David Bowie – Hammersmith Odeon (1973)
On July 3, 1973, David Bowie performed the final show of the Ziggy Stardust UK tour at the Hammersmith Odeon in London — a concert that would become one of the most famous and shocking moments in rock history.
Known as the “Retirement Gig”, this performance marked the end of the Ziggy Stardust era. What the audience did not realise at the time was that Bowie was about to bring not just the tour, but the entire Ziggy persona to a dramatic close.
The concert was filmed by D. A. Pennebaker and recorded by RCA with the intention of releasing a live album — material that would later appear as Ziggy Stardust: The Motion Picture.
- Date: 3 July 1973
- Venue: Hammersmith Odeon, London
- Event: Final Ziggy Stardust show
- Special guest: Jeff Beck
- Significance: “Retirement” announcement
The “Retirement” announcement
Only a handful of people knew about Bowie’s decision to end Ziggy that night. Mick Ronson and Suzie Ronson were aware, and according to sound engineer Robin Mayhew, stage manager Peter Hunsley was informed shortly before the final section of the show.
“Everybody… this has been one of the greatest tours of our lives… Of all of the shows on this tour, this particular show will remain with us the longest… because not only is it the last show of the tour, but it’s the last show that we’ll ever do.”
The audience reacted with shock, many shouting “No!” as Bowie then launched into “Rock ’n’ Roll Suicide”, closing the Ziggy Stardust era in dramatic fashion.
Even members of The Spiders from Mars were unaware of this decision — only Tony DeFries and Mick Rock had prior knowledge.
The performance and atmosphere
The concert itself was a powerful culmination of Bowie’s theatrical vision. Combining rock performance with visual storytelling, Ziggy Stardust had become a fully realised character — and this final show served as its ultimate conclusion.
Guest guitarist Jeff Beck joined Bowie on stage, adding to the historic nature of the evening.
Setlist (Hammersmith Odeon, 1973)
- Introduction
- Hang On to Yourself
- Ziggy Stardust
- Watch That Man
- Wild Eyed Boy from Freecloud
- All the Young Dudes
- Moonage Daydream
- Changes
- Space Oddity
- My Death
- Cracked Actor
- Time
- The Width of a Circle
- Let’s Spend the Night Together
- Suffragette City
- White Light / White Heat
- The Jean Genie / Love Me Do (with Jeff Beck)
- Round and Round
- Rock ’n’ Roll Suicide
Behind the scenes & recording
The concert was recorded using the RCA Mobile unit and filmed for a planned live double album titled BOWIE-ING OUT, originally intended for release in 1974. The material eventually appeared in 1983 as Ziggy Stardust: The Motion Picture, although some performances were omitted.
Following the show, Bowie and a small group of friends gathered at the Inn On The Park, marking the quiet end of one of the most explosive artistic eras in rock history.
Audio review & legacy recordings
Later releases of the concert revealed a very different sonic experience compared to earlier official versions. Fans and engineers noted that the original mixes often buried key elements such as saxophones and live instrumentation.
Newer versions highlight Mick Ronson’s guitar work, Mike Garson’s piano contributions, and previously underrepresented elements such as saxophone arrangements, giving a much more authentic representation of the live performance.
Tracks like “My Death” and “Space Oddity” gained new emotional weight in these mixes, while songs like “White Light / White Heat” revealed unexpected depth and instrumentation.
Many fans now consider the complete version of this concert — including omitted tracks such as “Round and Round” — essential for understanding the full impact of the Ziggy Stardust era.
Legacy
The Hammersmith Odeon concert remains one of the most important performances of Bowie’s career:
- It marks the end of the Ziggy Stardust persona
- It demonstrates Bowie’s control over his own myth and narrative
- It stands as one of the most iconic moments in live rock history
Rather than being an ending, the “retirement” was a transformation — a deliberate reinvention that would define Bowie’s career for decades to come.
Ziggy Stardust – Hammersmith Odeon (1973)
Watch rare footage and historic moments from the legendary Ziggy Stardust farewell concert at the Hammersmith Odeon. These recordings capture one of the most iconic performances in rock history.
🎬 Archival footage – quality may vary due to original source recordings
