The first gig of the Ziggy Stardust tour took place at Aylesbury Friars in the Borough Assembly Hall January 29, 1972 featuring Bowie with his backing group the Spiders from Mars: (not billed) guitarist Mick Ronson, bassist Trevor Bolder, and drummer Mick Woodmansey. Audio engineer Robin Mayhew had been working on the PA and sound equipment since the end of the previous year and was the principal sound engineer for the entire tour. Unlike typical rock concerts at the time, th

Bowie's Swishiest Outrage Return Published in the UK on January 22, 1972, Melody Maker’s cover and article “Oh! You Pretty Things” heralded David Bowie’s return to live performance after three years since “Space Oddity.” The cover described him as “rock's swishiest outrage,” a self-confessed lover of effeminate clothes, noting that critics in the US had hailed him as the new Bob Dylan. The feature highlighted the imminent chart success of his album Hunky Dory and the single “

A Record Mirror Bowie Triumph Published in the UK on January 15, 1972, Record Mirror’s album review “Hunky Dory - Assisted By The Actor” hailed David Bowie’s Hunky Dory (RCA Victor SF 8244) as his best album to date. Produced by Ken Scott and “assisted by the actor,” the review praised the showcase of Bowie’s “almost violent range” of voice, strong backing (notably Rick Wakeman), and consistency across the production — including a good “Song For Bob Dylan.” The piece conclude

Bowie's Queen Bitch & Changes Glory Published in the UK on January 15, 1972, Melody Maker’s one-page album review “Hunky Dory - The Best Thing to Come Out of Britain” hailed David Bowie’s Hunky Dory (RCA) as possibly the biggest thing to come out of Britain that year — and not through hype. The enthusiastic review called it Bowie’s best album to date, the most inventive song-writing in a long time, and praised its depth, mirroring events around the singer with ambiguity and

Bowie's Changes Single Promo Published in the UK on January 15, 1972, Melody Maker’s one-page advert promoted David Bowie’s new single “Changes” — the lead track from his album Hunky Dory (RCA Victor SF 8244). The bold ad highlighted the song’s infectious energy and Bowie’s rising star power, signaling the arrival of his glam era. A key early 1972 promo moment. Advert Overview Publication Details Magazine: Melody Maker (UK). Date: January 15, 1972. Format: Single advert.

one-page advertisement in Melody Maker , January 8, 1972. The Most Intellectually Brilliant Man "DAVID BOWIE is the most singularly gifted artist creating music today. He has the genius to be to the '70s what Lennon, McCartney, Jagger and Dylan were to the '60s."-Rock Magazine "A magnificent outrage."-Rolling Stone "The most intellectually brilliant man yet to choose the long-playing album as his medium of expression."-The New York Times Hunky Dory, the David Bowie album on R

January 8, 1972, New Musical Express. DAVID BOWIE Changes (RCA) A PENETRATING self-analysis of David's outlook on the ever-changing world and the attitudes of society. And let me assure you that it's not nearly so highfalutin as that description sounds! A catchy little medium-pacer with a hook chorus, it has the commercial benefit of a stuttering gimmick on the frequently-repeated title word. Not a disturbing or fantasy disc like some of Bowie's previous singles, but a shrewd

A Rolling Stone Glam-Folk Prophecy Published in the US on January 6, 1972, Rolling Stone’s one-page album review “Hunky Dory - Male Femme Fatale” celebrated David Bowie’s Hunky Dory — his breakthrough fourth album. The review hailed Bowie as a “male femme fatale,” praising the theatricality of “Changes,” “Life On Mars?,” “Queen Bitch,” and the album’s eclectic glam-folk brilliance. A key early US press moment for Bowie’s rise. Review Overview Publication Details Magazine: Rol

Rolling Stone One Page Advert (Dec 9, 1971)

A Historic Night at Market Square, September 25, 1971 On Saturday, September 25, 1971, at 8 p.m., David Bowie took the stage at Friars...