David Bowie & The Spiders from Mars (1972–1973)
Photo: Duncan Harris / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0 (editorial use)
Between 1972 and 1973, David Bowie reached global fame through his explosive collaboration with The Spiders from Mars, the band that brought the Ziggy Stardust persona to life on stage.
The classic lineup — Mick Ronson, Trevor Bolder and Mick Woodmansey — transformed Bowie’s songs into a fully theatrical rock spectacle, combining raw power with dramatic precision.
- Years: 1972–1973
- Band: The Spiders from Mars
- Members: Ronson · Bolder · Woodmansey
- Tours: Ziggy Stardust · Aladdin Sane
- Style: Glam rock, theatrical hard rock
Background
The formation of The Spiders from Mars marked the most radical reinvention of Bowie’s career. With dyed hair, alien costumes and a science-fiction persona, Bowie transformed the rock concert into a staged theatrical event.
Ronson’s aggressive guitar lines and harmony vocals formed the sonic backbone, while Bolder and Woodmansey supplied relentless rhythmic drive. Together they elevated songs like Moonage Daydream, Suffragette City and Rock ’n’ Roll Suicide into explosive live statements.
Live performances & locations
- 1972 – United Kingdom – Ziggy Stardust Tour
- 1972 – United States – First US Ziggy tour
- 1973 – Europe & Japan – Aladdin Sane world tour
- 1973 – Hammersmith Odeon, London – Legendary farewell concert
Surviving audio & video
The Ziggy era survives in remarkable quality through multi-camera concert footage, professional live recordings and historic television broadcasts.
Historical importance
The Ziggy Stardust tours remain among the most influential live performances in rock history. Bowie’s transformation into an alien rock messenger permanently altered the relationship between music, image and performance.
The partnership with The Spiders from Mars established Bowie as a global superstar and laid the foundation for all future conceptual transformations in his career.