David Bowie (September 24, 1972) – Ellis Auditorium Memphis – Autographed Concert Handbill

This rare original 1972 concert handbill for David Bowie & The Spiders from Mars is personally hand-signed by Bowie, promoting his sold-out performance at Ellis Auditorium in Memphis during the Ziggy Stardust tour.

Publication: Original Promotional Handbill / Flyer

Date: September 24, 1972 Country: United States Location: Memphis, Tennessee Section: Concert Promotion (Autographed Memorabilia)

THE STORY

The handbill features a striking blue star design with a photo of Bowie, announcing the show with The Spiders from Mars at Ellis Auditorium. Bowie signed the flyer in ink. The concert was the 60th date of the Ziggy Stardust tour, a complete sell-out with all 4,335 tickets sold. A post-show party was held at the Memphis Downtowner Motor Inn.

CONTEXT AND NOTES 

This show took place just months after the release of the iconic The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars album. It was a high-energy milestone on Bowie’s breakthrough US tour. Drummer Woody Woodmansey later recalled the “fever pitch” audience and the confidence boost it gave the band ahead of their Carnegie Hall debut. The Ziggy Stardust Tour returned to the same venue in February 1973.

FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS 

Event: Autographed concert handbill / memorabilia Era: 1972 (Ziggy Stardust era)

Tone: Rare, historic, collectible Photography: Classic early 70s promotional image of Bowie inside a blue star

WHAT THE CLIPPING SHOWS

• Bold blue star design with David Bowie photo at centre

• Hand-signed autograph and inscription by David Bowie

• Full show details: Sunday – September 24, Ellis Auditorium, 6:30 P.M.

• Ticket outlet information and “Mid America Premier” notation

• Period wear including toning, creases and edge wear

SETLIST

1. Hang On to Yourself

2. Ziggy Stardust

3. Changes

4. The Supermen

5. Life on Mars?

6. Five Years

7. Space Oddity (acoustic; Bowie and Ronson only)

8. Andy Warhol (acoustic; Bowie and Ronson only)

9. My Death (Jacques Brel cover) (Bowie solo acoustic)

10. The Width of a Circle

11. Queen Bitch

12. Moonage Daydream

13. Starman

14. White Light/White Heat (Velvet Underground cover)

15. John, I’m Only Dancing

16. Rock ’n’ Roll Suicide

17. Suffragette City Encore: Around and Around (Chuck Berry cover)

RELATED MATERIAL 

This signed 1972 Ziggy Stardust-era handbill, complete with setlist and tour context, is a premium piece of live Bowie memorabilia. For other relevant posts, see the tags at the foot of the page.

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.