It is one of the most iconic performances in the history of modern music : the moment where David Bowie retired his Ziggy Stardust alter ego in front of an audience of 5,000 fans at London’s Hammersmith Odeon.

Bowie’s decision to retire Ziggy, the character that had made him a star, and split his band, The Spiders From Mars, secured his future, allowing him to become the restless, inquisitive and shape-shifting artist that we know him to be.

That one moment also changed popular culture, unleashing a set of artistic and ideological freedoms that are still being enjoyed by musicians and the wider creative community today.

July 3, 1973 – David Bowie retired Ziggy Stardust, his most celebrated alter-ego, in front of 5000 disbelieving fans onstage at London’s Hammersmith Odeon.

The band’s performance on July 3, 1973, was captured on film by award-winning director DA Pennebaker (famed for Dylan’s classic ’67 doc, Don’t Look Back) and released under the title of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars: The Motion Picture.

The new version of the film features:
• The full uncut performance featuring final scenes with the legendary guitar player Jeff Beck – including his high-octane performance on Bowie’s anthemic 1972 hit, The Jean Genie
• A fully restored, 4K visual mix overseen by DA Pennebaker’s son, Frazer
• A 5.1 mix undertaken by producer Tony Visconti
• An extended running time of 1:42 mins

REVIEWS

★★★★★ Peter Bradshaw – The Guardian
DA Pennebaker’s documentary offers moving moments and raw immediacy as the musician takes on his final performance as Ziggy Stardust