David Bowie: Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars [DVD]

Famously, but incorrectly, touted as Ziggy Stardust's "retirement gig" this legendary concert was recorded at the Hammersmith Odeon on 3rd July 1973 (it was actually after the 1980 Floor Show, on 20th October the same year that Ziggy bowed out). In common with the Sex Pistols 100 club gig, if everybody who claims to have been there actually was, then there must have been 100,000 there that night!By no means well recorded - it's taken 30 years of mixing to get "right", and in my opinion the drum sound is now even worse - it remains the definitive live Bowie recording. The Spiders are just the right side of messy. For those of us lucky enough to have heard the original recording, with Ronson's guitar overpowering everything, including, occasionally, Bowie's voice, this is a bit of a letdown. However, Bowie's voice is wonderful, with an effortless clarity that's missing from subsequent live recordings such as DAVID LIVE and STAGE.The video is by Pennebaker, famous for his Dylan fly on the wall documentary "Don't Look back". Shaky camera work, and out of focus zooms, more often than not result in Bowie looking like a grainy red blob amid a sea of blackness. However, in my opinion this actually adds to the mysterious aura that Bowie built around Ziggy. It looks like the film had to be pushed quite hard to get anything out of it at all - this could possibly be the first grunge video! The Odeon looks like a huge, heaving cavern. It's a million miles away from the polished Glass Spider and all the better for it. Considering the state of the original print I was dubious as to whether it could be improved for this DVD release. It couldn't.Previously unreleased additions include the complete "Width Of A Circle", some between song banter, and commentary by Pennebaker and Visconti. Unfortunately the additions are not what fans have waited 30 years for. Disgracefully, The Jean Genie/Love me Do, on which Jeff Beck joined the Spiders onstage to play guitar is STILL missing. Whether this is down to a royalty dispute or Beck's embarrassment of his glam rags is anybody's guess, but the omission seriously undermines this release.Until the complete show is released, Bowie Fans will continue to feel short changed. Come on Mr Beck - sort it out!

A great visual documentary on one of the most iconic of rock concerts ever given. It shows the behind-the-scenes preparation as well as the preparation between Bowie's songs. Interestingly, it also shows fans queuing up outside which gives a good insight into the fan worship of the times. The songs still come across as fresh today as they were then, and the costumes (of which there are many) worn by Bowie are dazzling in design, colour and variation. This is very good in capturing the essence of Bowie's Ziggy Stardust period and what is essentially an unusual theatre performance with a rock music backdrop. I highly recommend it.

Sure if you we're there or had a previous version blah you might be disappointed, but hey, this is a magnificent performance and a legendary concert. Highlights time, width of a circle and rock n roll suicide ( although the Tokyo Dome 1990 version with Adrian Belew is even better) .This isn't just glam rock, it's about being completely sure of who you are and what you're doing. Bowie could only dress like that and act like that because he was a musical perfectionist, and in a sense he knew he was pushing the envelope. It must have been a staggering performance to see it live. To think punk came along only three years later attempting to "shock". How could it shock people who had been watching this?

What's not to like about ziggy live? They miss off the end Jean Genie which is annoying. I guess because they want to end it on Rock and roll suicide, but you know we know Bowie carried on after this for another 40 years so you know, it's not THAT important to end it on R&RS.Still "my death waits" is worth the money you'll pay alone.

Fantastic! This is the Bowie I loved.The Spiders are awesome and Mick Ronsons guitar playing is simply perfect

Good value for money

Fab. Fab. Fab. Most of the great songs from the ziggy/aladin era, and a few less well known ones such as wild eyed boy from freecloud.

Absolutely fab, my partner loved his surprise birthday gift, plays it over and over again when he gets the chance