Ziggy Stardust: The Motion Picture

Recorded: 3 July 1973, December 1981
Producers: David Bowie, Mike Moran

Released: 24 October 1983

Personnel

David Bowie: vocals, guitar, harmonica, saxophone
Mick Ronson: guitar, bass guitar, vocals
Trevor Bolder: bass guitar
Mike Garson: piano, Mellotron, organ
Mick Woodmansey: drums
Ken Fordham, Brian Wilshaw: saxophone, flute
John Hutchinson: guitar
Geoffrey MacCormack: backing vocals, percussion

Tracklisting:

David Bowie’s legendary farewell concert of 3 July 1973, in which he famously broke up the Spiders From Mars on stage, was released a decade later as the soundtrack to DA Pennebaker’s documentary Ziggy Stardust: The Motion Picture.

Everybody… this has been one of the greatest tours of our lives. We really… At first I’d like to thank the band, I’d like to thank our road crew, and I’d like to thank our lighting people.

Of all the shows on this tour, this particular show will remain with us the longest, because not only is it… not only is it the last show of the tour, but it’s the last show that we’ll ever do. Thank you.

The final concert of the Ziggy Stardust Tour took place at the Hammersmith Odeon in London. It was filmed by documentary maker DA Pennebaker, with audio recorded by RCA for a potential live album.

The first night was strictly used as a run-through and since they weren’t filming, the film people decided there was no need to record it. However, knowing the importance of the event, I decided to bring in fellow Trident engineer Roy Baker, to help me record the second night in the RCA mobile.

Jeff Beck made an appearance during the encore of the final Hammersmith show, playing guitar with the Spiders From Mars on a medley of ‘The Jean Genie’ and the Beatles’ ‘Love Me Do’, as well as a cover version of Chuck Berry’s ‘Round And Round’.

However, Beck refused permission for his performance to be included in either the documentary film or the soundtrack album. The precise reason is unclear, and has been attributed to royalty disagreements or Beck feeling out of place in the film.

Jeff Beck said that he didn’t like his guitar solos and wanted to re-record them, but after a while it came out that he was unaware that the show was being filmed, hated what he was wearing, and also wanted to be paid for his participation. Then there were some questions as to who actually owned the film in the first place.

Although the live version of ‘Round And Round’ featuring Beck remains unreleased, the medley of ‘The Jean Genie’ and ‘Love Me Do’ was final released on the soundtrack of Brett Morgen’s 2022 film Moonage Daydream.