Classic Rock Albums of the Stardust

by Mark Paytress

Provides an account of David Bowie's early career and the recording of this landmark album. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0028647718
• ISBN13: 9780028647715
• Release Date: January 1998
• Publisher: Schirmer Trade Books
• Length: 172 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.9" x 10.0"

Customer Reviews

He was his own Clockwork Orange...

I think it's okay to use books for different reasons. I have my study-books, my bonk-over-the-head-books, my fluffy-fairytale books, and my coffee books. Imagine if you can get all this in ONE book, which would be this! It's fun. You can take your time with it. Read it on the beach, the bus, in bed, in the tub, at breakfast. Aw heck, go ahead and have a cigarette when you're done! It's an inspirational book about what inspired Bowie... What it was that was making his time, speaking to him through the media, through culture and fashion, other people's music, and the collective unconscious. Bowie was able to integrate different levels of culture (American, British, Asian) into the platform of his performance style, creating a SCENE. Which means, he finally had a huge following. Okay... Much of the scene was about sexual freedom. Funny to think back on it now, as this book will entice you to do. Now, we approach a time where many alternative groups explore things like bisexuality as a "norm". Polyamory becomes yet another freedom beyond tradition and stererotypes, an option that peaks tons of interest, whether people like it or not. Sure, people had orgies back in the '60's and '70's. But haven't we all been swinging for awhile now? Bowie was right there in the beginning... Back when there was no term like "safe sex". I also think his emotions were conflicted much of that time; in his photos, his heart and chest always seem blocked. He was pulling on the raw energy of whatever that was in his codpiece. He was his own Clockwork Orange. And as you read and learn of his life, you'll see his first and most enduring love/sex affair has been with his fans. Bowie was always more passionately involved with us than he would have led us to believe. In that regard, he hasn't changed. Bowie, when he finally started hitting it big at the age of 24, became his own scene. This has been parodied in films like "Velvet Goldmine", but also in his own documentary "The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust". Great photos, decent, informative writing, this is worth your collection if you're a fan. You'll enjoy it and get a kick out of it. You'll learn much about what makes this person, David Bowie, tick.

Stardust Memories

David Bowie is the ultimate chameleon in rock. He has changed his image and persona and taken on alter egos so many times it's tough to remember them all. One that rises above them all and is impossible to forget is Ziggy Stardust. The image of the androgynous glam rocker has lived on and gave rise to Mr. Bowie's most critically acclaimed and arguably best album. Mark Paytress examines the making of the album as well as the circumstances surrounding the creation of Ziggy Stardust and his Spiders From Mars. The book also details Mr. Bowie's career before the album with the most revealing and interesting being his early days in the music business. Mr. Paytress writes in too much a fan style as opposed to a journalistic style, but overall it is a solid book.

Bowie By Any Name...

I've not read it and see no reason why you ought to, other than any narration of Bowie's life is bound to be intriguing. He lived in such a manner that a detailed listing of the contents of his sock drawer could not be less than fascinating.

a great book!!

This book was great. If you are a Bowie worshipper you will love this book. I fyou are not a Bowie fan you will probobly not like it.

Full of info, and other stuff.

The Rise and Fall of Ziggy and the Spiders was actually not as bad as I thought it would be. "In the begining..." there was David Robert Jones. From there it progresses into Bowie's life, his music, and commentary on other "aspects". Complete with photos and LOTS of refrences, I'd say overall this is a pretty good book, but a must only if you're a die-hard Ziggy fan always on the lookout for new ideas.