Released on 14th June 2024 is the eagerly awaited DAVID BOWIE ROCK 'N' ROLL STAR!, 5-CD and 1 Blu-ray audio set that explores David Bowie's journey from February 1971 through the creation of the Ziggy Stardust character, the recording of the iconic THE RISE AND FALL OF ZIGGY STARDUST AND THE SPIDERS FROM MARS album, and captures the international mania that surrounded the Ziggy phenomenon in the form of UK radio sessions and TV performances, as well as live tracks from Ziggy and the Spiders' 1st October 1972 show at the Boston Music Hall.

ROCK 'N' ROLL STAR!, contains 29 unreleased tracks, covers early songwriting demos, recordings from David's studio creation, The Arnold Corns, rehearsals at Bowie's then-home, Haddon Hall, BBC sessions, singles, live performances, plus outtakes and alternative versions from the original album recording sessions, which have been newly mixed by original album producer, Ken Scott.

Unreleased highlights include an alternative version of 'Lady Stardust', a version of the deep-cut classic 'Shadow Man' and an up-tempo take of The Who's 'I Can't Explain', which he would later slow down and cover for the PIN UPS album.

The audio-only Blu-ray disc features the definitive 2012 remaster of the original Ziggy Stardust album in 96kHz/24bit PCM stereo, plus the album and additional mixes from 2003 in DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 as well as the singles, outtakes and alternative versions in 96kHz/24 bit PCM stereo.

The Blu-ray also includes a version of the ZIGGY STARDUST album called WAITING IN THE SKY (BEFORE THE STARMAN CAME TO EARTH) taken from Trident Studio tapes dated 15th December 1971, which features an alternative running order and four songs that didn't make the final album. This will also be available as a limited vinyl LP on 20th April, 2024 for Record Store Day. In addition, there is a 1-LP version of ROCK 'N' ROLL STAR! compiling the alternative takes and mixes.

ROCK 'N' ROLL STAR! also contains two books. The first is an extensive 112-page book with detailed liner notes, memorabilia, contemporary reviews and articles, rare photographs from Barrie Wentzel, Michael Putland, Mick Rock, Sukita and Alec Byrne, as well as brand-new notes and interviews with Ken Scott, Mark Carr Pritchett and David's plugger from the time, Anya Wilson. Accompanying the main book is a 36-page compiled reproduction of David's personal Ziggy Stardust era notebooks.

DAVID BOWIE - ROCK 'N' ROLL STAR!

* PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

DISC 1
01. So Long 60s (San Francisco Hotel recording)*
02. Hang On To Yourself (early demo)*
03. Lady Stardust (demo)
04. Ziggy Stardust (demo)
05. Star (aka Stars) (demo)*
06. Soul Love (demo and DB spoken notes)*
07. Starman (demo 1 excerpt)*
08. Starman (demo 2)*
09. Moonage Daydream (The Arnold Corns version)
10. Hang On To Yourself (The Arnold Corns version)
11. Looking For A Friend (The Arnold Corns version - rough mix)*
12. Haddon Hall Rehearsals Segue: Ziggy Stardust / Holy Holy / Soul Love*
13. Star (aka Stars) (Haddon Hall rehearsal)*
14. Sweet Head (Haddon Hall rehearsal)*

DISC 2
Sounds Of The 70s: John Peel
Session recorded on 11th January, 1972 and broadcast on 28th January, 1972
01. Ziggy Stardust*
02. Queen Bitch*
03. Waiting For The Man*
04. Lady Stardust*

Sounds Of The 70s: Bob Harris
Session recorded on 18th January, 1972 and broadcast on 7th February, 1972
05. Hang On To Yourself
06. Ziggy Stardust
07. Queen Bitch
08. Waiting For The Man
09. Five Years

The Old Grey Whistle Test Performance
Filmed on 7th February, 1972 and broadcast on 8th February, 1972 except 'Oh! You Pretty Things' which was not broadcast until 1982.
10. Oh! You Pretty Things (take 1)
11. Queen Bitch
12. Five Years

DISC 3
Sounds Of The 70s: John Peel
Session recorded on 16th May, 1972 and broadcast on 23rd May, 1972
01. White Light/White Heat
02. Moonage Daydream
03. Hang On To Yourself
04. Suffragette City
05. Ziggy Stardust

Johnnie Walker Lunchtime Show
Session recorded on 22nd May, 1972 and broadcast from 5th-9th June, 1972
06. Starman
07. Space Oddity
08. Changes
09. Oh! You Pretty Things

Sounds Of The 70s: Bob Harris
Session recorded on 23rd May, 1972 and broadcast on 19th June, 1972
10. Andy Warhol
11. Lady Stardust
12. White Light/White Heat
13. Rock 'N' Roll Suicide

Top Of The Pops Performance
Filmed on 5th July, 1972 and broadcast on 6th July, 1972
14. Starman

DISC 4
01. Round And Round
02. The Supermen (Ziggy session version)
03. Holy Holy (Ziggy session version)
04. Velvet Goldmine (Ziggy session outtake)
05. Starman (original single mix)
06. John, I'm Only Dancing (original single version)

Recorded Live At The Music Hall, Boston.
Recorded on 1st October, 1972
07. The Supermen
08. Changes
09. Life On Mars?
10. My Death*
11. John, I'm Only Dancing

DISC 5
01. Looking For A Friend (The Arnold Corns version 2022 mix)*
02. Hang On To Yourself (early Ziggy session take)*
03. Star (take 5 alternative version)*
04. Lady Stardust (take 1 alternative version)*
05. Shadow Man (Ziggy session version)*
06. The Supermen (Ziggy session version 2023 Mix)*
07. Holy Holy (Ziggy session version alternative mix)*
08. Round And Round (alternative mix)
09. It's Gonna Rain Again (Ziggy session outtake)*
10. Looking For A Friend (Ziggy session version)*
11. Velvet Goldmine (Ziggy sessions outtake 2022 mix)*
12. Sweet Head (Ziggy sessions outtake 2022 mix)*
13. Starman (Top Of The Pops version 2022 mix)
14. John, I'm Only Dancing (alternative Trident Studios version)*
15. I Can't Explain (Trident Studios version)*

Bonus Mix
16. Moonage Daydream (2003 instrumental mix)

Blu-ray Audio

THE RISE AND FALL OF ZIGGY STARDUST AND THE SPIDERS FROM MARS
Original album mix (96khz/24bit Stereo)

THE RISE AND FALL OF ZIGGY STARDUST AND THE SPIDERS FROM MARS AND EXTRAS
2003 5.1 Mixes (DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 - 96khz/24bit)

WAITING IN THE SKY (BEFORE THE STARMAN CAME TO EARTH)
Early Ziggy Stardust album tracklisting - December 1971 (96khz/24bit PCM stereo)

THE SINGLES
(96khz/24bit PCM stereo)

OUTTAKES AND ALTERNATIVE VERSIONS
(96khz/24bit PCM stereo)

ROCK 'N' ROLL STAR! HALF-SPEED MASTERED LP
Vinyl tracklisting

Side 1
01. Hang On To Yourself (early Ziggy session take)
02. Star (Take 5 alternative version)
03. Lady Stardust (Take 1 alternative version)
04. Shadow Man (Ziggy session version)
05. The Supermen (Ziggy session version 2023 mix)
06. Holy Holy (Ziggy session version alternative mix)
07. Round And Round (alternative mix) +

Side 2
01. Velvet Goldmine (Ziggy sessions outtake 2022 mix)
02. Looking For A Friend (Ziggy session version)
03. It's Gonna Rain Again (Ziggy sessions outtake)
04. Sweet Head (Ziggy sessions outtake 2022 mix)
05. Starman (Top Of The Pops version 2022 mix)
06. John, I'm Only Dancing (alternative Trident Studios version)*
07. I Can't Explain (Trident Studios version) +*

Produced by David Bowie and Ken Scott except + Produced by David Bowie.

You can purchase Rock 'n' Roll Star! (5CD and Blu-ray Book Set) and (Half-Speed Master Alternative Takes and Mixes 1LP) now!

Created: June 2024 © P. Kinder

Last Updated: 1/9/24