Ziggy Stardust (persona)

Ziggy Stardust is the most known character created by David Bowie for the 1972 concept album: The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. The character is an alien sent to earth, to bring a positive message of hope in the last five years of its existence.

David Bowie played as the character on the tour of the same name, and retired it on stage in July 1973.

Mick Ronson, Trevor Bolder, and Woody Woodmansey had the personas of The Spiders From Mars on this album and tour.

Background
Ziggy Stardust was inspired by an encounter Bowie had with Vince Taylor, who had claimed he was an alien messiah.

Trivia

 * Ziggy Stardust is widely considered Bowie's most famous persona.
 * A common misconception of a symbol for Ziggy is a red, shimmering lightning bolt. The bolt was, in fact, introduced and appeared only on Bowie's next persona, Aladdin Sane (for his album of the same name)Gettyimages-74255113-2048x2048.jpg