Still from the remastered Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars: The Motion Picture, directed by DA Pennebaker. Credit: Jones Tintoretto Entertainment Company LLC
If you were one of the 5,000 fans in Hammersmith Odeon for David Bowie’s final Ziggy Stardust gig 50 years ago, the organisers of the world premiere of the restored film of the concert would love to hear from you.
Michael Traboulsi, a former Shepherds Bush resident who is producing an anniversary event on Monday 3 July, wants to track down anyone in Hammersmith & Fulham who was there in 1973 when Bowie shocked fans (and his backing band!) by announcing it was Ziggy’s final appearance.
More than 1,500 cinemas around the world will be showing the enhanced, remastered Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars: The Motion Picture, directed by DA Pennebaker and with newly remastered sound.
Movie trailer
Watch the #Ziggy50 Hammersmith Eventim Apollo trailer on YouTube.
Win free tickets
We have two free tickets to give away to the red-carpet world premiere which is being staged at the historic venue itself, today of course known as the Hammersmith Eventim Apollo. It promises to be a memorable occasion, with an on-stage Q&A featuring Bowie fans and experts. See details below.
“We’ve worked with Bowie’s estate about creating a real moment in history based on a moment of history,” said Michael.
“The film is also being shown in 1,500 cinemas in France, Italy, Germany, USA, Australia, Scandinavia, Japan and Eastern Europe.”
London roots
Bowie’s alien alter-ego Ziggy Stardust, launched in February 1972 in a pub in Tolworth, south-west London, toured the globe for 17 months, performing to full houses at huge venues.
Pennebaker’s film of what would prove to be the final Ziggy concert captures the magic of the live performance – although it was criticised for the indifferent sound quality at the time.
Now Bowie’s legendary studio collaborator Tony Visconti has remixed and enhanced the sound, while some scenes which were cut from the original documentary have been restored, including guitarist Jeff Beck performing ‘Jean Genie’.
The film also features the Hammersmith fans at that final gig, and backstage footage of the dressing room.
Michael Traboulsi explained that planning the premiere event had been a leap of faith. “We thought we’d take a punt, so we booked the Apollo three years ago, although we didn’t then know for what!
“We talked to Warner and found that they were planning to re-release the motion picture of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars in 4K Ultra HD and 5.1 surround sound, so we thought we’d join up with them to create this event at the Apollo.”
Legacy
The Hammersmith premiere – preceded by a live 45-minute on-stage Q&A session with Bowie insiders – is an ‘event cinema’ occasion simultaneously beamed to 800 other UK screens, linking Bowie fans together in the shared experience.
Host Phil Alexander, a Mercury Music Prize judge and former editor of Mojo magazine, has gathered together a group of Bowie fans and friends to chat about Ziggy Stardust’s legacy.
Mike Garson, who played piano on the Ziggy tour from 22 September 1972 to the final gig in Hammersmith, is also being flown in from the States to recreate the original piano medley of Bowie songs that he played as a warm-up at David’s request, and which wasn’t captured on film.
If you were one of the 5,000 at the last Ziggy gig 50 years ago on 3 July, Michael Traboulsi would be interested to hear from you at info@themakersof.co.uk
Tickets for the 3 July premiere are available via the Eventim Apollo box office, with doors opening at 5.30pm. It is a co-production by Echo Velvet, The Makers Of, Bowie’s estate and Warner Music.
How to enter the prize draw
You could win TWO FREE TICKETS to the red-carpet world premiere of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars: The Motion Picture at the Eventim Apollo on Monday 3 July.
Just answer this question:
David Bowie’s final Ziggy Stardust gig was in Hammersmith, but at which pub did he launch the tour on 10 February 1972?
- The Red Cow, Hammersmith
- The Toby Jug, Tolworth
- The Spaniards Inn, Hampstead
- The Greyhound, Croydon
Usual rules apply. Competition closes at 5pm on 23 June, and the winner will be notified the following day. Email your answer with your name and mobile number to tickets@lbhf.gov.uk
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