The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars

Although this 30th anniverary edition of the album doesn’t actually add a lot more to the already expanded edition released over ten years ago, it does remind you again of its classic status.

Being such a big part of our rock heritage, it may be impossible to describe the effect that this record’s release had in the pre-punk days of 1972. By way of a due, several artists in the lavish package talk about its impact on them at the time, especially the TOTP performance of Starman. It sure started something.

And the original still sounds as good 30 years on. I don’t doubt that those coming to it for the first time will find it an impressive album, even if time has diminished its initial impact. The second CD in this double package features two versions of the songs as performed by Arnold Corns who, if memory serves, were going to be the band that Bowie would get to perform the project before deciding to become Ziggy himself. Which is just as well when you compare their versions against his. Mention should also be made of the Spiders band, led by the dynamic guitar of Mick Ronson, the onstage blond foil to Ziggy’s redhead.

Ziggy Stardust deserves its classic status. Sure, it’s a testament to a time and place, but beyond that it does what good music should always do. It takes you somewhere that is worth going to. How much music released today will do that thirty years from now?