Released on this day in 1972, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (often shortened to Ziggy Stardust) is the fifth studio album by David Bowie. Considered Bowie's breakthrough, the concept album is about Bowie's alter ego, a fictional androgynous bisexual rock star who acts as a messenger for extraterrestrial beings. Featuring songs like "Starman", "Suffragette City", and the title track, it has sold over 7.5 million copies worldwide. The album received widespread critical acclaim and has been considered one of the greatest albums of all time. In 2017, it was selected for preservation in the National Recording Registry, being deemed "culturally, historically, or artistically significant" by the Library of Congress.
In honor of the anniversary, check out a few classic performances