10 Perfect Albums That Defined The 1970s
2. David Bowie: The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars (1972)
Throughout the '60s David Bowie's career had been bubbling just beneath the surface of mainstream success.
He'd released a bizarre children's album; spent time in New York, studying and performing avant-garde theatre; and gained attention for being something of an oddball. His fourth album, Hunky Dory (1971), received acclaim, but Bowie knew he needed to do something drastic to keep up the momentum.
Inspired by his time around proto-punk icon Iggy Pop, and by the experimental sound of the Velvet Underground, Bowie devised a plan to create the ultimate rock star. He'd spent 10 years soaking up all manor of influences, developing his own notions of what fame was. He turned all these into a character, and an accompanying album, that represented the bizarre fascination with celebratory.
When David Bowie became the androgynous spaceman from Mars, he was skyrocketed to the status of an icon. Bowie understood music was all about trends, as well as artistic integrity. He all but started the glam rock thing, set it in motion, and then when everyone else followed suit, he moved on to something new.
This set a precedent for Bowie's constantly evolving musical career.