#23 The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars by David Bowie
The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time
- 2025 Album Rank
- 23
- 2011 Album Rank
- 26
- Total Points
- 1952.5
- Year Released
- 1972
- Billboard 200 Chart Peak
- 75
- Weeks at #1
- N/A
- RIAA Sales Certification
- 500,000 (Gold)
- Buy Album
- Apple Music Amazon
The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars by David Bowie Album Details
The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars is David Bowie's glam rock magnum opus and one of the most iconic concept albums in rock history. It tells the story of Ziggy Stardust, an alien rock star sent to Earth as a messenger before an impending apocalypse, who succumbs to the pressures of fame and self-destruction. Combining science fiction, sexual ambiguity, and theatricality with gritty rock and roll, Bowie crafted a character that blurred the lines between performer and persona. Ziggy was both an artistic statement and a mask that Bowie wore until he famously "killed" the character on stage in 1973.
Musically, the album blends glam, proto-punk, and balladry, supported by the Spiders from Mars, guitarist Mick Ronson, bassist Trevor Bolder, and drummer Mick Woodmansey. Ronson's searing guitar riffs and orchestral arrangements are particularly key to the album's sonic impact. Lyrically, Bowie tackled themes of identity, isolation, apocalypse, and rock stardom with poetic flair and a sense of the surreal. Ziggy Stardust was not just a record, it was a cultural moment that defined 1970s glam rock and changed the role of rock stars forever.
Other albums by David Bowie on the list: Hunky Dory.
Interesting Facts About The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
- The character of Ziggy Stardust was partially inspired by Vince Taylor, an eccentric British rocker who believed himself to be a messianic alien, and also by Japanese kabuki theatre and Iggy Pop.
- Starman was a late addition to the album, written to provide a more radio-friendly single. It became Bowie's breakout hit and helped secure his first major appearance on the BBC's Top of the Pops, which launched him into superstardom.
- The iconic cover photo, shot by Brian Ward in London's Heddon Street, features Bowie under moody lighting holding a guitar case. The sign above him reads "K. West," which fans speculated was symbolic, though Bowie claimed he had no idea what it meant.
- Rock 'n' Roll Suicide dramatically ends the album and the Ziggy character's narrative arc, but Bowie would extend the persona into live performances for another year before retiring Ziggy on July 3, 1973 at the Hammersmith Odeon.
- Guitarist Mick Ronson not only played lead guitar but also arranged many of the string parts on the album, showcasing his classical training and deep musicality.
- The original U.K. pressing omitted Starman and instead included the Chuck Berry cover Round and Round, which was later replaced in the final tracklist once RCA pushed for a more commercial single.
- Bowie recorded much of the album in a mere two weeks at Trident Studios in London, with minimal overdubs, adding to its raw energy and urgency.
- Five Years, the album opener, sets a bleak tone for the story with a vision of Earth's impending destruction. The track was one of Bowie's personal favorites and became a dramatic concert opener in later years.
- In a 1976 interview, Bowie admitted that living as Ziggy for over a year left him feeling mentally and emotionally fractured, saying, "Ziggy wouldn't leave me alone for years. That was when it all started to go sour."
- The album was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999 for its cultural and historical significance.
The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars by David Bowie 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
