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Moonage Daydream: The Life & Times of Ziggy Stardust
‘The closest we’ll ever get to a straight up Bowie autobiography — but who’d ever want anything straight-up from Bowie?’ – Rolling Stone
In 2002, David Bowie and Mick Rock created Moonage Daydream, the defining document of the life and times of Ziggy Stardust. Twenty years later, it remains the closest readers will get to understanding Bowie through his own words.
Alongside over 600 photographs taken by Mick Rock, Bowie’s personal and often humorous commentary gives unprecedented insight into his work and the creation of his most memorable persona. Readers can see how Bowie singlehandedly challenged and elevated 1970s culture through his style, his inspirations ranging from Kubrick to Kabuki, and his creative spirit, which endures through the decades. Moonage Daydream is the essential David Bowie book.
First published as a signed limited edition, Moonage Daydream sold out in a matter of months and became lore among David Bowie fans. Now, on the 50th anniversary of Bowie’s acclaimed album, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, the book is available again. Published in a new larger format, this uncut edition keeps to Bowie and Rock’s original vision, allowing us to explore Moonage Daydream the way the authors intended.
‘This is a book of extraordinary photographs. Ziggy Stardust blazed briefly but intensely, and I am delighted to see his life and times as a rock’n’roll star immortalised in this book.’ – David Bowie
In 2002, David Bowie and Mick Rock created Moonage Daydream, the defining document of the life and times of Ziggy Stardust. Twenty years later, it remains the closest readers will get to understanding Bowie through his own words.
Alongside over 600 photographs taken by Mick Rock, Bowie’s personal and often humorous commentary gives unprecedented insight into his work and the creation of his most memorable persona. Readers can see how Bowie singlehandedly challenged and elevated 1970s culture through his style, his inspirations ranging from Kubrick to Kabuki, and his creative spirit, which endures through the decades. Moonage Daydream is the essential David Bowie book.
First published as a signed limited edition, Moonage Daydream sold out in a matter of months and became lore among David Bowie fans. Now, on the 50th anniversary of Bowie’s acclaimed album, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, the book is available again. Published in a new larger format, this uncut edition keeps to Bowie and Rock’s original vision, allowing us to explore Moonage Daydream the way the authors intended.
‘This is a book of extraordinary photographs. Ziggy Stardust blazed briefly but intensely, and I am delighted to see his life and times as a rock’n’roll star immortalised in this book.’ – David Bowie
328 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2002
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3729 people want to read
About the author
David Bowie
217 books268 followersDavid Bowie (born David Robert Jones) was an English singer, songwriter, actor, multi-instrumentalist, bandleader, producer, arranger, and audio engineer. Active in five decades of rock music and frequently reinventing his music and image, Bowie was widely regarded as an influential innovator, particularly for his work through the 1970s. Bowie has taken cues from a wide range of fine art, philosophy and literature. He was also a film and stage actor, music video director, and visual artist.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
April 16, 2016
This gets an extra star because it brings back not only a particular phase in my teenage life but a particular night. 17th June 1972. I went to see Bowie with two mates expecting to see the bloke from Hunky Dory - ie with long yellow hair and maybe a dress. So when this creature dressed in a kind of multi coloured catsuit and red strange-looking hair walked up the steps of Oxford Town Hall where we'd been waiting all afternoon (we were young) and made some breezy comment, I thought who the fuck is that? Later I found out as he sang Suffragette City and gave a guitar blow job to Mick Ronson (not that I knew who he was either). There's pictures from that night here and some show the crowd gathered around the stage, none of them yet Ziggie-fied. Alas I am not among them, I was further back trying to tape the whole thing (unsuccessfully).
The other memorable thing that night was we were busted. We'd driven there in a Robin Reliant (I was a passenger - I still don't drive), a three wheeler, three of us, and we picked up a hitchhiker on the way. He showed us where to park in Oxford, an empty (it was Saturday) works car park, and shared a joint with us before we went on our way. An off duty policeman spotted the car through the fence and saw us passing round the j. We went to the concert clean (Thames Valley Police being notorious in those days), but after found the car had gone, and police came out and surrounded us as we looked for it. Well, a long night ahead then, of fingerprints, photographs, strip search, interrogation in separate rooms (included the 'Your friend has just confessed to dealing LSD' trick - we did have a tab of acid in the car too). For some reason they thought we were big time dealers rather than 3 stupid 17 year olds up from sticks. It was dawn before it dawned on them, and finally let us go. I got a £20 fine, and a big hoo-ha with the parents.
The other memorable thing that night was we were busted. We'd driven there in a Robin Reliant (I was a passenger - I still don't drive), a three wheeler, three of us, and we picked up a hitchhiker on the way. He showed us where to park in Oxford, an empty (it was Saturday) works car park, and shared a joint with us before we went on our way. An off duty policeman spotted the car through the fence and saw us passing round the j. We went to the concert clean (Thames Valley Police being notorious in those days), but after found the car had gone, and police came out and surrounded us as we looked for it. Well, a long night ahead then, of fingerprints, photographs, strip search, interrogation in separate rooms (included the 'Your friend has just confessed to dealing LSD' trick - we did have a tab of acid in the car too). For some reason they thought we were big time dealers rather than 3 stupid 17 year olds up from sticks. It was dawn before it dawned on them, and finally let us go. I got a £20 fine, and a big hoo-ha with the parents.
February 26, 2019
Behind the scenes look at the making of Ziggy Stardust before, during, and after.
Mick Rock followed Bowie and chronicled the rise and fall of Ziggy. A very consciously created persona by Bowie that was representative of the celebrity cycle of a rockstar. With strong influences from Kubrick's 20o1 Space Odyssey and A Clockwork Orange stylistically, Bowie set out to counter the drab denim deluge of the early 1970s. The images are a backstage pass look at what occurred during tour performances, on the road, and promotional photo shoots for magazines and albums. It was a grueling schedule.
Bowie is open in discussing the creative process of finding Ziggy and in doing so reveals some personal idiosyncrasies. He disliked flying and took trains and boats, interacting with others and observing the world around him. Here are a few things that caught my eye while reading:
I really liked Bowie's forthrightness sharing his creative process and influences from friends, Japanese designers, Kubrick, and other musicians. Creation is not a vacuum and it is wonderfully illustrated here by Bowie and Mick Rock's photomontage. His honesty, in what worked and what didn't and how the persona shifted as it evolved. I love the theatricality, raw bravado, and energy of Ziggy Stardust.
Mick Rock followed Bowie and chronicled the rise and fall of Ziggy. A very consciously created persona by Bowie that was representative of the celebrity cycle of a rockstar. With strong influences from Kubrick's 20o1 Space Odyssey and A Clockwork Orange stylistically, Bowie set out to counter the drab denim deluge of the early 1970s. The images are a backstage pass look at what occurred during tour performances, on the road, and promotional photo shoots for magazines and albums. It was a grueling schedule.
Bowie is open in discussing the creative process of finding Ziggy and in doing so reveals some personal idiosyncrasies. He disliked flying and took trains and boats, interacting with others and observing the world around him. Here are a few things that caught my eye while reading:
I rarely pre-warned the band of things that I might get up to, as many interesting ideas were shot down before they were even hatched, such was the conservative disposition of those particular arthropods, Mick usually the main offender. --re: Mick Ronson, guitarist
Those early journeys through the vastness of America were perhaps some of my favourite times. The trains themselves had such great names: Texas Chief, St Francisco Zephyr, Broadway Limited, The Wolverine, Abraham Lincoln, National Limited and many more. What great names. They all sounded like guitars. Fender Texas Chief.
No one could hear, no one could see. There were fights out there, too. An unmitigated disaster. Lots of nude dancing in the aisles, though.
I would also literally draw out on paper with a crayon or felt tip pen the shape of a solo: the one in 'Moonage Daydream', for instance, started as a flat line that became a fat megaphone-type shape and ended as sprays of disassociated and broken lines. --Mick Ronson would play it.
I really liked Bowie's forthrightness sharing his creative process and influences from friends, Japanese designers, Kubrick, and other musicians. Creation is not a vacuum and it is wonderfully illustrated here by Bowie and Mick Rock's photomontage. His honesty, in what worked and what didn't and how the persona shifted as it evolved. I love the theatricality, raw bravado, and energy of Ziggy Stardust.
April 20, 2017
This book is the Diamond Dog's Bollocks! A must for any Bowie fan, or of Mick Rock's photography, Glam Rock, the early '70s or rock history.
Now, I can't really give an objective review because I'm too much in love with this period of Bowie's career. Trying to contain myself, I will say that this is mainly a book of photographs, and excellent they are. The added dimension is that DB has written notes for many of them, explaining what was happening, how he felt at the time or identifying other people in the frame. I particularly like that Mick Ronson (DB's Spiders from Mars guitarist) gets featured in many of the photos: he's almost as charismatic as Bowie himself in these pics.
One photo that particularly amused me is on page 276: It's the aftershow party following the final Ziggy gig and Bowie is sat with Mick Jagger. A woman has come over and is leaning into Bowie, cutting Jagger out of the conversation - if looks could kill...!
A fantastic book which, while quickly devoured even at 320 pages, is one that I'll definitely return to many times.
Now, I can't really give an objective review because I'm too much in love with this period of Bowie's career. Trying to contain myself, I will say that this is mainly a book of photographs, and excellent they are. The added dimension is that DB has written notes for many of them, explaining what was happening, how he felt at the time or identifying other people in the frame. I particularly like that Mick Ronson (DB's Spiders from Mars guitarist) gets featured in many of the photos: he's almost as charismatic as Bowie himself in these pics.
One photo that particularly amused me is on page 276: It's the aftershow party following the final Ziggy gig and Bowie is sat with Mick Jagger. A woman has come over and is leaning into Bowie, cutting Jagger out of the conversation - if looks could kill...!
A fantastic book which, while quickly devoured even at 320 pages, is one that I'll definitely return to many times.
May 18, 2022
Man I wish I was alive to see Bowie in the 70s
April 17, 2014
This book is the result of a binomial.
On the one hand, Mick Rock that came out all its records on the Ziggy Stardust period (promo videos, concerts, etc.) he was THE official photographer.
The other, the great David Bowie himself describes each clichés from his memories and feelings. A wonderful book for the entire period that marked the first half of the 70's. A gem ...
In keeping with the strategy of its subject, the book blurs the identity tracks combining public appearances (concerts, press conferences, photo session) to the intimacy of the artist (lodges, travel), to appear in the be.
I always keep this book with enthusiasm in my room : I love his beautiful cover some sepia and psychedelic, it offers the opportunity to follow the life of Ziggy Stardust and step in its constitution, in the beautiful and abundant pictures Mick Rock and almost timeless creative texts by David Bowie, as his album "The Rise and the Fall of Ziggy Stardust" reissued for the 30th anniversary of this title there a few years .
On the one hand, Mick Rock that came out all its records on the Ziggy Stardust period (promo videos, concerts, etc.) he was THE official photographer.
The other, the great David Bowie himself describes each clichés from his memories and feelings. A wonderful book for the entire period that marked the first half of the 70's. A gem ...
In keeping with the strategy of its subject, the book blurs the identity tracks combining public appearances (concerts, press conferences, photo session) to the intimacy of the artist (lodges, travel), to appear in the be.
I always keep this book with enthusiasm in my room : I love his beautiful cover some sepia and psychedelic, it offers the opportunity to follow the life of Ziggy Stardust and step in its constitution, in the beautiful and abundant pictures Mick Rock and almost timeless creative texts by David Bowie, as his album "The Rise and the Fall of Ziggy Stardust" reissued for the 30th anniversary of this title there a few years .
October 4, 2007
Mick Rock’s long form photo essay about Bowie’s Ziggy period. Bowie adds bits and pieces here and there, as well as filling in some gaps that Rock missed photographical. (Mick missed some pretty important parts of the Spiders tour that shaped Bowies evolution of the look of Ziggy, specifically the whole Japanese leg of the Spider’s tour). Thought not a complete history it is still a really beautiful and great book.
January 9, 2023
"David Bowie is from somewhere east of Mars. He arrives on Earth riding his 12-string guitar with extra-terrestrial attachment to charm, delight, and turn on the inhabitants of two continents."
Moonage Daydream: The Life and Times of Ziggy Stardust is an incredible collection of over 600 photographs taken by Mick Rock with commentary throughout by Bowie himself. It is a wonderful look into Bowies's touring life in the 70's and the creation of his most well known persona.
As a long time fan and lover of David Bowie, I ate this book up. The photographs, while not all perfect shots, are beautiful, and David's commentary is both fun and insightful.
Definitely worth a read if you're a fan & absolutely a collectors piece.
Moonage Daydream: The Life and Times of Ziggy Stardust is an incredible collection of over 600 photographs taken by Mick Rock with commentary throughout by Bowie himself. It is a wonderful look into Bowies's touring life in the 70's and the creation of his most well known persona.
As a long time fan and lover of David Bowie, I ate this book up. The photographs, while not all perfect shots, are beautiful, and David's commentary is both fun and insightful.
Definitely worth a read if you're a fan & absolutely a collectors piece.
June 18, 2023
Spectacular. Filled with an incredible number of Mick Rock's incredible photos, plus some fascinating insights from David Bowie himself into the creative process behind the Ziggy era. He doesn't share everything, of course, nor would I really want him to. Every David Bowie fan should at least spend some quality time with this book.
August 26, 2023
Disappointing.
February 12, 2024
It’s Bowie, how could it be less?
August 14, 2024
Beautiful, gorgeous book.
June 15, 2025
Mick was an amazing photographer & Bowie’s commentary was pretty funny.
But now I wish he’d written a full book.
But now I wish he’d written a full book.
January 31, 2026
This is it. The ultimate David Bowie experience (aside from the music, of course). I’ve honestly watched documentaries about Bowie that don’t feel as immersive and sensory as this (hi moonage daydream).
March 5, 2023
When I was a young man, in the early Seventies, I had several cheap trade paperbacks what were essentially picture profiles of rock sensation David Bowie. I'd been fascinated by this fey creature-- an alien demigod of sex and song-- ever since they'd started playing his cuts on the "underground" radio station, and photos of him began to show up in the music press. I was a big fan of the sincere singer/songwriter genre, but something about his camp theatricality fascinated me. I used to spend hours poring over candid shots, glamour shots, photos from his early days, or tracing the evolution of his astonishing hair.
If I'd had this book in my hands, back then, I never would've come up for air.
If I'd had this book in my hands, back then, I never would've come up for air.
December 22, 2010
In the process of Mick Rock's start to become a rock photographer we get to see his visual documentation as he follows David Bowie around, annotated by Bowie himself.
This is almost a photographic record of Bowie's kick-off into stardom as he is about to release "The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars". The book follows his climb from local star into America and ends just as he's taking the next step, slightly during and after "Pin-ups", the fated cover album.
During the entire book one cannot slip the feeling of Bowie being an icon in so many ways, staying humble through his own words, debunking myths (once as "tosh") and glorifying the people who helped him to garb, make-up and generally help him in a variety of ways, not least Mick Ronson and Mick Rock. The Micks.
All in all, a very, very well-edited tome of one of the biggest - if not The biggest - pop-star these modern days have seen.
This is almost a photographic record of Bowie's kick-off into stardom as he is about to release "The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars". The book follows his climb from local star into America and ends just as he's taking the next step, slightly during and after "Pin-ups", the fated cover album.
During the entire book one cannot slip the feeling of Bowie being an icon in so many ways, staying humble through his own words, debunking myths (once as "tosh") and glorifying the people who helped him to garb, make-up and generally help him in a variety of ways, not least Mick Ronson and Mick Rock. The Micks.
All in all, a very, very well-edited tome of one of the biggest - if not The biggest - pop-star these modern days have seen.
September 5, 2017
If you love David Bowie, you will love this book. It's worth the money for the pictures alone. This chronicles Ziggy Stardust, not the story of Ziggy, but of the evolution and performances of David Bowie (and Mick Rock's photography skills). There isn't much to say, but it is a truly beautiful book and if you love Bowie, you'll love Moonage Daydream. You won't be disappointed.
March 8, 2008
From the beginning of Ziggy to the end of Ziggy, Mick Rock captured the essence and almost everything else to do with David Bowie's Ziggy character. Rock is not the greatest photographer in the world but then again he had a great subject matter. And Bowie is one true beauty - in so many ways.
July 23, 2008
I'm a big fan of Bowie and i'm really into Photography so this was a good read, and i really enjoyed all the amazing picture's. I'm definetly giving this a five star. David Bowie and Mick Rock well, ROCK!
July 12, 2016
The stuff....my favorite period of Bowie's. Being just around 1973 with The Hammersmith Odeon
show. And Mick Ronson on ear-splittingly-loud lead guitar. Cracked Actor being my pick for best song of the year for him.
show. And Mick Ronson on ear-splittingly-loud lead guitar. Cracked Actor being my pick for best song of the year for him.
October 28, 2007
A super tastycake of Bowie pictures taken by the late Mick Rock, with a foreword by Bowie.
January 17, 2008
I am a raving Bowie fan---and Ziggy Stardust is my favorite of all his incarnations so I cannot be objective. He is my greatest pseudo-queer icon.
I LOVE HIM!
I LOVE HIM!
Want to read
November 29, 2008David Bowie<33333
February 17, 2009
A must-have for Bowie fans. Great photographs from the early days with lots of narrative mostly by Bowie, some by Mick Rock.
March 15, 2009
Gorgeous, absolutely beautiful.
December 21, 2011
Stunning.
January 1, 2012
Filled with pictures of Bowie in his Ziggy Stardust phase and many of the pictures were accompanied by modern comments by Bowie. What's not to love?
December 30, 2014
si hay un show man en la industria musical, definitivamente es David Bowie y su propuesta musical.
¿Porque no pude nacer en esos dias donde el pelo multicolor y mallas eran la onda? :(
¿Porque no pude nacer en esos dias donde el pelo multicolor y mallas eran la onda? :(
November 15, 2010
Imperdibile per chi ama il Duca bianco....
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews