The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
- Zone: Surface (level 1 of 5)
- Genre: Rock, Glam rock, Art rock
- Mood: flamboyant, theatrical, anthemic
- Sound: concept album, glam guitar riffs, theatrical vocals, strings, catchy hooks
The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars is a loose concept album about an androgynous alien rock star, and it turned Bowie’s stage persona into the centre of the record. Recorded at Trident Studios in London with the Spiders from Mars (Mick Ronson, Trevor Bolder and Mick Woodmansey), it set glam rock and proto-punk guitar against theatrical, dramatic arrangements, with touches like bongos, harpsichord and an early ARP synthesiser. The story was mostly written after the songs were recorded, so it works as an atmosphere more than a plot. It was Bowie’s breakthrough and defined glam rock, and its blurring of music, character and gender influenced punk, new wave and later art pop.
Track list
- Five Years
- Soul Love
- Moonage Daydream
- Starman
- It Ain’t Easy
- Lady Stardust
- Star
- Hang On to Yourself
- Ziggy Stardust
- Suffragette City
- Rock ’n’ Roll Suicide