Big Lives

David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust: Performance, Persona, Revolution

June 1, 2026·52 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

Ziggy Stardust didn’t just land - he detonated. We rewind to David Bowie’s 1972 Top of the Pops breakthrough and unpack the paradox at its core: a “meaningless” persona that transformed culture. Was Ziggy a liberation engine, a postmodern performance, or just a bored kid’s rebellion dressed in glitter? This Pride Month, we revisit the gender-bending, rule-breaking persona that helped a generation imagine new ways to be. Connect with the team!  Follow our hosts Kai Wright and Emmanuel Dzotsi Follow Pushkin on Instagram, LinkedIn or X  Follow BBC Podcasts on YouTube and Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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