David Bowie

David Bowie (1947–2016) was an English singer, songwriter, and actor whose successive musical personae and stylistic shifts reshaped popular music across five decades.

Ziggy Stardust: A fictional alien rock star Bowie performed as in the early 1970s. This persona made theatrical transformation the center of Bowie’s breakthrough years.
Persona: A public or fictional identity adopted by an individual, performer, or character. Bowie’s stage identities made persona a visible tool of musical storytelling.
David Jones (musician): The birth name of David Bowie, who adopted his stage name to avoid confusion with Davy Jones of the Monkees. Bowie’s name change marked an early step in shaping a separate public identity.
Mick Ronson: An English guitarist, arranger, and producer who played with Bowie as part of the Spiders from Mars. Ronson’s guitar work and arrangements were central to Bowie’s early-1970s sound.
Rock music: A broad genre of popular music built around amplified instruments and a strong beat. Bowie expanded rock’s range by bringing theatricality and experimentation into its mainstream.
The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars: Bowie’s 1972 concept album about an alien rock star and his band. Its narrative and glam-rock sound established Bowie as a major innovator.
Glam rock: A rock genre associated with theatrical performance, flamboyant clothing, and stylized pop songs. Its visual drama gave Bowie an early framework for combining music and character.
Little Richard: An American singer and pianist whose high-energy performances helped define early rock and roll. Bowie later cited Little Richard’s performance as a formative inspiration.
The Spiders from Mars: The band that accompanied Bowie during his Ziggy Stardust period. Their performances made Ziggy Stardust a band-centered stage spectacle.
Music video: A short film or visual recording made to accompany a piece of music. Bowie used visual performance to make songs and personas inseparable on screen.

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