Fifty years on from David Bowie’s last performance as his alter-ego, a digitally restored version of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars: The Motion Picture is set to return to cinemas. A star-studded film premiere will take place on Monday 3rd July, with exclusive radio partner Bauer bringing the action to fans across the UK via Greatest Hits and Absolute Radio.
The special premiere will be staged at the Hammersmith (now Eventim) Apollo, where Bowie famously stood on-stage and announced that Ziggy was no more. Bauer’s coverage of the event will include live broadcast from the red carpet, as well as wider insights from the event on-air and online.
Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars: The Motion Picture is digitally restored with never-before-seen footage and the full, uncut version of D A Pennebaker’s film includes a performance by late guitarist Jeff Beck for the first time. The film will be preceded by a live Q&A with Don Letts, Ken Scott and Suggs, and a performance by Bowie pianist Mike Garson. Garson will also open the show as he did in 1973, with a live solo piano arrangement of some of Bowie’s best-known tracks.
Actor Richard E Grant will also be part of the live Q&A and he said: “Ziggy Stardust – as a character – had a huge, liberating impact on us all. He transcended the world of music and continues to permeate popular culture. You can hear and feel Ziggy everywhere. And the same is true of David and his work as a whole. I’m looking forward to being on the same stage as David and the Spiders were 50 years ago as we celebrate the legacy of a time that changed so much.”
Special event coverage will include:
- Bowie’s Greatest Hits airs on Greatest Hits Radio from 4 – 5pm, Sunday 2 July and is introduced by Jackie Brambles. She’ll hear from people that were there that night fifty years ago including the late, legendary rock photographer Mick Rock, music producer Ken Scott, music historians and archive conversation with Bowie himself. All set to a chart of Bowie’s Greatest Hits as voted for by listeners to Greatest Hits Radio.
- Then, following the premiere, Jackie Brambles will be speaking to Bowie fans and colleagues, including Bowie’s former bandmate Woody Woodmansey, on her weeknight Greatest Hits Radio evening show, ‘Great Conversations with…’.
- Absolute Radio’s Danielle Perry will be part of the live Q&A panel as the official radio partner Bauer Media Audio UK are teaming up with event producers, The Makers Of, and Echo Velvet working on behalf of RZO Music, the David Bowie Estate and Warner.
Steve Parkinson, Bauer’s Chief Strategic Partnerships & Events Officer, said: ‘Partnering with The Makers Of and Echo Velvet for this very special music event allows Bauer Audio to do what it does best at these events – bring iconic music moments to our millions of listeners across the UK. Whether it’s on air or online they’ll be able to experience highlights from the red carpet and then take a deep dive into the world of David Bowie and Ziggy Stardust thanks to a series of intimate conversations with those who were there. It will be a truly immersive experience for Bowie – and music – fans everywhere.’