One of the greatest rock albums of all time, David Bowie’s The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, turns 50 years old on June 16th, 2022. In celebration, Consequence gathered musicians from the acclaimed bands Incubus, Sylvan Esso, and Lucius, as well as the iconic LP’s co-producer, Ken Scott, for a roundtable discussion of the landmark album.
The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars helped propel Bowie to international superstardom. The album’s 11 tracks are all classics, highlighted by such standout cuts as “Five Years,” “Moonage Daydream,” “Starman” and “Ziggy Stardust.” Along with the incredible music, Bowie took on the alter ego of Ziggy Stardust, touring as the androgynous rock star who was sent to Earth before an impending apocalypse.
To mark the album’s 50th birthday, Incubus singer Brandon Boyd, Amelia Meath of Sylvan Esso and Mountain Man, and Lucius members Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig came together via video Zoom to share their thoughts on Ziggy Stardust and David Bowie with special guest Ken Scott, who offered personal insight into the LP’s recording.
Each of the panelists talked about the first time they heard Bowie’s music and how he impacted them as musicians and artists, with Boyd commenting, “To say that he’s been a big part of my life would be a pretty massive understatement.” Meanwhile, Laessig revealed that she was introduced to Bowie via the movie Labyrinth. “From there, I was like, ‘I need to know more.’ It was creepy and freaky and also so enticing.”
Of course, it was Scott who offered the most insight into Ziggy Stardust, as he co-produced the album with Bowie. “One of the greatest things with David was his ability to put together a team that would give him exactly what he was after without having to tell him what to do,” remarked Scott.
When Boyd asked Scott what it was like to work with Bowie, the producer responded, “Working with David, it was always a joy. It was exceedingly professional, but we had a helluva lot of fun doing it.”
Scott also went into detail on such songs as “Five Years” and “Moonage Daydream,” transporting the panel back in time as he reflected on recording those tracks and others with Bowie. Elsewhere during the roundtable, the panelists also discussed the aspects of Bowie’s voice that made him such a unique singer.
For a fascinating discussion of The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, watch the roundtable in the video above.
A 50th anniversary half-speed remaster of The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars arrives on Friday (June 17th), available on black vinyl and picture disc.
Later this year, a tour dubbed “Celebrating David Bowie” featuring such artists as Todd Rundgren, King Crimson’s Adrien Belew, Fishbone’s Angelo Moore, Spacehog’s Royston Langdon, and more will pay further tribute to the rock legend. Tickets for that outing are available here.
Trouble viewing the video above? Watch on YouTube.
