“Life on Mars?” Music Video

Even though “Life On Mars” appeared on 1971’s Hunky Dory, it wasn’t issued as a single until 1973. The famous video of Bowie in heavy makeup and a blue suit (another one of Freddie Burretti’s designs) was shot backstage on May 12, 1973, when the Spiders played Earl’s Court. It was the fourth of the four videos in the era to be directed by Mick Rock, who was quoted as saying he wanted the video to look like a painting. The trio of “Life on Mars?”, “The Jean Genie”, and “Space Oddity” only cost $350.