"The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars" is David Bowie's iconic fifth studio album, released on June 16, 1972, by RCA Records in the United Kingdom. Co-produced by Bowie and Ken Scott, the album features Bowie's backing band, the Spiders from Mars, including guitarist Mick Ronson, bassist Trevor Bolder, and drummer Mick Woodmansey. Recorded at Trident Studios in London from November 1971 to February 1972, the album is a loose concept album and rock opera centered around Bowie's alter ego, Ziggy Stardust.
Ziggy Stardust is depicted as an androgynous, bisexual rock star who arrives on Earth as a savior before an impending apocalyptic disaster. The character, inspired by various musicians like Vince Taylor, captures fame but ultimately faces a downfall due to his own ego. The album's concept was largely developed post-recording, blending glam rock and proto-punk styles influenced by Iggy Pop, the Velvet Underground, and Marc Bolan. Its lyrics explore themes of rock music's artificiality, political issues, drug use, sexuality, and stardom.
Released with the lead single "Starman," Ziggy Stardust reached the top five of the UK Albums Chart. Critics responded favorably, though some initially struggled to grasp its concept. Bowie's performance of "Starman" on Britain's Top of the Pops catapulted him to stardom. The Ziggy Stardust character was retained for the subsequent Ziggy Stardust Tour, with live recordings later released as albums and a concert film.
Over the years, "Ziggy Stardust" has been acclaimed as one of Bowie's greatest works, frequently appearing on lists of the greatest albums of all time. Bowie had considered a musical based on the album, which did not materialize but influenced ideas later used in "Diamond Dogs" (1974). The album has been reissued multiple times and was remastered for its 40th anniversary in 2012. In 2017, it was selected for preservation in the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress, recognizing its cultural, historical, and aesthetic significance.
