Rock 'n' Roll Star!  That's the title of the new box set coming on June 14 from David Bowie - and the late artist certainly qualifies.  This new 5CD/1Blu-ray collection follows 2019's Conversation Piece (which shed light on the 1968-1969 David Bowie/Space Oddity era) and 2022's Divine Symmetry (which chronicled the twelve months leading up to December 1971's release of Hunky Dory).  Rock 'n' Roll Star! takes an in-depth look at Bowie's path to The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and The Spiders from Mars, beginning in February 1971 and going through the album's June 1972 release up to Ziggy and The Spiders' October 1, 1972 concert at the Boston Music Hall.

The set's five CDs boast more than two dozen previously unreleased tracks, encompassing demos, tracks recorded with the Arnold Corns band, home rehearsals, two full discs of radio and television performances, and single versions, plus session outtakes and alternate takes newly mixed by the original album's producer, Ken Scott.  Among the highlights of the previously unheard material are a Ziggy session version of "Shadow Man" (re-recorded decades later for the Toy album), an uptempo rendition of The Who's "I Can't Explain" (recut in slowed-form down on 1974's Pin-Ups), the outtake "It's Gonna Rain Again," an alternate, early take of "Lady Stardust," and Trident Studios version of "John, I'm Only Dancing."

The Blu-ray Disc offers the 2012 remaster of the original Ziggy Stardust album in 96/24 PCM Stereo and the 5.1 surround version from 2003 in 96/24 DTS-MA (Master Audio).  Single versions and the complete contents of CD 5 (the outtakes and alternative versions) are also included in 96/24 PCM Stereo.  Lastly, the Record Store Day release Waiting in the Sky (Before the Starman Came to Earth), an early version of the albums, is included in 96/24 PCM Stereo.  This assembly features four songs that ultimately weren't included on Ziggy plus a unique sequence.

This lavish, slipcased set also contains two books: a 112-page tome with new liner notes; memorabilia images; period reviews and articles; rare photographs from Barrie Wentzel, Michael Putland, Mick Rock, Sukita, and Alec Byrne; and new interviews with Ken Scott, Mark Carr Pritchett, and Anya Wilson. A second, 36-page volume compiles reproductions of Bowie's personal Ziggy Stardust-era notebooks.

For those interested in vinyl, a single-LP, half-speed-mastered version of Rock and Roll Star! will be offered with 14 of the 16 Outtakes and Alternative Versions found on CD 5 and the Blu-ray.  The remastered demo of "Ziggy Stardust," with Bowie accompanying himself on acoustic guitar from March 1971 at Haddon Hall, is now streaming.

Rock 'n' Roll Star! arrives from Parlophone on May 10.  You'll find the track listing and pre-order links below.  As an Amazon affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Rock 'N' Roll Star! (Parlophone, 2024)

* previously unreleased

5CD/Blu-ray: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada

CD 1

1. So Long 60s (San Francisco Hotel Recording) *
2. Hang On to Yourself (Demo) *
3. Lady Stardust (Demo)
4. Ziggy Stardust (Demo)
5. Star (aka 'Stars' - Demo) *
6. Soul Love (Demo and DB Spoken Notes) *
7. Starman (Demo 1 Excerpt) *
8. Starman (Demo 2) *
9. Moonage Daydream (Arnold Corns Version)
10. Hang On to Yourself (Arnold Corns Version)
11. Looking for a Friend (Arnold Corns Version - Rough Mix) *
12. Haddon Hall Rehearsals Segue: Ziggy Stardust/Holy Holy/Soul Love *
13. Star (aka 'Stars') (Haddon Hall Rehearsal) *
14. Sweet Head (Haddon Hall Rehearsal) *

Tracks 3-4 released on Rykodisc RCD-10134 (U.S.)/EMI CDEMC 3577 (U.K.), 1990
Tracks 9-10 released as B&C Records U.K. single CB 149, 1971

CD 2

1. Ziggy Stardust (Sounds of The 70s: John Peel - rec. 1/11/1972) *
2. Queen Bitch (Sounds of The 70s: John Peel - rec. 1/11/1972) *
3. Waiting for the Man (Sounds of The 70s: John Peel - rec. 1/11/1972) *
4. Lady Stardust (Sounds of The 70s: John Peel - rec. 1/11/1972) *
5. Hang On to Yourself (Sounds of The 70s: Bob Harris - rec. 1/18/1972)
6. Ziggy Stardust (Sounds of The 70s: Bob Harris - rec. 1/18/1972)
7. Queen Bitch (Sounds of The 70s: Bob Harris - rec. 1/18/1972)
8. Waiting for the Man (Sounds of The 70s: Bob Harris - rec. 1/18/1972)
9. Five Years (Sounds of The 70s: Bob Harris - rec. 1/18/1972)
10. Oh! You Pretty Things (Take 1) (Old Grey Whistle Test - rec. 2/8/1972; broadcast 1982)
11. Queen Bitch (Old Grey Whistle Test - rec./broadcast 2/8/1972)
12. Five Years (Old Grey Whistle Test - rec./broadcast 2/8/1972)

Tracks 5-9 released on Bowie At The Beeb - EMI 72435 28629 2 4, 2000

CD 3

1. White Light/White Heat (Sounds of the 70s: John Peel - rec. 5/16/1972)
2. Moonage Daydream (Sounds of the 70s: John Peel - rec. 5/16/1972)
3. Hang On to Yourself (Sounds of the 70s: John Peel - rec. 5/16/1972)
4. Suffragette City (Sounds of the 70s: John Peel - rec. 5/16/1972)
5. Ziggy Stardust (Sounds of the 70s: John Peel - rec. 5/16/1972)
6. Starman (Johnnie Walker Lunchtime Show - rec. 5/22/1972)
7. Space Oddity (Johnnie Walker Lunchtime Show - rec. 5/22/1972)
8. Changes (Johnnie Walker Lunchtime Show - rec. 5/22/1972)
9. Oh! You Pretty Things (Johnnie Walker Lunchtime Show - rec. 5/22/1972)
10. Andy Warhol (Sounds of the 70s: Bob Harris - rec. 5/23/1972)
11. Lady Stardust (Sounds of the 70s: Bob Harris - rec. 5/23/1972)
12. White Light/White Heat (Sounds of the 70s: Bob Harris - rec. 5/23/1972)
13. Rock 'N' Roll Suicide (Sounds of the 70s: Bob Harris - rec. 5/23/1972)
14. Starman (Top of the Pops performance - broadcast 7/6/1972)

Tracks 1-13 released on Bowie At The Beeb - EMI 72435 28629 2 4, 2000
Track 14 released on "Starman" Record Store Day 7" picture disc - EMI DBSTAR 40, 2012

CD 4

1. Round and Round
2. The Supermen (Ziggy Session Version)
3. Holy Holy (Ziggy Session Version)
4. Velvet Goldmine (Ziggy Session Outtake)
5. Starman (Original Single Mix)
6. John, I'm Only Dancing (Original Single Version)
7. The Supermen (Live @ the Music Hall, Boston, MA - 10/1/1972)
8. Changes (Live @ the Music Hall, Boston, MA - 10/1/1972)
9. Life on Mars? (Live @ the Music Hall, Boston, MA - 10/1/1972)
10. My Death (Live @ the Music Hall, Boston, MA - 10/1/1972) *
11. John, I'm Only Dancing (Live @ the Music Hall, Boston, MA - 10/1/1972)

Track 1 released on "Drive-In Saturday" U.K. single - RCA Victor 2352, 1973
Track 2 released on Glastonbury Fayre - The Electric Score - Revelation Enterprises Ltd. REV 1/2/3, 1972
Track 3 released on "Diamond Dogs" U.K. single - RCA Victor APB0-0293, 1974
Track 4 released on "Space Oddity" U.K. single - RCA Victor 2593, 1975
Track 5 released on RCA Victor U.K. single 2199, 1972
Track 6 released on RCA Victor U.K. single 2263, 1972
Tracks 7-9 and 11 released on Aladdin Sane (30th Anniversary Edition) - EMI 72435 83120 2 7, 2003

CD 5 (Tracks 2-15 make up LP version - Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

1. Looking for a Friend (Arnold Corns Version - 2022 Mix) *
2. Hang On to Yourself (Early Ziggy Session Take) *
3. Star (aka 'Stars') (Alternative Version - Take 5) *
4. Lady Stardust (Alternative Version - Take 1) *
5. Shadow Man (Ziggy Session Version) *
6. The Supermen (Ziggy Session Version - 2023 Mix) *
7. Holy Holy (Ziggy Session Version - Alternative Mix) *
8. Round and Round (Alternative Mix)
9. It's Gonna Rain Again (Ziggy Sessions Outtake) *
10. Looking for a Friend (Ziggy Session Version) *
11. Velvet Goldmine (Ziggy Sessions Outtake - 2022 Mix) *
12. Sweet Head (Ziggy Session Outtake - 2022 Mix) *
13. Starman (Top of the Pops Version - 2022 Mix)
14. John, I'm Only Dancing (Alternative Trident Studios Version) *
15. I Can't Explain (Trident Studios Version) *
16. Moonage Daydream (2003 Instrumental Mix)

Track 8 released on Sound + Vision - Rykodisc RCD 90120/21/22, 1989
Track 13 released on Parlophone digital single (no cat. #), 2022
Track 16 released on The Rise and Fall of ZIggy Stardust and The Spiders from Mars (40th Anniversary Edition) - EMI DBZSX 40, 2012

Blu-ray Audio

The Rise and Fall of ZIggy Stardust and The Spiders from Mars - original album mix (2012 stereo remaster - 96 kHz/24-bit stereo) and 5.1 surround mix (DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 - 96khz/24bit)

1. Five Years
2. Soul Love
3. Moonage Daydream
4. Starman
5. It Ain't Easy
6. Lady Stardust
7. Star
8. Hang On to Yourself
9. Ziggy Stardust
10. Suffragette City
11. Rock 'N' Roll Suicide

Original album mix released as RCA Victor LSP-4702, 1972. 5.1 surround mixes released as EMI 07243 521900 2 7, 2003

Waiting in the Sky (Before the Starman Came to Earth) - early album track list, December 1971 (96 kHz/24-bit stereo)

1. Five Years
2. Soul Love
3. Moonage Daydream
4. Round and Round
5. Amsterdam
6. Hang On to Yourself
7. Ziggy Stardust
8. Velvet Goldmine (Ziggy Session Outtake)
9. Holy Holy (Ziggy Session Version)
10. Star
11. Lady Stardust

Above to be released on LP for Record Store Day - Parlophone (cat. # unknown), 2024

The Singles (96 kHz/24-bit stereo)

1. Starman (Original Single Mix)
2. John, I'm Only Dancing (Original Single Version)

Outtakes and Alternative Versions - same track list as CD 5 (96 kHz/24-bit stereo)