Like overseas, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and The Spiders From Mars was a huge success down under and the album corresponded with a chart single ('Starman').


Signifying the start of continued chart success, Bowie would have (with the exception of 1979) at least one single in the Melbourne Top 40 each year for the next 16 years.


In more recent times, Ziggy Stardust has indicated figures of 79 weeks on AUS chart and has probably surpassed that figure now.

AUS issue of 'STARMAN' (RCA Victor 102142). Backed by 'Suffragette City'.

NZ issue of 'STARMAN' (RCA Victor 74 0719). Scans sent in by Chas.

One song from the Ziggy Stardust sessions that was never released on the album was 'John, I'm Only Dancing'. This was released as a single in both Australia and NZ but appears to have missed the charts.

AUS issue of 'JOHN, I'M ONLY DANCING' (RCA Victor 102185). Scans sent in by Chas.

NZ issue of 'JOHN, I'M ONLY DANCING' (RCA Victor 60604). The below label was a variation where the words "HEADS" and "TAILS" were added on the A-Side and B-side respectively. Scans sent in by Chas.

'Rock n Roll Suicide' and 'Suffragette City'

A very belated single from the album was 'Rock n Roll Suicide' - issued in NZ in April 1974. 'Suffragette City' was issued even later again - in support of ChangesOneBowie (see later in the discography)

NZ issue of 'ROCK 'N' ROLL SUICIDE' (RCA Victor LBPO 5021) Backed by 'Quicksand'. Scans sent in by Anthony.

In November 1972, Bowie was featured on the covers of Go Set as well as the Australian edition of Rolling Stone magazine. These are ore than likely the first time he graced the covers of a local publication.





As seen below, a November 1972 subscription to Rolling Stone, came with an issue of Ziggy Stardust:

In the late 1990s, research about the album's background was conducted by Mike Harvey from New Zealand. The resulting web site 5.years.com is a leading resource for all things Ziggy.

The Mott The Hoople single 'All The Young Dudes' (written by David Bowie) entered the Australian chart a month before 'Starman'. It hit AUS #60 and stayed 15 weeks on chart. The accompanying Bowie co-produced album entered the Australian chart in February 1973. It hit AUS #61 and stayed 7 weeks in. The following year, the album Mott also charted (AUS #57 and 3 weeks in).