Bowing out

The night, 50 years ago, when David Bowie killed off Ziggy Stardust.. by the people who were there

- TOM BRYANT

IN a speech that went down in rock ’n’ roll history, David Bowie killed off Ziggy Stardust, his most iconic creation, in front of a disbelieving audience. 

Now, 50 years on, fans will finally get to see the entire legendary gig at London’s Hammersmith Odeon in a new digitally restored film.

The July 1973 concert was the last to feature Bowie’s band, the Spiders from Mars – Mick Ronson on guitar, Trevor Bolder on bass and Mick “Woody” Woodmansey on drums – along with a cameo appearance from legendary guitarist Jeff Beck.

But for Woody, the film brings up mixed feelings – not least as he had no idea Bowie was going to break up the band.

“We were really hot. I mean, really on fire,” he recalls. “I remember Jeff Beck playing on stage with us. It was amazing.

“We had one song left to do and David said: ‘This show will rem- ain with us the longest, because not only is it the last year of the tour, it’s the last show we’ll ever do.’ I was like: ‘what?’

“My head went round like The Exorcist. And Trevor looked at me and said ‘What did he say?’”