Off The Record: David Bowie

Chapter Five: Ziggy Stardust (1971-1972)

At last, a starman is born. The arrival of Ziggy Stardust brought David Bowie the fame he'd been working towards for nearly a decade. Fusing innovative fashion, avant-garde theatrical flair, far out sci-fi and killer song craft, he transformed rock 'n' roll into concept art. But he didn't do it alone. The latest installment explores the genesis of Bowie's most iconic creation, with influences ranging from Warholian speed freaks to teen idol burnouts to '50s pulp TV shows and a cult American country act. Once Ziggy arrived, Bowie's life was changed forever. So were millions of others. Find out how the album 'The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars' touched every aspect of popular culture, including music, film, fashion, social and sexual mores, and the very nature of fame itself. Note: This episode should be played at maximum volume.  Learn more about your ad-choices at <a href="https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com">https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com</a>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.

Off the Record is a new in-depth music biography series that profiles the extraordinary life of an iconic artist over the course of each season. Music journalist Jordan Runtagh (People, Rolling Stone, EW and VH1) offers a revelatory look at the human behind the hits through rich, dramatic storytelling, extensive research, and interviews with those who knew them best. You know the songs, now meet the legends.