Starman

The Zoo Crew is spinning David Bowie’s “Starman,” a track from his 1972 album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, and the Zoo Freaks are surely vibing to its cosmic energy. One fascinating tidbit about “Starman” is that it was a last-minute addition to the album, written after RCA executive Dennis Katz pointed out the album lacked a clear single. Bowie penned it to replace a cover of Chuck Berry’s “Round and Round,” with the switch finalized on February 2, 1972, just days before the recording sessions wrapped at Trident Studios in London. The song’s iconic performance on Top of the Pops in July 1972, where Bowie, draped in a colorful jumpsuit, pointed directly at the camera while singing, “I had to phone someone, so I picked on you,” left an indelible mark. U2’s Bono recalled, “The first time I saw [Bowie], he was singing ‘Starman’ on television. It was like a creature falling from the sky,” highlighting its transformative impact on fans and musicians alike. The song peaked at #10 in the UK charts, propelled by this legendary TV appearance.

Another intriguing story comes from Bowie himself, who explained that “Starman” was inspired by the idea of an alien savior delivering hope to a doomed Earth. In a 1974 Rolling Stone interview, he described how Ziggy Stardust, his alter ego, writes the song after a dream encounter with extraterrestrials, singing their message of salvation. The track’s sci-fi narrative resonated deeply, with fans like The Cure’s Lol Tolhurst recalling how Bowie’s performance felt like he was singing directly to them. Social media posts from the official David Bowie X account have celebrated the song’s legacy, noting its 43rd anniversary in 2015 with the lyric, “If we can sparkle he may land tonight,” capturing its enduring mystique. Additionally, a quirky fan theory from a 2007 Blogspot post, later revived on Reddit, humorously suggested Kanye West was the “Starman” Bowie prophesied, tying West’s 1977 birth to the album’s release and Bowie’s 2016 passing, though it’s more playful speculation than fact.

David Bowie, born David Robert Jones on January 8, 1947, in Brixton, South London, began his musical journey as a teenager with an insatiable curiosity for art and sound. He picked up the saxophone at 13 and started playing in local bands, releasing his first single, “Liza Jane,” in 1964 with the King Bees, though it flopped. His early years were marked by experimentation, dabbling in folk, jazz, and even mime, including a brief stint living at a Buddhist monastery in Scotland in 1967. After a string of unsuccessful singles and a self-titled debut album in 1967, Bowie’s breakthrough came with “Space Oddity” in 1969, which hit the UK top five, timed perfectly with the Apollo 11 moon landing. This success laid the groundwork for his reinvention in the early 1970s as Ziggy Stardust, a flamboyant, androgynous rock star who catapulted him to global fame. His theatricality and willingness to push boundaries, as seen in his 1972 Melody Maker interview where he declared himself bisexual as Ziggy, cemented his status as a cultural icon.

Fans can dive deeper into Bowie’s universe through his official channels and vibrant fan communities. His official website, davidbowie.com, offers a treasure trove of news, discography, and archival content. On social media, the David Bowie Facebook page and Instagram account share rare photos, videos, and updates, while the David Bowie X account engages fans with lyrics and milestones. For fan-driven content, Bowie Wonderworld is a comprehensive fan site with detailed discographies, tour archives, and forums. Another gem is David Bowie News, which curates updates and tributes. On Facebook, groups like David Bowie Fans and Bowie Forever foster lively discussions and share memorabilia, keeping the Zoo Freaks’ passion for Bowie alive.