Iggy Pop 16min Interview
Bowie Cocaine Psychosis 'Man Who Fell To Earth' Interview 1 [HQ]
http://post.ly/1A3lR Russell Hardy (?) http://on.fb.me/sharebowie shatner-fb share #bowie #shatner #roeg #video discovery by #dogmeat on #fb Bowie Cocaine Psychosis 'Man Who Fell To Earth' Interview 1
In this video: Nathalie Dray (videos), Melody Angel (videos), Sheela Na-Gig (videos), Claus Sorensen (videos), Barbara Stinson (videos), Afrikabok Senegal-France (videos), David Mathews (videos), Bettys Darling (videos), Mike Fifty-nine (videos), George Vailakis (videos), Matt Hamlin (videos), Bela Hex (videos), Jay Alan Davis (videos), Lenny Smith (videos), Genna Mary Lewis (videos), Cam Paterson, Alan Pritchard (videos), Cyno Phagie (videos), Paris Oozylips Kardashian (videos), YouWeird Tube (videos), Todd Gerard (videos), Taquila Mockingbird (videos), Rachel A. Lisi, Nettles J. Eichinger (videos), Elenaimmazombie Deadgirl (videos), Windysan Zog (videos), Weirdi Pedia (videos) and Dampira Quin (videos)
Nic Roeg Himself on Bowie and 'Man Who Fell To Earth' Trailer [HQ]
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Nic Roeg Himself on Bowie and 'Man Who Fell To Earth' Trailer
Nic Roeg Himself on Bowie and 'Man Who Fell To Earth' Trailer
In this video: Nathalie Dray (videos), Melody Angel (videos), Sheela Na-Gig (videos), Claus Sorensen (videos), Barbara Stinson (videos), Afrikabok Senegal-France (videos), David Mathews (videos), Bettys Darling (videos), Mike Fifty-nine (videos), George Vailakis (videos), Matt Hamlin (videos), Bela Hex (videos), Jay Alan Davis (videos), Lenny Smith (videos), Genna Mary Lewis (videos), Cyno Phagie (videos), Cam Paterson, Alan Pritchard (videos), Paris Oozylips Kardashian (videos), YouWeird Tube (videos), Todd Gerard (videos), Taquila Mockingbird (videos), Rachel A. Lisi, Nettles J. Eichinger (videos), Elenaimmazombie Deadgirl (videos), Windysan Zog (videos), Weirdi Pedia (videos) and Dampira Quin (videos)
William Shatner (Voiceover) Bowie-Roeg 'Man Who Fell To Earth' [HQ]
http://post.ly/1A3lR (Blame it on my tightened state, but I just discovered the strangest Bowie - Rock 'n' Roll- Film - Space Oddity that I (in 40 years) had never known existed (and i've got everything TMwFtE Related *except the John Phillips Soundtrack...Anybody?) until today--*this was apparently a very rare U.S. Only Theatrical Release Trailer for: DaVID Bowie's "The Man Who Fell To Earth William Shatner Voiceover The Man Who Fell To Earth" produced by my favorite director and formerly married to one of my favorite women, Theresa Russell, Nicolas Roeg...
Ringtone to your Cell"
Bowie Cocaine Psychosis TMwFtE
Roeg Bowie The Visitor
David Bowie cocaine psychosis (cunt.) phone
" SendDaVID BowieThe Man Who Fell To Earth William Shatner Voiceover The Man Who Fell To Earth
NicolasRoeg U.S. Theatrical Trailer
( U.S. space link)
Ringtone to your Cell
phone U.S. Theatrical Trailer No1.
William Shatner Voiceover
( U.S. space link)
Nicolas RoegRoeg Bowie 1 The Visitor bowie cocaine psychosis start tmwfte David Bowie cocaine psychosis 1 thevisitortjn2 Sofangcts | The Man Who Fell To Earth Ziggy Stardust is a character Bowie created with the help of his wife, Angela. He performed as Ziggy for about a year.
Iggy Pop (note the name: zIGGY), Lou Reed, Marc Bolan and Jimi Hendrix ("He played it left hand, but made it too far"), were all likely influences on the character Ziggy Stardust, but the only musician Bowie admits was a direct influence is Vince Taylor, an English singer who took the Rock Star persona to the extreme, calling himself Mateus and declaring himself the son of God. Bowie met him in 1966, after his popularity had faded.
Bowie based the clothes, hair, and makeup of Ziggy Stardust on the Malcom McDowell character in A Clockwork Orange, and on William Burroughs book Wild Boys.
Bowie said that this song is "about the ultimate rock superstar destroyed by the fanaticism he creates."
"Weird and Gilly" were 2 of Bowie's band mates in The Spiders From Mars: bassist Trevor Bolder and drummer Woody Woodmansey.
This song was a major influence on "Glam Rock" bands like T-Rex and Suede. "Glam Rock" was characterized by outrageous costumes, flamboyant stage antics, and sexual ambiguity.
For years Bowie would not look at tapes of himself performing as Ziggy Stardust. When he finally did, he thought they were hilarious.
The album showed Bowie on the cover as Ziggy Stardust with one foot in a dustbin outside a building. Fans used to send him pictures of themselves recreating the scene at the spot where it was photographed.
While doing an interview in character as Ziggy Stardust, Bowie admitted he was gay. This gave him a great deal of publicity, even though it was not entirely true. Bowie is married to model Iman.
On July 3, 1973, Bowie did his last show as Ziggy Stardust at the Hammersmith Odeon in London. The show was made into a movie directed by D.A. Pennebaker called Ziggy Stardust and The Spiders From Mars. It was released on DVD in 2003.
Bauhaus recorded a version of this song in 1982 that hit #15 in the UK. The song has also been recorded by Def Leppard, Nina Hagen and Hootie And The Blowfish.
A live version was left off some copies of his 3-CD set Bowie At The Beeb due to a production error. Bowie made the track available for download to fans who did not get it on the album.
This never charted because it was not released as a single.
There is a plaque outside the pub in London where Bowie created the Ziggy Stardust character. Bowie performed there when it was The Three Tuns. It is now called The Rat And Parrot.
In a poll by Out.com The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars was voted the gayest album of all time. A panel of "gay experts" including Boy George, Rufus Wainwright and Cyndi Lauper selected the hundred most homosexual albums of all time, with Bowie's set coming out on top of their list.
"he was the nazz with god-given ass"A couple of things about this line:
1. "The Nazz" was taken from a popular comedy routine of the same name, by a revered comic monologist that went by Lord Buckley. He was pretty "far out" for those days, 40s-50-s. Lord Buckley's thang was dressing as posh and proper gentleman while talking in hipster jazz hepcat slang. he performed at Beatnik haunts, Jazz clubs and even Ed Sullivan, developing a devoted cult follwing and had a big influence of Lenny Bruce, Mort Sahl and presumably countless other comics, musicians, writers and assorted hipsters. Anyway, he would re-tell stories from literature, the bible, history and so on, giving the protagonist a "cool daddio" name like 'The Hip Einie" for Einstein. "The Nazz" was "...But I'm gonna put a cat on you ...the coolest, grooviest, swingin'est, wailin'est, strongest, swingin'est cat that ever stomped on this jumpin' green sphere. And they called this here cat "The Nazz."
http://www.lordbuckley.com /
So: Ziggy was The Nazz, ie: a way-out cooler-tan cool, hippest of hipsters AND a Saviour sent from above to stir up the kids from their dull, grey 60's lives.
Though I agree about the Nasdat he spatters throughout, I don't really think that is the way he meant it in this case, unless perhaps the more Shakespearean meaning of a fool - a trickster, harlequin; the one that can get away with telling the harsh truth because it is masked in clownishness.
- hilary, New York, NY
Since that Nazz post was so long; "god-given ass" comes from rhyming slang but is one of the more convoluted examples. "Bottle and Glass (or sometimes Bottle of Glass). Usually reduced to just "bottle". It can mean "ass/arse" as in, your butt. But it also can mean courage, cojones, balls, nerve. If someone has lost their bottle, it means they were so afraid that they sh-t their pants, Conversely, if one has "bottle" or 'ass/arse" then they have balls of iron .
- hilary, New York, NY David Bowie was fond of "A Clockwork Orange" and used bits of Nadsat, the Russian based slang that Alex spoke. In Nadsat droog is friend, as in "Hey droogie, don't crash here" from Suffragette City. Since nazz is fool in Nadsat, a nice double meaning results. Ziggy was both a Christ figure and a fool. Whether he meant both you'll have to decide for yourself.
- RG, Philadelphia, PA
Bowie's altar ego debut. Successful, controversial, trend-setting, unusual, and surreal. The song, however, is among his commonly recognized.
- John, Concord, NH
David Bowie mentioned during an interview that this song was also based off of Syd Barret. Who was one of the original foundering members of Pink Floyd, and because of fame he went insane ("He took it all to far, but boy could he play guitar", "Ziggy sucked up into his mind")
Bowie also mentioned Syd was one of his many influences.
- Zep, Cape May, NJ
The comment that Big Jim Sullivan played guitar on this is outrageous. Mick Ronson played lead guitar as well as providing the string arrangements and various other instrumentation. In 1967 Mick Ronson in a band called The Rats recorded a one-off psychedelic track, "The Rise And Fall Of Bernie Gripplestone." Mick Ronson was the greatest unknown guitar player.
- Glen, Motown, NJ
Bowie is a talented, attractive gent, and I love this tune.
He "experimented" with guys in the past but now is very happy with his glamorous female partner.
The thing with his eyes happene when he got in a fight with a pal as a teen. The fight was over a girl (Ahhh, the things one does for love! Romantic, in a warped way)
- Rayna, Pembroke pines, FL
David Bowie got punched in the eye (with a ring) over a girl when he was 15. "So where were the spiders while the fly tried to break our balls? Just the beer light to guide us, So we bitched about his fans and should we crush his sweet hands?".....i cant help but laughh
- Emily, Newcastle, Australia
"snow white tan" I think refers to drugs since in many songs snow is a reference to drugs or cocaine I read somewhere else that it was drugs but I cant remember where
- Lainy, New York, NY
'Ziggy Stardust' is in my opinion one of the greatest classic songs in rock history.
Once you hear the 'hook' in it you become hooked for life on it.
When I first heard the album in 1973 it completely blew me away as one being so far ahead of it's time that nothing compared to it.
It is by far the greatest and most 'complete' album ever recorded; again IMO. My take on Bowie's Ziggy character is this: Originally it was simply his conception and story of the ultimate legendary 'rock star'. One who became consumed by his fame and ego and ultimate 'self' demise. With it's overwhelming success he contrived to himself be Ziggy playing the role to the max. Then despite the astonishing disappointment of his fans. It became a brilliant and bold move on his part to end the characterization. I personally was furious when I first got to see his Diamond Dogs tour after he had completely ditched the character and turned to 'plastic soul'. Yet time shows his moves were well calculated to form the legend of 'Bowie'. His lyrical genius shines with such lines as: 'He could lick'em by smiling,
He could leave'em to hang.
Came on so loaded man,
Well hung, and snow white tan.' Of course the 'snow white tan' means he is pale white from being a night creature. 'He was 'The Naz',
With God given ass' A clear reference to the Messiah image of Ziggy - The Naz is a common reference to Christ as an abbreviation for 'The Nazarene'. The final verse again is a brilliant play on words:
'Making love with his ego,
Ziggy sucked up into his mind.
Like a leper Messiah,
When the kids had killed the man
I had to break up the band'
- Jack, Lodi, NJ
Why is there such a fuss about David's eyes or his sexual identity?This song rocks!!!
- Vagelis, Athens, --
This song has at least two different "voices" in it - both Bowie singing, but representing both Ziggy and at least one member of the band. That's where "when the kids had killed the man I had to break up the band" comes from - Ziggy dies and so does the band.
- Michael, Pittsburgh, PA
Listen the band : "Massacre" Buenos Aires 2007
Cover "Ziggy Stardust" http://es.youtube.com/watc h?v=J6MeOPy5nUs&feature=related
- Claudio, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Really good album. The lyrics are very Wierd but ya know; its bowie. Very well written.
- Allison, a little ol' town in, MI
I don't understand why it's so hard for people to grasp the concept of a 'snow white tan'. It just means he's really white. Pale as anything.
- Kristian, Perth, Australia
Ziggy Stardust was a Completely different personality from David Bowie. "He played it left hand" and "well hung"(watch the labrynth either he stuffs those leotards or he is well hung, I like to think it's the 2nd option) are refering to ziggy not to hendrix.
Bowie isn't gay but Ziggy was. People were afriad of the gay community at the time ziggy was preforming. "Like a leper messiah" meaning perhaps he lead the way for acceptance but was outcast to some extant for it. I still know adult men who were alive when he was the most popular who don't like him purely for his Ziggy stint. "When the kids had killed the man I had to break up the band" the man most commonly aludes to society I think he was a first step toward equal rights for homosexuals becuase he quelled some of the fear and stigma associated with them.
- Nicole, Arlington, WA
"When Bowie says snow white tan he's saying that Ziggy wasn't really tan at all"
I think he's saying something freaky and self-contradictory, for the hell of it. Like all the fat, skinny people, and all the tall, short people. Maybe you could say it hints at being a misfit. But it's mainly meant to entertain (play this record at maximum volume setting), not provide an intricate message you have to decode.
- Liquid Len, Ottawa, Canada
Hahahaha only an American. I must explain, Bowie being British would not have thought of pants as trousers but as underwear (trust me). We call them trousers! Not a very rock and roll line if that is the correct lyrics. Pants = Y=fronts in Britain. :P So the lyrics really are 'Well hung, snow white tan' Also thanks Kendra for speaking some sense!! No one seems to know their bowie facts on here atall apart from us :P xxxx
- Becca, London, England
This WAS released as a single: twice in fact. Both were B sides but could be considered double As: the first time was on the flipside of "Jean genie" (I think!) and the second was a live version from his album "Stage" on the flip side of "Breaking glass" from the same album.
- ANDREW, LONDON, England
The correct lyrics are 'snow white tan.' That makes a lot more sense than 'snow white pants.' When Bowie says snow white tan he's saying that Ziggy wasn't really tan at all, just really pale skinned. And wouldn't you think that if every lyrics site you've seen has snow white tan, wouldn't you think that's correct? And to clear up the eye thing:
"When Bowie was 15, his friend George Underwood, wearing a ring on his finger, punched him in the left eye during a fight over a girl. Bowie was forced to stay out of school for eight months so that doctors could conduct operations in attempts to repair his potentially-blinded eye. Underwood and Bowie remained good friends; Underwood went on to do artwork for Bowie's earlier albums. Doctors could not fully repair the damage, leaving his pupil permanently dilated. As a result of the injury, Bowie has faulty depth perception. Bowie has stated that although he can see with his injured eye, his colour vision was mostly lost and a brownish tone is constantly present. The colour of the irises is still the same blue, but since the pupil of the injured eye is wide open, the colour of that eye is commonly mistaken to be different." Thanks Wikipedia!
- Kendra, Grottoes, VA
When is everybody going to correct the lyrics to this song? It's "well hung in snow white pants," not "well hung and snow white tan." Think about it. WTF's a "snow white tan?" No! David Bowie is singing about a glam-rock icon! Doesn't it make a lot more sense that he's saying, "well hung in snow white pants?" Every lyric site I checked makes this same mistake. Can we find out if I'm right? I can't believe he's really saying "well hung and snow white tan."
- RexEveryhting, Laguna Beach, CA
Ziggy played Guuuiiitar! Awesome song.
- Adam, Lancaster, PA
There is a lot about Ziggy that resonates with hendrix
1. the names have a similar sound
2. jamming good with wierd and gilly - hendrix loved to jam and wierd and gilly always seemed good names for redding and mitchell
3. spiders from mars - much of jimis work had a science fiction feel about it
4. played it left hand...boy could he play guitar - both sum up the greatest guitarist ever
5. screwed up eyes and screwed down hairdo - good description of the afro days
6. came on so loaded - often played stoned or tripping
7. well hung - read what the plastercasters groupies said about him
8. snow white tan - ironic reference to black skin?
9. jiving us that he was voodoo - this has to be the clincher, listen to the two versions of voodoo child on electric ladyland
10. leper messiah - hendrix and clapton were considered gods or gurus
11. both characters end up dead
there is a lot that doesn't seem to fit but that just makes it interesting!
- colin, bournemouth, England
Just because it's a song about a popular left-handed guitarist doesn't mean it's about Jimi Hendrix. I think that notion's stupid. Only the first verse remotely resembles Hendrix. The second verse sort of destroyes that image: screwed down hairdo, snow white tan, etc.
- Spencer, Los Angeles, CA
I was Guitar Hero when I stumbled on this song. I was hooked, I couldn't stop playing it. The song was great, the story line a little weird, but overall a good song.
- Andrew, Wimauma, FL
I believe in England, T. Rex is considered to have originated glam and to be have been more of an influence on Bowie than vice-versa. T. Rex already had at least two #1 hits in England, including their biggest international hit, Get It On (Bang A Gong in the US) previous to Ziggy Stardust's entrance on the scene, and their subsequent hits would seem to be a continuation of the same style rather than any sort of departure that might have reflected some new influence. But Bowie was much bigger in the US and had a much longer career, so I think that's why we Americans have a skewed impression of their relative signifigance within "glam".
- fyodor, Denver, CO
I dont like David Bowie much, but this has got all the parts required of an amazing song
- Dan, hoptown, MA
If you just listen to the lyrics, I think it's very clear it's about Jimi Hendrix. He played the guitar lefthand, there were rumors of him being gay/bisexual, he did make it too far, etc.
- Bill, Erie, PA
One of my FAVORITE David Bowie songs. How could you not like this song??
- Steve, Midland, MI
This song is awesome! Rock on! It
s a great album too!
- Stefanie, Rock Hill, SC
This song's story sounds very similar to the one in "Shooting Star" by Bad Company.
- Derek, South Jersey, NJ
There are two guys talking in the song about Ziggy if you noticed the change in voices. These two guys are the members of The Spiders from Mars and there telling the story of Ziggy Stardust and how they left Ziggy after the kids had killed him , meaning because of the kids (fans) his ego got so big and that led to his downfall
- Maurice, Philly, PA
This song, is in fact about David Bowie, since he performed for a year under the name Ziggy Stardust. The line "Screwed up and eyes and screwed down hair" refrences to the fact, since Bowie has different colored eyes and hair that goes straight down when he preformed as Ziggy.
- Scott, Redding, CT
I use the nick Ziggy Stardust as my stage name when I work at the bar dancing some nights to earn a few extra dollars to fund my dogs, Lily, open heart surgery
- Dimitri, Oklahoma, KS
I have a question... If Bowie is Ziggy Stardust... why does the song say that Ziggy Stardust is a guitarist???
- Seb, Perth, Australia
i know it was written in 1972...i am just saying NOW...
- Arik, Akron, OH
Kurt Cobain!?!?! How is that, this song was in 1972, when Nirvana didn't even exist. And a agree with Eric from Cincinatii (I know I didn't spell it right but I'm being rushed.) He killed Ziggy??? I didn't know???
- Johnny, Los Angeles, CA
What's with the fascination with Bowie's eyes!!I believe he got into the music biz so the world could discuss this!Bowie is a genius. There is a new British artist called Jody Wildgoose & he has a definate Bowie influence, worth listening to.
- wendy, Sheffield, , England
Having listened to the song a ton of times, I always feel like it could now be applied to Kurt Cobain. Not all the lyrics, but a great deal of them. But then again, maybe this is just me.....
- Arik, Akron, OH
This hands down has to be one of the most ground breaking albums of all time, and one of my favorite Bowie albums! I'd have to say 2nd favorite, number 1 favorite being the Man Who Sold The World album, but this one gets 5 stars as well, Bowie's the Lepah Messiah!
- Jeremy, Warren , RI
Okay David Bowie has two same coloured eyes, but when he got into a fight and was punched in the eye when he was 14, he developed a condition called anisocoria. He had two operations for it. One of his pupils is enlarged and remains open, this makes his eyes look strange and as if he has two different coloured eyes, but he doesn't. I found this out at http://www.bowiewonderworld.com/faq.htm#p18
- ashley, Auckland, New Zealand
his eyes were fine when he was born- then he got punched in one and almost went blind, but instead the pupil got bigger or smaller, can't remember which, and it changed colors.
- Josh, Las Vegas, NV
Super Session guitarist Big Jim Sullivan played guitar on Ziggy.
Big Jim played on a thousand UK top 20 records.
- Alan, Durham City, England
This LP meant the most to me whilst growing up and gives me shivers still everytime I hear it.He went on to do even better things which says everything , what a complete and total GENIUS that touched me where no one else could even get close.XX
love ya DB !xx
- Jenny, Hereford, England
I thought this crap and persona was blown way out of proportion. Maybe that's why Bowie so quickly moved on and "had to break up the band." It wasn't that important. A rock and roll parody. Satire. Humor. Fun. No big point from this great artist.
- Brian, Meriden, CT
He shouldnt have killed Ziggy... Moved on YES, Killed Ziggy NO.... i miss Oh! You Pretty things and Bombers...
- Danno, Sussex, England
left eye removed... lmao
- Danno, Sussex, England
Bauhaus do an awesome cover of this song, sounds great
- dave, Brisbane, Australia
I have a question, does bowie ever say how ziggy died or stopped playing other than the fact that he thought himself too great.
- Jimmu, Vineland, NJ Seriously, people, the line is, "Making LOVE with his ego..." I looked it up on the album insert from inside the CD case, to make sure my memory was sound. ("Making long...? That makes no sense.) I love the song, and used the Ziggy Stardust character as the inspiration for my costume to a recent party -- And won a prize for best FEMALE costume!
- Eric, Cincinnati, OH
weird song! It's pretty cool though.
- Stefanie magura, Rock Hill, SC
To correct Jeff in Philly, the term is heterochromia. Dichromia is a deficiency of color vision in which the person can match any given hue by mixing only two other wavelengths of light (as opposed to the three wavelengths needed by people with normal color vision.
Also, his one eye is unable to constrict, not dilate.
- MIKE, INDIANAPOLIS, IN
The street (more an alleway really) where the album pic was taken is just off Regent Street in London (possibly Heddon Street - I can't remember exactly!) Like many fans, I stood in the place in awe and reverence but was on my own at the time, so no photo! The sign ("West") was still there and I think it was a furrier's premises. Fond memories, great album.
- Phil, Bolton, England
When I first heard the song, I thought it was...
"...making love with an eagle...."
then I thought...
"...making love with his ego...."
now it's....
"making long with his ego"
I really prefer making love with an eagle.
- Ian, San Jose, CA
Not one of my favourite DB songs - I prefer the Bauhaus version from '82
- Paul, Teddington
He never got his eye removed or got it stabbed with a compass he only got in a fight!
- Ethan, SLC, UT
I think that the song is excellent, go get the dvd!
- janelle, new york city, NY
"Ziggy really sang, screwed up eyes and screwed down hairdo
like some cat from Japan, he could lick 'em by smiling
he could leave 'em to hang
came on so loaded man, well hung and snow white tan." true. perfect description of ziggy! When it says"screwed up eyes" true!Remember the acidencent he had as a child.
- janelle, new york city, NY
oh man! in the song it sounds like david already described the ending of ziggy and the spiders from mars when he says,"making long with his ego Ziggy sucked up into his mind
like a leper Messiah
when the kids had killed the man I had to break up the band"
- janelle, new york city, NY
He was born dichromatic, a common genetic trait that gives the person eyes of different colors. In some cases, one blue and one brown. In addition to that, from what I have heard, a schoolyard fight in which he was stabbed in the eye with a compass left one eye unable to dilate.
- Jeff, Philly area, PA
He didn't have the eye removed... he got in a fight with George Underwood when he was a kid and it was damaged, making it appear different. Underwood later did artwork for Bowie albums.
- Les, Manassas, VA
Bowie had his left eye removed and replaced with a blue one..
- The JYD, Albany, NY
I saw David Bowie live last night at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre. He finished the show with Ziggy Stardust...amazing!
- Geoff, Adelaide, AustraliaThis song is about what it is like to be famous. Bowie gave his thoughts on the subject in a 2003 interview with Performing Songwriter magazine: "Fame itself, of course, doesn't really afford you anything more than a good seat in a restaurant. That must be pretty well known by now. I'm just amazed how fame is being posited as the be all and end all, and how many of these young kids who are being foisted on the public have been talked into this idea that anything necessary to be famous is all right. It's a sad state of affairs. However arrogant and ambitious I think we were in my generation, I think the idea was that if you do something really good, you'll become famous. The emphasis on fame itself is something new. Now it's, to be famous you should do what it takes, which is not the same thing at all. And it will leave many of them with this empty feeling. Then again, I don't know if it will, because I think a lot of them are genuinely quite satisfied. I know a couple of personalities over in England who are famous for being famous, basically. They sort of initially came out of the pop world, but they're quite happy being photographed going everywhere and showing their kids off and this is a career to them. A career of like being there and turning up and saying, 'Yes it's me, the famous girl or guy' (laughs). It's like, 'What do you want?' It's so Warhol. It's as vacuous as that. And that to me, is a big worry. I think it's done dreadful things to the music industry. There's such a lot of rubbish, drivel out there." (This interview is available at Rock's Backpages.)
John Lennon helped write this song - he came up with the title and also sang the background "Fame" parts in the high voice. They started working on the song when Bowie invited Lennon to the studio, and Lennon played rhythm guitar on a jam session that resulted in this track. Bowie met Lennon less than a year earlier at a party thrown by Elizabeth Taylor. Lennon was one of Bowie's idols, and they became good friends.
Bowie often had conversations with Lennon about how fame took away parts of their lives. In the same interview, Bowie said: "We'd been talking about management, and it kind of came out of that. He was telling me, 'You're being shafted by your present manager' (laughs). That was basically the line. And John was the guy who opened me up to the idea that all management is crap. That there's no such thing as good management in rock 'n' roll, and you should try to do it without it. It was at John's instigation that I really did without managers, and started getting people in to do specific jobs for me, rather than signing myself away to one guy forever and have him take a piece of everything that I earn. Usually, quite a large piece, and have him really not do very much. So, if I needed a certain publishing thing done, I'd bring in a person who specialized in that area, and they would, on a one-job basis, work for me and we'd reach the agreed fee. And I started to realize that if you're bright, you kind of know you're worth, and if you're creative, you know what you want to do and where you want to go in that way. What extra thing is this manager supposed to do for you? I suppose in the old days, it was [in a hokey New York voice] 'Get you breaks!' (laughs). I don't quite know what managers are supposed to do, even. I think if you have even just a modicum of intelligence, you're going to know what it is you are and where you want to go. Once you know that, you just bring in specific people for specialist jobs. You don't have to end up signing your life away to some fool who's just there kind of grabbing hold of the coattails."
Bowie's guitarist Carlos Alomar came up with the guitar riff. It was based on a song called "Foot Stompin'" by The Flares, which Bowie had been performing on tour.
This was Bowie's first big hit in America, and also his first to do better in the US than the UK. He had a few UK hits before this, including "Rebel Rebel," "Life On Mars," and "Diamond Dogs."
Bowie: "Fame can take interesting men and thrust mediocrity upon them."
This was recorded at the Sigma Sound studios in Philadelphia, where many Soul classics of the '70s were made. Bowie wanted the album to have a Rhythm & Blues feel, and he called the sound he created "Plastic Soul."Bowie whispers something at the end. It is rumored to be either "Brings so much pain" or "Feeling so gay, feeling gay."Bowie performed this on Soul Train. He is one of only a few white performers to appear on the show.
This was remixed as a Techno version for the Pretty Woman soundtrack. It was re-titled "Fame '90." This version was also included on the album Changesbowie when it was re-issued.
At the end of this song, "Fame" is repeated 23 times, each "Fame" being a different note. The repetitions of "Fame" span an amazing 4 octaves. (thanks, Annabelle - Eugene, OR)In one of Bowie's first US TV appearances, he performed this on The Cher Show in 1975. Comments: On September 20th, 1975 "Fame" reached #1 for one week, then "I'm Sorry" b/w "Calypso" by John Denver became #1 for one week. But Bowie reclaimed #1 for another week!!!
- Barry, Sauquoit, NY Fame is a flairy kind of Bowie song, but good nonetheless. However it was created, it's catchy.
- John, Concord, NH In an interview, the fantastic Mr. B. has admitted to experimenting with the caballero's sword in the past, but he said it was just that --experimenting. He is now very happily living with his wife and child. It doesn't matter. Mister David Bowie is still a very talented and handsome gentleman, no matter what his preferences are. Viva Bowie!
- Rayna, Pembroke pines, FL I love how this song is about how John Lennon and David Bowie disliked what fame did to their lives, and here people are talking about their private lives, a strong quality of fame, famous people don't like. Great song though.
- Rabia, New York, NY When I read the Lyrics to "Queen Bitch" off Honky Dory it seems pretty evident Bowie hung around in the gay scene. The references to "watching the cruizers below" (the act of picking up men ie. cruizing). Also "she's known in the darkest clubs
For pushing ahead of the dames". That would be a drag queen for sure. I just cant see someone using this jargon if they are totally straight.
- Brian, Vancouver, BC Duran Duran did a cover of this song. It was a single and not on any of their main albums.
- Karen, Manalapan, NJ David is in a straight relationship(family man) and seems to thrive on it. I think that the whole androgynous Bowie was something he made up for suckers to take what they wanted from it. The original "Man Who Sold the World" cover was brilliant. "Ziggy", "Aladdinsane", purported the whole gay thing, "Hunky Dory" was part this and a part that, remember "Kooks" was written for Zowie. And also remember that John Lennon "nutted" the journalist who suggested he had a relationship with Brian Epstein.
David is a clever man but let's not forget Willie Weekes whose bass playing makes this track.
- John, Dundee, United Kingdom This song is used for the Choclate Skateboards montage is the skat video "Yeah Right". During this song, Jesus Fernandez, Chico Brennes and Richard Mulder, as well as Kenny Anderson dropped sock parts.
- Kyle, Jefferson, MD Not to be argumentative, but this was not remotely Bowie's first big hit in America. That honor would go to A Space Oddity.
- Dennis, Anchorage, AK I heard when Lennon died, Bowie moved out of New York, then came back years later is that true?
- joey, Nowhere Land, CA John Lennon did not sleep with David Bowie. Period. have any of u guys heard the 90' remix on the album "Changes"
- Johnny, Los Angeles, CA Changesbowie is the album, actually
- Johnny, Los Angeles, CA If he did have relations with Jagger he did a long time before the ridiculous Dancing in the Streets video! And if he did so what? Listen to the music and let his personal life remain that. He doesn't care who your sleeping with!
- Jeremy, Warren , RI Lennon and Bowie probably didn't have sex, they both played off the image of being sexually liberated and weird to sell records. Bowie later in his career appeared to play down his bisexuality as a gimick. Bowie claimed to have met his wife while they were dating the same dude.
- Nathan, Defiance, OH There was a rumour that Bowie had a homosexual affair with Lennon, but I don't know if that was ever confirmed. Then again, there are rumours that Bowie has sex withever he performs with. He did Dancing in the Streets with Mick Jagger and there was a rumour that he did it with Mick Jagger too.
- Roger, Los Angeles, CA So what about the song, "Hot" by James Brown. It's basically the same song, production and all. I know artists have sampled James Brown probably more than any other artist out there, but is this a case of James "sampling" before sampling existed?
- John, Elkhart, IN what a great song, and fun to dance to. Especially with that rhythm and blues feel.
- Stefanie magura, Rock Hill, SC Bowie uses the phrase "plastic soul' I had heard that during the early sixties some african american artists had labeled the Rolling Stones as plastic soul. Rumor has it that Paul Mccartney, refering to the Beatles, asked "Whats that make us" and Lennon "Rubber, whatever they say will bounce off". "Rubber Soul"
- David, Waco, TX Bowie was jamming with lennon when john started playing shame shame shame, a beatles song, bowie asked what it was and lennon told him that it was easy to make a good song fast, then bowie disappeared, five minutes later he came back with the lyrics to fame
- Ethan, SLC, UT William Shatner (Voiceover) Bowie-Roeg 'Man Who Fell To Earth'
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Nicolas RoegRoeg Bowie 1 The Visitor bowie cocaine psychosis start tmwfte David Bowie cocaine psychosis 1 thevisitortjn2 Sofangcts | The Man Who Fell To Earth Ziggy Stardust is a character Bowie created with the help of his wife, Angela. He performed as Ziggy for about a year.
Iggy Pop (note the name: zIGGY), Lou Reed, Marc Bolan and Jimi Hendrix ("He played it left hand, but made it too far"), were all likely influences on the character Ziggy Stardust, but the only musician Bowie admits was a direct influence is Vince Taylor, an English singer who took the Rock Star persona to the extreme, calling himself Mateus and declaring himself the son of God. Bowie met him in 1966, after his popularity had faded.
Bowie based the clothes, hair, and makeup of Ziggy Stardust on the Malcom McDowell character in A Clockwork Orange, and on William Burroughs book Wild Boys.
Bowie said that this song is "about the ultimate rock superstar destroyed by the fanaticism he creates."
"Weird and Gilly" were 2 of Bowie's band mates in The Spiders From Mars: bassist Trevor Bolder and drummer Woody Woodmansey.
This song was a major influence on "Glam Rock" bands like T-Rex and Suede. "Glam Rock" was characterized by outrageous costumes, flamboyant stage antics, and sexual ambiguity.
For years Bowie would not look at tapes of himself performing as Ziggy Stardust. When he finally did, he thought they were hilarious.
The album showed Bowie on the cover as Ziggy Stardust with one foot in a dustbin outside a building. Fans used to send him pictures of themselves recreating the scene at the spot where it was photographed.
While doing an interview in character as Ziggy Stardust, Bowie admitted he was gay. This gave him a great deal of publicity, even though it was not entirely true. Bowie is married to model Iman.
On July 3, 1973, Bowie did his last show as Ziggy Stardust at the Hammersmith Odeon in London. The show was made into a movie directed by D.A. Pennebaker called Ziggy Stardust and The Spiders From Mars. It was released on DVD in 2003.
Bauhaus recorded a version of this song in 1982 that hit #15 in the UK. The song has also been recorded by Def Leppard, Nina Hagen and Hootie And The Blowfish.
A live version was left off some copies of his 3-CD set Bowie At The Beeb due to a production error. Bowie made the track available for download to fans who did not get it on the album.
This never charted because it was not released as a single.
There is a plaque outside the pub in London where Bowie created the Ziggy Stardust character. Bowie performed there when it was The Three Tuns. It is now called The Rat And Parrot.
In a poll by Out.com The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars was voted the gayest album of all time. A panel of "gay experts" including Boy George, Rufus Wainwright and Cyndi Lauper selected the hundred most homosexual albums of all time, with Bowie's set coming out on top of their list.
"he was the nazz with god-given ass"A couple of things about this line:
1. "The Nazz" was taken from a popular comedy routine of the same name, by a revered comic monologist that went by Lord Buckley. He was pretty "far out" for those days, 40s-50-s. Lord Buckley's thang was dressing as posh and proper gentleman while talking in hipster jazz hepcat slang. he performed at Beatnik haunts, Jazz clubs and even Ed Sullivan, developing a devoted cult follwing and had a big influence of Lenny Bruce, Mort Sahl and presumably countless other comics, musicians, writers and assorted hipsters. Anyway, he would re-tell stories from literature, the bible, history and so on, giving the protagonist a "cool daddio" name like 'The Hip Einie" for Einstein. "The Nazz" was "...But I'm gonna put a cat on you ...the coolest, grooviest, swingin'est, wailin'est, strongest, swingin'est cat that ever stomped on this jumpin' green sphere. And they called this here cat "The Nazz."
http://www.lordbuckley.com /
So: Ziggy was The Nazz, ie: a way-out cooler-tan cool, hippest of hipsters AND a Saviour sent from above to stir up the kids from their dull, grey 60's lives.
Though I agree about the Nasdat he spatters throughout, I don't really think that is the way he meant it in this case, unless perhaps the more Shakespearean meaning of a fool - a trickster, harlequin; the one that can get away with telling the harsh truth because it is masked in clownishness.
- hilary, New York, NY
Since that Nazz post was so long; "god-given ass" comes from rhyming slang but is one of the more convoluted examples. "Bottle and Glass (or sometimes Bottle of Glass). Usually reduced to just "bottle". It can mean "ass/arse" as in, your butt. But it also can mean courage, cojones, balls, nerve. If someone has lost their bottle, it means they were so afraid that they sh-t their pants, Conversely, if one has "bottle" or 'ass/arse" then they have balls of iron .
- hilary, New York, NY David Bowie was fond of "A Clockwork Orange" and used bits of Nadsat, the Russian based slang that Alex spoke. In Nadsat droog is friend, as in "Hey droogie, don't crash here" from Suffragette City. Since nazz is fool in Nadsat, a nice double meaning results. Ziggy was both a Christ figure and a fool. Whether he meant both you'll have to decide for yourself.
- RG, Philadelphia, PA
Bowie's altar ego debut. Successful, controversial, trend-setting, unusual, and surreal. The song, however, is among his commonly recognized.
- John, Concord, NH
David Bowie mentioned during an interview that this song was also based off of Syd Barret. Who was one of the original foundering members of Pink Floyd, and because of fame he went insane ("He took it all to far, but boy could he play guitar", "Ziggy sucked up into his mind")
Bowie also mentioned Syd was one of his many influences.
- Zep, Cape May, NJ
The comment that Big Jim Sullivan played guitar on this is outrageous. Mick Ronson played lead guitar as well as providing the string arrangements and various other instrumentation. In 1967 Mick Ronson in a band called The Rats recorded a one-off psychedelic track, "The Rise And Fall Of Bernie Gripplestone." Mick Ronson was the greatest unknown guitar player.
- Glen, Motown, NJ
Bowie is a talented, attractive gent, and I love this tune.
He "experimented" with guys in the past but now is very happy with his glamorous female partner.
The thing with his eyes happene when he got in a fight with a pal as a teen. The fight was over a girl (Ahhh, the things one does for love! Romantic, in a warped way)
- Rayna, Pembroke pines, FL
David Bowie got punched in the eye (with a ring) over a girl when he was 15. "So where were the spiders while the fly tried to break our balls? Just the beer light to guide us, So we bitched about his fans and should we crush his sweet hands?".....i cant help but laughh
- Emily, Newcastle, Australia
"snow white tan" I think refers to drugs since in many songs snow is a reference to drugs or cocaine I read somewhere else that it was drugs but I cant remember where
- Lainy, New York, NY
'Ziggy Stardust' is in my opinion one of the greatest classic songs in rock history.
Once you hear the 'hook' in it you become hooked for life on it.
When I first heard the album in 1973 it completely blew me away as one being so far ahead of it's time that nothing compared to it.
It is by far the greatest and most 'complete' album ever recorded; again IMO. My take on Bowie's Ziggy character is this: Originally it was simply his conception and story of the ultimate legendary 'rock star'. One who became consumed by his fame and ego and ultimate 'self' demise. With it's overwhelming success he contrived to himself be Ziggy playing the role to the max. Then despite the astonishing disappointment of his fans. It became a brilliant and bold move on his part to end the characterization. I personally was furious when I first got to see his Diamond Dogs tour after he had completely ditched the character and turned to 'plastic soul'. Yet time shows his moves were well calculated to form the legend of 'Bowie'. His lyrical genius shines with such lines as: 'He could lick'em by smiling,
He could leave'em to hang.
Came on so loaded man,
Well hung, and snow white tan.' Of course the 'snow white tan' means he is pale white from being a night creature. 'He was 'The Naz',
With God given ass' A clear reference to the Messiah image of Ziggy - The Naz is a common reference to Christ as an abbreviation for 'The Nazarene'. The final verse again is a brilliant play on words:
'Making love with his ego,
Ziggy sucked up into his mind.
Like a leper Messiah,
When the kids had killed the man
I had to break up the band'
- Jack, Lodi, NJ
Why is there such a fuss about David's eyes or his sexual identity?This song rocks!!!
- Vagelis, Athens, --
This song has at least two different "voices" in it - both Bowie singing, but representing both Ziggy and at least one member of the band. That's where "when the kids had killed the man I had to break up the band" comes from - Ziggy dies and so does the band.
- Michael, Pittsburgh, PA
Listen the band : "Massacre" Buenos Aires 2007
Cover "Ziggy Stardust" http://es.youtube.com/watc h?v=J6MeOPy5nUs&feature=related
- Claudio, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Really good album. The lyrics are very Wierd but ya know; its bowie. Very well written.
- Allison, a little ol' town in, MI
I don't understand why it's so hard for people to grasp the concept of a 'snow white tan'. It just means he's really white. Pale as anything.
- Kristian, Perth, Australia
Ziggy Stardust was a Completely different personality from David Bowie. "He played it left hand" and "well hung"(watch the labrynth either he stuffs those leotards or he is well hung, I like to think it's the 2nd option) are refering to ziggy not to hendrix.
Bowie isn't gay but Ziggy was. People were afriad of the gay community at the time ziggy was preforming. "Like a leper messiah" meaning perhaps he lead the way for acceptance but was outcast to some extant for it. I still know adult men who were alive when he was the most popular who don't like him purely for his Ziggy stint. "When the kids had killed the man I had to break up the band" the man most commonly aludes to society I think he was a first step toward equal rights for homosexuals becuase he quelled some of the fear and stigma associated with them.
- Nicole, Arlington, WA
"When Bowie says snow white tan he's saying that Ziggy wasn't really tan at all"
I think he's saying something freaky and self-contradictory, for the hell of it. Like all the fat, skinny people, and all the tall, short people. Maybe you could say it hints at being a misfit. But it's mainly meant to entertain (play this record at maximum volume setting), not provide an intricate message you have to decode.
- Liquid Len, Ottawa, Canada
Hahahaha only an American. I must explain, Bowie being British would not have thought of pants as trousers but as underwear (trust me). We call them trousers! Not a very rock and roll line if that is the correct lyrics. Pants = Y=fronts in Britain. :P So the lyrics really are 'Well hung, snow white tan' Also thanks Kendra for speaking some sense!! No one seems to know their bowie facts on here atall apart from us :P xxxx
- Becca, London, England
This WAS released as a single: twice in fact. Both were B sides but could be considered double As: the first time was on the flipside of "Jean genie" (I think!) and the second was a live version from his album "Stage" on the flip side of "Breaking glass" from the same album.
- ANDREW, LONDON, England
The correct lyrics are 'snow white tan.' That makes a lot more sense than 'snow white pants.' When Bowie says snow white tan he's saying that Ziggy wasn't really tan at all, just really pale skinned. And wouldn't you think that if every lyrics site you've seen has snow white tan, wouldn't you think that's correct? And to clear up the eye thing:
"When Bowie was 15, his friend George Underwood, wearing a ring on his finger, punched him in the left eye during a fight over a girl. Bowie was forced to stay out of school for eight months so that doctors could conduct operations in attempts to repair his potentially-blinded eye. Underwood and Bowie remained good friends; Underwood went on to do artwork for Bowie's earlier albums. Doctors could not fully repair the damage, leaving his pupil permanently dilated. As a result of the injury, Bowie has faulty depth perception. Bowie has stated that although he can see with his injured eye, his colour vision was mostly lost and a brownish tone is constantly present. The colour of the irises is still the same blue, but since the pupil of the injured eye is wide open, the colour of that eye is commonly mistaken to be different." Thanks Wikipedia!
- Kendra, Grottoes, VA
When is everybody going to correct the lyrics to this song? It's "well hung in snow white pants," not "well hung and snow white tan." Think about it. WTF's a "snow white tan?" No! David Bowie is singing about a glam-rock icon! Doesn't it make a lot more sense that he's saying, "well hung in snow white pants?" Every lyric site I checked makes this same mistake. Can we find out if I'm right? I can't believe he's really saying "well hung and snow white tan."
- RexEveryhting, Laguna Beach, CA
Ziggy played Guuuiiitar! Awesome song.
- Adam, Lancaster, PA
There is a lot about Ziggy that resonates with hendrix
1. the names have a similar sound
2. jamming good with wierd and gilly - hendrix loved to jam and wierd and gilly always seemed good names for redding and mitchell
3. spiders from mars - much of jimis work had a science fiction feel about it
4. played it left hand...boy could he play guitar - both sum up the greatest guitarist ever
5. screwed up eyes and screwed down hairdo - good description of the afro days
6. came on so loaded - often played stoned or tripping
7. well hung - read what the plastercasters groupies said about him
8. snow white tan - ironic reference to black skin?
9. jiving us that he was voodoo - this has to be the clincher, listen to the two versions of voodoo child on electric ladyland
10. leper messiah - hendrix and clapton were considered gods or gurus
11. both characters end up dead
there is a lot that doesn't seem to fit but that just makes it interesting!
- colin, bournemouth, England
Just because it's a song about a popular left-handed guitarist doesn't mean it's about Jimi Hendrix. I think that notion's stupid. Only the first verse remotely resembles Hendrix. The second verse sort of destroyes that image: screwed down hairdo, snow white tan, etc.
- Spencer, Los Angeles, CA
I was Guitar Hero when I stumbled on this song. I was hooked, I couldn't stop playing it. The song was great, the story line a little weird, but overall a good song.
- Andrew, Wimauma, FL
I believe in England, T. Rex is considered to have originated glam and to be have been more of an influence on Bowie than vice-versa. T. Rex already had at least two #1 hits in England, including their biggest international hit, Get It On (Bang A Gong in the US) previous to Ziggy Stardust's entrance on the scene, and their subsequent hits would seem to be a continuation of the same style rather than any sort of departure that might have reflected some new influence. But Bowie was much bigger in the US and had a much longer career, so I think that's why we Americans have a skewed impression of their relative signifigance within "glam".
- fyodor, Denver, CO
I dont like David Bowie much, but this has got all the parts required of an amazing song
- Dan, hoptown, MA
If you just listen to the lyrics, I think it's very clear it's about Jimi Hendrix. He played the guitar lefthand, there were rumors of him being gay/bisexual, he did make it too far, etc.
- Bill, Erie, PA
One of my FAVORITE David Bowie songs. How could you not like this song??
- Steve, Midland, MI
This song is awesome! Rock on! It
s a great album too!
- Stefanie, Rock Hill, SC
This song's story sounds very similar to the one in "Shooting Star" by Bad Company.
- Derek, South Jersey, NJ
There are two guys talking in the song about Ziggy if you noticed the change in voices. These two guys are the members of The Spiders from Mars and there telling the story of Ziggy Stardust and how they left Ziggy after the kids had killed him , meaning because of the kids (fans) his ego got so big and that led to his downfall
- Maurice, Philly, PA
This song, is in fact about David Bowie, since he performed for a year under the name Ziggy Stardust. The line "Screwed up and eyes and screwed down hair" refrences to the fact, since Bowie has different colored eyes and hair that goes straight down when he preformed as Ziggy.
- Scott, Redding, CT
I use the nick Ziggy Stardust as my stage name when I work at the bar dancing some nights to earn a few extra dollars to fund my dogs, Lily, open heart surgery
- Dimitri, Oklahoma, KS
I have a question... If Bowie is Ziggy Stardust... why does the song say that Ziggy Stardust is a guitarist???
- Seb, Perth, Australia
i know it was written in 1972...i am just saying NOW...
- Arik, Akron, OH
Kurt Cobain!?!?! How is that, this song was in 1972, when Nirvana didn't even exist. And a agree with Eric from Cincinatii (I know I didn't spell it right but I'm being rushed.) He killed Ziggy??? I didn't know???
- Johnny, Los Angeles, CA
What's with the fascination with Bowie's eyes!!I believe he got into the music biz so the world could discuss this!Bowie is a genius. There is a new British artist called Jody Wildgoose & he has a definate Bowie influence, worth listening to.
- wendy, Sheffield, , England
Having listened to the song a ton of times, I always feel like it could now be applied to Kurt Cobain. Not all the lyrics, but a great deal of them. But then again, maybe this is just me.....
- Arik, Akron, OH
This hands down has to be one of the most ground breaking albums of all time, and one of my favorite Bowie albums! I'd have to say 2nd favorite, number 1 favorite being the Man Who Sold The World album, but this one gets 5 stars as well, Bowie's the Lepah Messiah!
- Jeremy, Warren , RI
Okay David Bowie has two same coloured eyes, but when he got into a fight and was punched in the eye when he was 14, he developed a condition called anisocoria. He had two operations for it. One of his pupils is enlarged and remains open, this makes his eyes look strange and as if he has two different coloured eyes, but he doesn't. I found this out at http://www.bowiewonderworld.com/faq.htm#p18
- ashley, Auckland, New Zealand
his eyes were fine when he was born- then he got punched in one and almost went blind, but instead the pupil got bigger or smaller, can't remember which, and it changed colors.
- Josh, Las Vegas, NV
Super Session guitarist Big Jim Sullivan played guitar on Ziggy.
Big Jim played on a thousand UK top 20 records.
- Alan, Durham City, England
This LP meant the most to me whilst growing up and gives me shivers still everytime I hear it.He went on to do even better things which says everything , what a complete and total GENIUS that touched me where no one else could even get close.XX
love ya DB !xx
- Jenny, Hereford, England
I thought this crap and persona was blown way out of proportion. Maybe that's why Bowie so quickly moved on and "had to break up the band." It wasn't that important. A rock and roll parody. Satire. Humor. Fun. No big point from this great artist.
- Brian, Meriden, CT
He shouldnt have killed Ziggy... Moved on YES, Killed Ziggy NO.... i miss Oh! You Pretty things and Bombers...
- Danno, Sussex, England
left eye removed... lmao
- Danno, Sussex, England
Bauhaus do an awesome cover of this song, sounds great
- dave, Brisbane, Australia
I have a question, does bowie ever say how ziggy died or stopped playing other than the fact that he thought himself too great.
- Jimmu, Vineland, NJ Seriously, people, the line is, "Making LOVE with his ego..." I looked it up on the album insert from inside the CD case, to make sure my memory was sound. ("Making long...? That makes no sense.) I love the song, and used the Ziggy Stardust character as the inspiration for my costume to a recent party -- And won a prize for best FEMALE costume!
- Eric, Cincinnati, OH
weird song! It's pretty cool though.
- Stefanie magura, Rock Hill, SC
To correct Jeff in Philly, the term is heterochromia. Dichromia is a deficiency of color vision in which the person can match any given hue by mixing only two other wavelengths of light (as opposed to the three wavelengths needed by people with normal color vision.
Also, his one eye is unable to constrict, not dilate.
- MIKE, INDIANAPOLIS, IN
The street (more an alleway really) where the album pic was taken is just off Regent Street in London (possibly Heddon Street - I can't remember exactly!) Like many fans, I stood in the place in awe and reverence but was on my own at the time, so no photo! The sign ("West") was still there and I think it was a furrier's premises. Fond memories, great album.
- Phil, Bolton, England
When I first heard the song, I thought it was...
"...making love with an eagle...."
then I thought...
"...making love with his ego...."
now it's....
"making long with his ego"
I really prefer making love with an eagle.
- Ian, San Jose, CA
Not one of my favourite DB songs - I prefer the Bauhaus version from '82
- Paul, Teddington
He never got his eye removed or got it stabbed with a compass he only got in a fight!
- Ethan, SLC, UT
I think that the song is excellent, go get the dvd!
- janelle, new york city, NY
"Ziggy really sang, screwed up eyes and screwed down hairdo
like some cat from Japan, he could lick 'em by smiling
he could leave 'em to hang
came on so loaded man, well hung and snow white tan." true. perfect description of ziggy! When it says"screwed up eyes" true!Remember the acidencent he had as a child.
- janelle, new york city, NY
oh man! in the song it sounds like david already described the ending of ziggy and the spiders from mars when he says,"making long with his ego Ziggy sucked up into his mind
like a leper Messiah
when the kids had killed the man I had to break up the band"
- janelle, new york city, NY
He was born dichromatic, a common genetic trait that gives the person eyes of different colors. In some cases, one blue and one brown. In addition to that, from what I have heard, a schoolyard fight in which he was stabbed in the eye with a compass left one eye unable to dilate.
- Jeff, Philly area, PA
He didn't have the eye removed... he got in a fight with George Underwood when he was a kid and it was damaged, making it appear different. Underwood later did artwork for Bowie albums.
- Les, Manassas, VA
Bowie had his left eye removed and replaced with a blue one..
- The JYD, Albany, NY
I saw David Bowie live last night at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre. He finished the show with Ziggy Stardust...amazing!
- Geoff, Adelaide, AustraliaThis song is about what it is like to be famous. Bowie gave his thoughts on the subject in a 2003 interview with Performing Songwriter magazine: "Fame itself, of course, doesn't really afford you anything more than a good seat in a restaurant. That must be pretty well known by now. I'm just amazed how fame is being posited as the be all and end all, and how many of these young kids who are being foisted on the public have been talked into this idea that anything necessary to be famous is all right. It's a sad state of affairs. However arrogant and ambitious I think we were in my generation, I think the idea was that if you do something really good, you'll become famous. The emphasis on fame itself is something new. Now it's, to be famous you should do what it takes, which is not the same thing at all. And it will leave many of them with this empty feeling. Then again, I don't know if it will, because I think a lot of them are genuinely quite satisfied. I know a couple of personalities over in England who are famous for being famous, basically. They sort of initially came out of the pop world, but they're quite happy being photographed going everywhere and showing their kids off and this is a career to them. A career of like being there and turning up and saying, 'Yes it's me, the famous girl or guy' (laughs). It's like, 'What do you want?' It's so Warhol. It's as vacuous as that. And that to me, is a big worry. I think it's done dreadful things to the music industry. There's such a lot of rubbish, drivel out there." (This interview is available at Rock's Backpages.)
John Lennon helped write this song - he came up with the title and also sang the background "Fame" parts in the high voice. They started working on the song when Bowie invited Lennon to the studio, and Lennon played rhythm guitar on a jam session that resulted in this track. Bowie met Lennon less than a year earlier at a party thrown by Elizabeth Taylor. Lennon was one of Bowie's idols, and they became good friends.
Bowie often had conversations with Lennon about how fame took away parts of their lives. In the same interview, Bowie said: "We'd been talking about management, and it kind of came out of that. He was telling me, 'You're being shafted by your present manager' (laughs). That was basically the line. And John was the guy who opened me up to the idea that all management is crap. That there's no such thing as good management in rock 'n' roll, and you should try to do it without it. It was at John's instigation that I really did without managers, and started getting people in to do specific jobs for me, rather than signing myself away to one guy forever and have him take a piece of everything that I earn. Usually, quite a large piece, and have him really not do very much. So, if I needed a certain publishing thing done, I'd bring in a person who specialized in that area, and they would, on a one-job basis, work for me and we'd reach the agreed fee. And I started to realize that if you're bright, you kind of know you're worth, and if you're creative, you know what you want to do and where you want to go in that way. What extra thing is this manager supposed to do for you? I suppose in the old days, it was [in a hokey New York voice] 'Get you breaks!' (laughs). I don't quite know what managers are supposed to do, even. I think if you have even just a modicum of intelligence, you're going to know what it is you are and where you want to go. Once you know that, you just bring in specific people for specialist jobs. You don't have to end up signing your life away to some fool who's just there kind of grabbing hold of the coattails."
Bowie's guitarist Carlos Alomar came up with the guitar riff. It was based on a song called "Foot Stompin'" by The Flares, which Bowie had been performing on tour.
This was Bowie's first big hit in America, and also his first to do better in the US than the UK. He had a few UK hits before this, including "Rebel Rebel," "Life On Mars," and "Diamond Dogs."
Bowie: "Fame can take interesting men and thrust mediocrity upon them."
This was recorded at the Sigma Sound studios in Philadelphia, where many Soul classics of the '70s were made. Bowie wanted the album to have a Rhythm & Blues feel, and he called the sound he created "Plastic Soul."Bowie whispers something at the end. It is rumored to be either "Brings so much pain" or "Feeling so gay, feeling gay."Bowie performed this on Soul Train. He is one of only a few white performers to appear on the show.
This was remixed as a Techno version for the Pretty Woman soundtrack. It was re-titled "Fame '90." This version was also included on the album Changesbowie when it was re-issued.
At the end of this song, "Fame" is repeated 23 times, each "Fame" being a different note. The repetitions of "Fame" span an amazing 4 octaves. (thanks, Annabelle - Eugene, OR)In one of Bowie's first US TV appearances, he performed this on The Cher Show in 1975. Comments: On September 20th, 1975 "Fame" reached #1 for one week, then "I'm Sorry" b/w "Calypso" by John Denver became #1 for one week. But Bowie reclaimed #1 for another week!!!
- Barry, Sauquoit, NY Fame is a flairy kind of Bowie song, but good nonetheless. However it was created, it's catchy.
- John, Concord, NH In an interview, the fantastic Mr. B. has admitted to experimenting with the caballero's sword in the past, but he said it was just that --experimenting. He is now very happily living with his wife and child. It doesn't matter. Mister David Bowie is still a very talented and handsome gentleman, no matter what his preferences are. Viva Bowie!
- Rayna, Pembroke pines, FL I love how this song is about how John Lennon and David Bowie disliked what fame did to their lives, and here people are talking about their private lives, a strong quality of fame, famous people don't like. Great song though.
- Rabia, New York, NY When I read the Lyrics to "Queen Bitch" off Honky Dory it seems pretty evident Bowie hung around in the gay scene. The references to "watching the cruizers below" (the act of picking up men ie. cruizing). Also "she's known in the darkest clubs
For pushing ahead of the dames". That would be a drag queen for sure. I just cant see someone using this jargon if they are totally straight.
- Brian, Vancouver, BC Duran Duran did a cover of this song. It was a single and not on any of their main albums.
- Karen, Manalapan, NJ David is in a straight relationship(family man) and seems to thrive on it. I think that the whole androgynous Bowie was something he made up for suckers to take what they wanted from it. The original "Man Who Sold the World" cover was brilliant. "Ziggy", "Aladdinsane", purported the whole gay thing, "Hunky Dory" was part this and a part that, remember "Kooks" was written for Zowie. And also remember that John Lennon "nutted" the journalist who suggested he had a relationship with Brian Epstein.
David is a clever man but let's not forget Willie Weekes whose bass playing makes this track.
- John, Dundee, United Kingdom This song is used for the Choclate Skateboards montage is the skat video "Yeah Right". During this song, Jesus Fernandez, Chico Brennes and Richard Mulder, as well as Kenny Anderson dropped sock parts.
- Kyle, Jefferson, MD Not to be argumentative, but this was not remotely Bowie's first big hit in America. That honor would go to A Space Oddity.
- Dennis, Anchorage, AK I heard when Lennon died, Bowie moved out of New York, then came back years later is that true?
- joey, Nowhere Land, CA John Lennon did not sleep with David Bowie. Period. have any of u guys heard the 90' remix on the album "Changes"
- Johnny, Los Angeles, CA Changesbowie is the album, actually
- Johnny, Los Angeles, CA If he did have relations with Jagger he did a long time before the ridiculous Dancing in the Streets video! And if he did so what? Listen to the music and let his personal life remain that. He doesn't care who your sleeping with!
- Jeremy, Warren , RI Lennon and Bowie probably didn't have sex, they both played off the image of being sexually liberated and weird to sell records. Bowie later in his career appeared to play down his bisexuality as a gimick. Bowie claimed to have met his wife while they were dating the same dude.
- Nathan, Defiance, OH There was a rumour that Bowie had a homosexual affair with Lennon, but I don't know if that was ever confirmed. Then again, there are rumours that Bowie has sex withever he performs with. He did Dancing in the Streets with Mick Jagger and there was a rumour that he did it with Mick Jagger too.
- Roger, Los Angeles, CA So what about the song, "Hot" by James Brown. It's basically the same song, production and all. I know artists have sampled James Brown probably more than any other artist out there, but is this a case of James "sampling" before sampling existed?
- John, Elkhart, IN what a great song, and fun to dance to. Especially with that rhythm and blues feel.
- Stefanie magura, Rock Hill, SC Bowie uses the phrase "plastic soul' I had heard that during the early sixties some african american artists had labeled the Rolling Stones as plastic soul. Rumor has it that Paul Mccartney, refering to the Beatles, asked "Whats that make us" and Lennon "Rubber, whatever they say will bounce off". "Rubber Soul"
- David, Waco, TX Bowie was jamming with lennon when john started playing shame shame shame, a beatles song, bowie asked what it was and lennon told him that it was easy to make a good song fast, then bowie disappeared, five minutes later he came back with the lyrics to fame
- Ethan, SLC, UT William Shatner (Voiceover) Bowie-Roeg 'Man Who Fell To Earth'
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