David Bowie (June 10, 1972) “Bowie at his best” – Album Review – NME (UK)

Enthusiastic early review of David Bowie’s album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, praising him at the peak of his creative powers.

PUBLICATION: Date: June 10, 1972 Country: United Kingdom

Section / Pages: Albums / Review Title: Bowie at his best

THE STORY

The review celebrates Bowie’s groundbreaking new album, highlighting his extraordinary creativity, theatrical vision, and the impact of the Ziggy Stardust persona. It features a large action shot of Bowie performing live in full Ziggy regalia.

CONTEXT AND NOTES

Published just a few days after the album’s official release on June 16, 1972 (advance copies were circulating), this NME review captures the immediate excitement surrounding Ziggy Stardust. It came at a pivotal moment as Bowie was transforming from a cult artist into a major star.

FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS

Event: Album Review

Era: Ziggy Stardust Era (1972) Tone: Highly positive, celebratory, insightful

Photography: Dynamic live shot of David Bowie as Ziggy Stardust

“Bowie at his best”

WHAT THE CLIPPING SHOWS

NME Albums section featuring the bold headline “Bowie at his best”, a prominent live photograph of Bowie, and detailed review text. Classic dense 1972 NME layout with visible print grain.

RELATED MATERIAL

• David Bowie (June 17, 1972) “The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust” Advertisement – Record Mirror (UK)

• David Bowie (June 24, 1972) Greyhound Croydon Gig Advertisement – Melody Maker (UK)

• David Bowie (June 8, 1972) “David Bowie Is Just Not Serious” – Rolling Stone (US)

Also see tabs at the foot of this post.

All magazine scans, photographs and original text excerpts remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This entry is a transformative, non-commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference.