sexuality, all delivered in high-heeled boots, multicoloured dresses and extravagant make-up. In Bowie's own words, Ziggy was 'a cross between Nijinsky and Woolworths', but this unlikely culture clash worked - Ziggy turned Bowie into stardust.

This documentary tells the story of how Bowie arrived at one of the most iconic creations in the history of pop music. The songs, the hairstyles, the fashion and the theatrical stage presentation merged together to turn David Bowie into the biggest craze since the Beatles. Ziggy's instant success gave the impression that he was the perfectly planned pop star. But, as the film reveals, it had been a momentous struggle for David Bowie to hit on just the right formula that would take him to the top.

Narrated by fan Jarvis Cocker, it reveals Bowie's mission to the stars through the musicians and colleagues who helped him in his unwavering quest for fame - a musical voyage that led Bowie to doubt his true identity, eventually forcing the sudden demise of his alien alter ego, Ziggy.

Contributors include Trevor Bolder (bass player, Spiders from Mars), Woody Woodmansey (drummer, Spider from Mars), Mike Garson (Spiders' keyboardist), Suzi Ronson (Mick Ronson's widow, who gave Bowie that haircut), Ken Scott (producer), Elton John (contemporary and fan), Lindsay Kemp (Bowie's mime teacher), Leee Black Childers (worked for Mainman, Bowie's production company), Cherry Vanilla (Bowie's PA/press officer), George Underwood (Bowie's friend), Mick Rock (Ziggy's official photographer), Steve Harley, Marc Almond, Holly Johnson, Peter Hook, Jon Savage, Peter Doggett and Dylan Jones.

59 minutes

Last on

Sat 8 Jan 2022 22:10
BBC Two

Clips

See all clips from David Bowie and the Story of Ziggy Stardust (2)

Music Played

Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes

  • 00:00

    Wendy Carlos

    The Funeral Of Queen Mary

  • 00:01

    David Bowie

    Moonage Daydream

  • 00:01

    David Bowie

    Suffragette City

  • 00:03

    David Bowie

    The London Boys

  • 00:03

    Sweet

    Block Buster!

  • 00:05

    David Bowie

    The Laughing Gnome

  • 00:05

    David Bowie

    The Jean Genie

  • 00:07

    David Bowie, Adam Sandler

    Space Oddity

  • 00:10

    David Bowie

    The Man Who Sold The World

  • 00:11

    David Bowie

    Space Oddity

  • 00:13

    Alan Hawkshaw

    Beat Me Til I'm Blue

  • 00:16

    David Bowie

    Oh! You Pretty Things

  • 00:17

    David Bowie

    Changes

  • 00:18

    David Bowie

    Life On Mars?

  • 00:19

    David Bowie

    Queen B****

  • 00:19

    David Bowie

    Queen B****

  • 00:20

    David Bowie

    Star

  • 00:30

    Mott the Hoople

    All The Young Dudes

  • 00:32

    David Bowie

    Moonage Daydream

  • 00:34

    Lou Reed

    Walk On The Wild Side

  • 00:35

    Funkadelic

    Nappy Dugout

  • 00:41

    T. Rex

    Metal Guru

  • 00:41

    Roxy Music

    Virginia Plain

  • 00:44

    David Bowie

    Drive-In Saturday (Remastered)

  • 00:44

    Wizzard

    See My Baby Jive

  • 00:42

    Roxy Music

    Virginia Plain

  • 00:46

    David Bowie

    Aladdin Sane

  • 00:54

    David Bowie

    Ziggy Stardust

  • 00:54

    David Bowie

    Farewell Speech

Credits

Narrator Jarvis Cocker
Director James Hale
Producer James Hale
Executive Producer Ryan Minchin
Executive Producer Paul Bullock

Broadcasts

Featured in...

Bowie - In Profile

Bowie - In Profile

BBC Music chronicles Bowie's career