David Bowie ‘Ziggy Stardust’ Film, Soundtrack Get 50th Anniversary Editions

On July 3, 1973, David Bowie retired Ziggy Stardust, his most famous alter-ego, in front of 5000 stunned fans at London’s Hammersmith Odeon. Now, the fully restored film and soundtrack, Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars: The Motion Picture, have been released for the first time for the 50th anniversary of the show on 2-CD & Blu-Ray, 2-CDs, and 2-LPs, on August 11, 2023, via Rhino/Parlophone. Renowned filmmaker D.A. Pennebaker (Monterey Pop, Bob Dylan’s Dont Look Back) captured the momentous event by filming Bowie and the Spiders From Mars backstage and onstage. The 4K digital restoration of the new version of the film has been overseen by the filmmaker’s son, Frazer Pennebaker, with remastered audio.

Although filmed 50 years ago, the film was not widely seen for over a decade. However, the film and its soundtrack have been newly remastered with the “The Jean Genie”/”Love Me Do” medley and “Round and Round” featuring Jeff Beck reinstated – the latter track, actually a cover of the Chuck Berry classic, “Around and Around,” making its first appearance anywhere. Both performances feature a new 5.1 mix by long-time Bowie collaborator Tony Visconti.

The show featured Bowie’s famous speech just before the final encore, “Rock ‘n’ Roll Suicide,” where he revealed that he was retiring his Ziggy persona. The shocking announcement came as a surprise to all in attendance – including members of his band.

“Of all the shows on this tour,” Bowie said that night, “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.”

Watch the 4K upgraded performances of “Ziggy Stardust” and “Suffragette City”

See the complete track listing below the Amazon links.

Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars: The Motion Picture (50th Anniversary Edition) Track Listing

CD 1
Introduction Part 1
Hang On To Yourself
Ziggy Stardust
Watch That Man
Wild Eyed Boy From Freecloud
All The Young Dudes
Oh! You Pretty Things
Moonage Daydream
Changes
Space Oddity
My Death

CD 2
Cracked Actor
Time
The Width Of A Circle
Let’s Spend the Night Together
Suffragette City
White Light/White Heat
Medley: The Jean Genie / Love Me Do / The Jean Genie (feat. Jeff Beck)
Round And Round (feat. Jeff Beck)
Farewell Speech
Rock ‘n’ Roll Suicide

Related: Our album rewind of the original studio LP