David Bowie's first televised performance as Ziggy Stardust has been unearthed

David Bowie’s first televised performance as Ziggy Stardust has been unearthed

In 1972, David Bowie introduced the world to Ziggy Stardust on British TV show Lift Off with Ayshea. Years later, the footage of the performance was wiped.

Geordie Gray

30.01.2019

In June 1972, David Bowie introduced the world to Ziggy Stardust on British TV show Lift Off with Ayshea. Years later, the only known footage of the performance was accidentally wiped by a technician attempting to convert it to digital. The performance was long thought to have been lost forever, until now.

One fan captured the performance on a home video recorder. The tape has degraded over the years and must now be “baked” in an incubator in an attempt to restore the footage. If the footage is recovered it will feature in the forthcoming BBC documentary, David Bowie: Finding Fame, next month.

Director Francis Whately has shared with Radio Times,

“For fans, it is something of a Holy Grail. It would fall apart if we played it, so it’s had to be very carefully restored. It will be a real coup if it comes off.”

David Bowie: Finding Fame is the final instalment of the trilogy of documentaries about the late pop star. It follows 2013’s David Bowie: Five Years and 2017’s David Bowie: The Last Five Years. The 90-minute documentary will feature unheard audio recordings and archival footage.

Check out David Bowie’s infamous performance of Starman as Ziggy Stardust on Top Of The Pops in 1972 below.