📰 Santa Monica Concert – Review : Nov. 1972
- David Bowie
- Nov 11, 1972
- 2 min read
A glowing review of David Bowie’s Santa Monica shows praises the Ziggy Stardust performance as a beautifully designed, varied, and stunning programme that confirmed Bowie as one of the most gifted and commanding artists to emerge in years.
The writer highlights Bowie’s strong singing, clear PA sound, and confident command of the stage, noting how he wisely avoided over-the-top theatrics to let the songs shine.
This November 1972 Melody Maker review captures Bowie during his first major American tour, as Ziggy fever began to take hold across the Atlantic.
đź—ž Melody Maker
đź“… Date: November 11, 1972
⏱ Length: 4 min read
đź“° Key Highlights
• Strong praise for Bowie’s Santa Monica performances (Friday and Saturday nights)
• Description of the show as “varied, thoughtfully designed and beautifully stunning”
• Emphasis on Bowie’s excellent singing, clear sound, and commanding stage presence
• Note that the set spanned from “Space Oddity” through to the new single “Jean Genie”
• Positive comments on the Spiders from Mars and the overall theatrical yet musical balance
đź“° Overview
In November 1972, Melody Maker reviewed David Bowie’s concerts at Santa Monica Civic Auditorium during his first major US tour as Ziggy Stardust. The piece celebrates the quality of the performance and Bowie’s growing reputation as a major live artist.
đź“° Source Details
Publication / Venue: Melody Maker
Date: November 11, 1972
Format: Concert review
Provenance Notes: Verified directly from the preserved magazine clipping; typical Melody Maker single-column review style of the period.
đź“° The Story
Richard Cromelin writes that Ziggy and the Spiders delivered a varied and thoughtfully designed set that established Bowie as one of the most gifted artists to emerge “since God-knows-when.” He notes that Bowie appeared slightly nervous on the Friday show but was “devastating” on Saturday, with his singing as the focal point.
The review highlights Bowie’s intelligent approach — using the clear PA system to maximum effect without distracting theatrics — and praises his ability to deliver strong renditions of classics like “Space Oddity” alongside new material such as “Jean Genie.” Cromelin also commends the band’s tight performance and Bowie’s natural charisma, concluding that he is the first English act since the Beatles and the Stones to headline a major American tour with such confidence.
đź“° Visual Archive
Plain text review clipping with no accompanying photograph, presented in standard newspaper columns under the “DAVID BOWIE” headline. The text is dense and tightly set, typical of Melody Maker’s review pages.
Caption: Melody Maker review of David Bowie’s Santa Monica concerts, published November 11, 1972.
đź“° Related Material
See tabs at foot of page
đź“° Closing Notes
This enthusiastic 1972 Melody Maker review marks an important early American validation of David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust persona. It shows Bowie successfully translating his theatrical glam vision to US audiences and establishes him as a major live force on the international stage.
đź“ť Copyright Notice
All magazine scans, photographs, and original text excerpts referenced in this entry remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This Chronicle entry is a transformative, non-commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference. No ownership of the original material is claimed or implied.
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