July 3, 1973: David Bowie's final performance as "Ziggy Stardust," London's Hammersmith Odeon

[Miles Archer]

Ziggy played guitar for the final time on July 3, 1973.

That was the day David Bowie retired his most famous – and career-defining – alter ego, Ziggy Stardust, after a triumphant sold-out concert at London's Hammersmith Odeon Theatre.

It had been a whirlwind year and a half for Bowie, who released his fifth album, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars, more than a year before. The tour in support of the record actually began in February 1972, two months after the release of his breakthrough album, Hunky Dory. By the time it wrapped up with a pair of sold-out shows in London 17 months later, Bowie's next album, Aladdin Sane, had been released.

Bowie played around with image before. On his debut album, he was essentially a folk singer stuck between vintage Music Hall and paisley-toned flower-power. But in Ziggy Stardust he created a persona that not only served as the main character of his best album, but also summed up his place in rock history. Ziggy was positively flashy, probably gay and literally out of this world.

http://ultimateclassicrock.com/david-bowie-last-ziggy-stardust/

[Docreed2003]

1. Moonage Daydream...remains my favorite Bowie tune!