In newly-available upgraded HD video, Bowie – as Ziggy and joined by his band, The Spiders From Mars – can be seen delivering the record’s opening track, “Five Years”, on the classic music series The Old Grey Whistle Test.
“Five Years” was one of three songs – alongside “Queen Bitch” and “Oh! You Pretty Things” from “Hunky Dory” – that the rocker delivered just days before the launch of the first Ziggy Stardust tour.
“Hunky Dory” had been released less than two months earlier and the Ziggy Stardust album opener wouldn't be available to fans for a few months yet.
As Bowie’s team notes: “So, of the songs recorded, ‘Oh! You Pretty Things’ would probably have been the best advert for the tour, in that it was freshest in the public memory, having spent several weeks on the UK singles chart for Peter Noone the previous May and June, when it peaked at No. 14.
“However, in their wisdom, the BBC didn't broadcast ‘Oh! You Pretty Things’ for another ten years, probably considering the song a little too mainstream (due to the Noone connection) for the often chin-strokingly serious TOGWT.
“All three tracks were eventually released officially on the Best Of Bowie DVD (including an alternate take of Oh! You Pretty Things) and they still look and sounds as fresh and exciting today as they ever did.”
“The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust…” was re-released on June 17 as a limited edition half-speed mastered LP and a picture disc, featuring the same master and a replica promotional poster for the album.
Bowie laid to rest the Ziggy Stardust persona in July 1973 at his infamous last show with the Spiders From Mars at London’s Hammersmith Odeon, but Ziggy’s impact reverberates to this day.
See also:
David Bowie celebrates Ziggy Stardust 50th anniversary with Starman remix
David Bowie to release Ziggy Stardust 50th anniversary vinyl editions
David Bowie streams teaser trailer for Moonage Daydream documentary
David Bowie streams 50th anniversary Starman lyric video
Search David Bowie at hennemusic
