The rise and fall of “Ziggy Stardust”
     
Jan 8, 1947: David Robert Hayward-Jones born in Brixton, London, United Kingdom

1960-1962: Attends Bromley Technical High School. Becomes jazz fan, learns to play saxophone

1962: As David Jones, he joins his first band, The Kon-Rads, as sax player. Band makes several demo records
   
1965: Parlophone releases Davy Jones and The Lower Third single, “You've Got a Habit of Leaving.”
Bowie says he wants to write rock-based musical.
Bowie befriends eccentric rocker Vince Taylor
  
1966: David Jones becomes David Bowie.
Taylor suffers mental breakdown – he preaches on stage that he’s
an alien god on Earth. Taylor’s psychiatric problems provide vital piece of Ziggy’s character – Bowie’s alter-ego, superstar takes shape.
Fellow Mercury Records singer Legendary Stardust Cowboy completes name.
Ziggy Stardust rises – omnisexual alien rock star sent to Earth to save planet in its last five years of existence

1967: Debut album, “David Bowie” is released – it bombs commercially

1969: Hit single “Space Oddity” is released days before U.S. Apollo 11 moon mission launch. It reaches number five on UK charts

Mar 1970: Bowie marries model and actress Angela Barnett. Marriage
lasts 10 years

May 1971: Barnett gives birth to Duncan Haywood “Zowie” Jones

Jun: Recording of “Hunky Dory” begins.
Single from album, “Life on Mars?” features guitarist Mick Ronson, Mick Woodmansey on drums, Trevor Bolder on bass and Rick Wakeman on piano. Single reaches number three on UK charts

Nov: Recording of “The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars” begins. Bowie introduces his alter-ego in “Moonage Daydream,” Ronson unleashes snarling-alien guitar solo. “Starman” becomes album’s breakthrough track

Jan 1972: Aladdin Sane tour begins with eye-popping costumes by Japanese designer Kansai Yamamoto (above)

1972-73: Aladdin Sane has three gruelling UK tours, two in U.S. and one Asian
        
Apr 1973: “Aladdin Sane” album released.
“The Jean Genie” peaks at three on UK charts
   
Jul 3: Adulation and Ziggy-mania take toll on singer and his alter-ego.
During tour’s last show, Bowie announces fall of Ziggy – his alien alter-ego – on stage in London
  
1976: Bowie plays an alien once again in Nicolas Roeg’s science-fiction movie “The Man Who Fell to Earth”
    
2014-15: Ziggy tracks “Moonage Daydream” and “Starman” feature in James Gunn’s “Guardians Of The Galaxy” and Ridley Scott’s “The Martian”
     

Sources: Billboard, Rolling Stone, Forbes 
Pictures: Getty Images, Brian Duffy, RCA Records, British Lion Films 
© GRAPHIC NEWS