David Bowie (May 1973) Is Aladdin Still Sane? – Cover Feature

David Bowie
May 1, 1973
2 min read

Updated: 7 days ago

Publication: Creem

Date: May 1 1973

Country: USA

Section / Page: Cover Feature / Major Article Teaser

Format: Magazine Cover / Feature Preview

Overview

A striking Creem magazine cover from May 1973 featuring an illustrated portrait of David Bowie in full Aladdin Sane splendour — lightning bolt, red‑orange hair, and the heightened theatricality of his Ziggy‑era persona. The headline asks whether Bowie is “still sane,” capturing the American rock press’s fascination with his rapid rise, shape‑shifting identity, and the blurred line between character and creator

“Is Aladdin still sane?” “Creem dives deep into the glam icon.”

The Story Behind It

By May 1973, Bowie had become a transatlantic sensation. Aladdin Sane had just been released, and Creem — America’s loudest, cheekiest rock magazine — seized the moment to frame Bowie as both genius and enigma. The cover’s question reflects the era’s obsession with Bowie’s theatrical personas: was Ziggy a mask, a mirror, or a fracture line? Creem’s teaser promised a deeper look at the artist behind the makeup, situating Bowie within the broader American glam‑rock conversation alongside Roxy Music, Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, and other rising or established acts. The tone is classic 1973 Creem: irreverent, fascinated, and slightly suspicious of Bowie’s meteoric ascent.

What the Clipping Shows

A vivid illustrated close‑up of Bowie as Aladdin Sane: • Red‑orange hair swept upward • Lightning‑bolt makeup across the face • Purple background with stylised pink clouds • Bold purple Creem masthead • Teaser text questioning Bowie’s sanity and artistic direction

The layout is bold, colourful, and unmistakably early‑’70s American rock‑press design — loud, playful, and visually arresting.

Related Material

• David Bowie (May 5 1973) Aladdin Sane – Album Chart Entry

• David Bowie – Aladdin Sane Album (Apr 13 1973)

• Mainman Presents – Advert (Apr 1973)

• Additional entries listed in the scrapbook tag index

All original magazine artwork, illustrations, and text remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This scrapbook entry is a transformative, non‑commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference.