Documentarian D.A. Pennebaker Fondly Recalls the Making of David Bowie’s ‘Ziggy Stardust’ Concert Film

The Hollywood Reporter
·1 min read

I met David at the Hammersmith, just before he was to start his show, which I did not know was going to be the last Ziggy Stardust show he would ever do (he retired Ziggy in 1973). We introduced ourselves and told him we had been sent to film part of the show, maybe 20 minutes, as a promo for a video disc RCA was developing.

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David looked at me for a moment. “Only 20 minutes,” he said, “and you’ve brought your camera and all your guys. I’m glad you came.” His eyes seemed haunted. He paused then said, “Last night my mother saw her first spaceship.” I had watched a bit of the previous night’s performance to check the lighting and had seen a little of the morning’s rehearsal. I hoped we would have enough film — we were going to make 1972’s Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars movie.

This article originally appeared on The Hollywood Reporter. 

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