David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust Era Chronicled in Massive Box Set

By Tess Douglas On Mar 21, 2024

David Bowie‘s Ziggy Stardust era will be chronicled in the new box set Rock ‘n’ Roll Star!, out June 14 via Parlophone Records.

The 5-CD, Blu-Ray audio set tracks the late rock star’s creation of the Ziggy Stardust character, the release of 1972’s The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars, and the many U.K. radio sessions and TV appearances Bowie’s famous alter ego participated in.

The collection includes 29 unreleased tracks, from demos to outtakes to live performances. Highlights include a cover of the Who’s “I Can’t Explain” (which he’d release a year later on Pin Ups), the rarity “Shadow Man,” and more.

You can check out the massive tracklist below, as well as a stripped-down acoustic “Ziggy Stardust (Demo),” which Bowie recorded at Haddon Hall in Beckenham, England in March 1971.

In addition to the audio Blu-Ray, the collection is rounded out with two books: a reproduction of Bowie’s notebooks from the era and a 112-page book featuring liner notes, photographs, and more. You can pre-order Rock ‘n’ Roll Star! here.

Rock ‘n’ Roll Star! Tracklist
Disc 1
1. So Long 60s (San Francisco Hotel recording) *
2. Hang On To Yourself (early demo) *
3. Lady Stardust (demo)
4. Ziggy Stardust (demo)
5. Star (Aka Stars) (demo) *
6. Soul Love (demo and DB spoken notes) *
7. Starman (demo 1 excerpt) *
8. Starman (demo 2) *
9. Moonage Daydream (The Arnold Corns version)
10. Hang On To Yourself (The Arnold Corns version)
11. Looking For A Friend (The Arnold Corns version – rough mix) *
12. Haddon Hall Rehearsals Segue: Ziggy Stardust / Holy Holy / Soul Love *
13. Star (Aka Stars) (Haddon Hall rehearsal) *
14. Sweet Head (Haddon Hall rehearsal) *

Disc 2
Sounds Of The 70s: John Peel
1. Ziggy Stardust *
2. Queen Bitch *
3. Waiting For The Man *
4. Lady Stardust *

Sounds Of The 70s: Bob Harris
1. Hang On To Yourself
2. Ziggy Stardust
3. Queen Bitch
4. Waiting For The Man
5. Five Years

Old Grey Whistle Test Performance
1. Oh! You Pretty Things (take 1)
2. Queen Bitch
3. Five Years

Disc 3
Sounds Of The 70s: John Peel
1. White Light/White Heat
2. Moonage Daydream
3. Hang On To Yourself
4. Suffragette City
5. Ziggy Stardust

Johnnie Walker Lunchtime Show
1. Starman
2. Space Oddity
3. Changes
4. Oh! You Pretty Things

Sounds Of The 70s: Bob Harris
1. Andy Warhol
2. Lady Stardust
3. White Light/White Heat
4. Rock ‘N’ Roll Suicide

Top Of The Pops Performance
1. Starman

Editor’s picks

Disc 4
1. Round And Round
2. The Supermen (Ziggy session version)
3. Holy Holy (Ziggy session version)
4. Velvet Goldmine (Ziggy session outtake)
5. Starman (original single mix)
6. John, I’m Only Dancing (original single version)

Recorded Live At The Music Hall, Boston
1. The Supermen
2. Changes
3. Life On Mars?
4. My Death *
5. John, I’m Only Dancing

Disc 5
1. Looking For A Friend (The Arnold Corns version 2022 mix) *
2. Hang On To Yourself (early Ziggy session take) *
3. Star (take 5 alternative version) *
4. Lady Stardust (take 1 alternative version) *
5. Shadow Man (Ziggy session version) *
6. The Supermen (Ziggy session version 2023 Mix) *
7. Holy Holy (Ziggy session version alternative mix) *
8. Round And Round (alternative mix)
9. It’s Gonna Rain Again (Ziggy session outtake) *
10. Looking For A Friend (Ziggy session version) *
11. Velvet Goldmine (Ziggy sessions outtake 2022 mix) *
12. Sweet Head (Ziggy sessions outtake 2022 mix) *
13. Starman (Top Of The Pops version 2022 mix)
14. John, I’m Only Dancing (alternative Trident Studios version) *
15. I Can’t Explain (Trident Studios version) *

Bonus Mix
1. Moonage Daydream (2003 instrumental mix)

*Previously Unreleased

Blu Ray Audio
The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars
Original album mix (96khz/24bit Stereo)

The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars And Extras
2003 5.1 Mixes (DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 – 96khz/24bit)

Waiting In The Sky (Before The Starman Came To Earth)
Early Ziggy Stardust album tracklisting – December 1971 (96khz/24bit PCM stereo)

The Singles
(96khz/24bit PCM stereo)

Outtakes And Alternative Versions
(96khz/24bit PCM stereo)

Half-Speed Master Tracklist
Side 1
1. Hang On To Yourself (early Ziggy session take)
2. Star (Take 5 alternative version)
3. Lady Stardust (Take 1 alternative version)
4. Shadow Man (Ziggy session version)
5. The Supermen (Ziggy session version 2023 mix)
6. Holy Holy (Ziggy session version alternative mix)
7. Round And Round (alternative mix) +

Side 2
1. Velvet Goldmine (Ziggy sessions outtake 2022 mix)
2. Looking For A Friend (Ziggy session version)
3. It’s Gonna Rain Again (Ziggy sessions outtake)
4. Sweet Head (Ziggy sessions outtake 2022 mix)
5. Starman (Top Of The Pops version 2022 mix)
6. John, I’m Only Dancing (alternative Trident Studios version) *
7. I Can’t Explain (Trident Studios version) +*