A huge new box set from Parlophone Records will chronicle David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust era from the origins of the character in 1971 through the recording of 1972’s “The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust” and the numerous promotional appearances and live performances that followed.
The 5-CD, 1-Blu-Ray collection “Rock ‘n’ Roll Star!” is set to feature 29 unreleased tracks spanning early demos, outtakes, alternate versions, and live recordings.
Highlights include a alternate version of “Lady Stardust,” a previously unheard version of the deep-cut rarity “Shadow Man,” and an uptempo rendition of the Who’s “I Can’t Explain,” which Bowie later covered on his 1973 album “Pin Ups”.
The audio-only Blu-Ray disc contains the 2012 remaster of the original album alongside “Waiting in the Sky (Before the Starman Came to Earth)”, an album of recordings from the famous 1971 Trident Studios sessions that will also be released as a limited-edition vinyl LP for Record Store Day on April 20th.
There are two books included in the set, a 112-page collection of liner noters, photographs, and interviews and a 36-page reproduction of Bowie’s personal notebooks from the era.
David Bowie’s “Rock ‘n’ Roll Star!” is a 5CD 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 song writing demos, recordings from David’s band, 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.
“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.
The Fat Angel Sings 