David was on the last show of his 1973 British tour promoting his latest record, Aladdin Sane. He had taken on his iconic Ziggy Stardust persona the year before and had been touring as this character ever since. This film is a microcosm of an era, Bowie looks otherworldly, an enigma, as if he had beamed down from another universe only to meet a whole theater full of obsessed onlookers. His elegant structure, genderless and unusual, with vocals that lived up to every bit of his stage appearance. This was a time when rockstars were untouchable... before the age of social media where you now have access to any name on the planet... but not then, the greats were hovering above it all, in a sense, a demigod. Bowie made it "cool" to be strange and offbeat, he gave hope to those living on the fringes of societies standards. A chameleon, an actor and a poet.
One of the most beautiful songs of the night and a deeper Bowie cut, My Death is intimate and lyrically devastating.
"But whatever is behind the door
There is nothing much to do
Angel or devil I don't care
For in front of that door
There is you."
At the end of the song Bowie repeats this line, gives an ever so subtle grin and pauses as the crowd fills in the last word with "Me." Make sure to watch until the end for this incredible moment...
Ziggy caps off the evening with a shocking announcement...
"Of all the shows on this tour, this particular show will remain with us the longest, because not only is it the last show of the tour, but it's the last show that we'll ever do."
Leaving the crowd hanging on this surprising statement.. Was Bowie retiring? Was this THE end? Imagine being in the audience that night, a rush of emotions, knowing this might be the last chance to catch a glimpse of the sensational being we all fell in love with... and in true Bowie fashion, he ends with Rock 'n' Roll Suicide.
This evening was the demise of Ziggy Stardust, but surely not the end of David Bowie. This was only the start of his remarkable career... and what he has left us with is a lifetime of awe-inspiring music which carries on in the hearts of generations to come. Thank you, Starman.