David Bowie: Ziggy's First Gig

The first gig of the Ziggy Stardust tour took place at Aylesbury Friars in the Borough Assembly Hall January 29, 1972 featuring Bowie with his backing group the Spiders from Mars: (not billed) guitarist Mick Ronson, bassist Trevor Bolder, and drummer Mick Woodmansey.

Audio engineer Robin Mayhew had been working on the PA and sound equipment since the end of the previous year and was the principal sound engineer for the entire tour.

Unlike typical rock concerts at the time, the shows featured a theatrical element with a rough storyline and several make-up and costume changes. Bowie aimed to make the shows entertaining and outrageous, akin to what the Beatles and the Rolling Stones had achieved at one time and collaborated with mime artist Lindsay Kemp on-stage choreography.

Introduced by Walter Carlos' Clockwork Orange theme, Bowie emerged in a fresh green jumpsuit surrounded by stunning strobe lights.

Queen members Roger Taylor and Freddie Mercury were in the audience to witness Bowie's transformation, who was billed tonight as the Most Beautiful Person in the World.

In the press coverage, Kris Needs described the gig as "the night that invented the seventies".