WCSX Classic Cuts
David Bowie: “Starman”
The Hook: Like other songs of the Ziggy Stardust era, it came together in the front room of the house where Bowie lived with the Spiders From Mars.
Album: Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars
Year: 1972
Writer: David Bowie
Stats: Bowie’s first single to chart in the U.S., it peaked at number-65 on the Billboard Hot 100 and got to number-10 on the British charts.
Background: The late Spiders from Mars guitarist Mick Ronson recalled that in the case of “Starman” and other songs from the Ziggy Stardust…album, he acted as the middleman between Bowie and the band. He explained the process.
The late Spiders from Mars guitarist Mick Ronson on the writing of such Ziggy Stardust-era songs as “Starman.” OC:…right away. :15
“A lot of these things were written at home, y’know, with David. David used to sit and play me the songs and then I would get the band together to play the things and then we’d go in the studio and get the tracks down with the band. So there’s one or two tracks David was singing live right away.”
