On July 3, 1973, at London’s Hammersmith Odeon Theatre, David Bowie told the excited crowd that this was not just the end of his tour, but the very last time he would perform. Of Course, this was not the end of his musical career, but the retirement of his most famous and career-defining alter ego, Ziggy Star Dust. 43 years on, the legendary artists David Bowie has signed off , passing away after an 18 month battle with cancer. But our love affair with that crazy gentleman is just as strong today as it ever was. As a nation, we are still hooked on Bowie.
Just last year, the hit TV show American Horror Story covered the hit “Life on Mars” and “Heroes”. In 2013 Astronaut Chris Hadfield perfored Space Oddity from the ISS space station. In the UK, we had two hit TV shows “Life on Mars” and “Ashes to Ashes” both named after their namesake Bowie records. We still get excited over Jareth from Labyrinth and we still listen to “The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars“, probably the highest point of the entire glam movement of the 1970’s. No matter which way you look at it, Bowie is as relevant today as he ever was.
Bowie had musical hits such as “Let’s Dance”, “Space Oddity,” “Heroes,” “Changes,” “Under Pressure,” and even a 1977 Christmas medley with Bing Crosby. As an actor he found found fame on broadway and in cinema, starring in films such as the Bafta award winning Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence and the arthouse horror flick The Thirst.
With his different-colored eyes, the result of a fight at school, bowie was as iconic in his looks as he was in his music. Bowie was more than just a musician. He brought his music to a generation but inspired the world, with his beautiful performances and mesmerising stage presence, he changed things for the better. The news of his death comes as quite a shock for all those that respected him as artist, admired him as an actor and loved him as Husband, father and friend.
Ziggy Star Dust has returned to the stars, where his light will shine forever. Good by my friend, you will be missed!