Bowie’s final costume change of the night, worn for the show’s encore of “White Light/White Heat”, “The Jean Genie”, “Around and Around”, and “Rock ’n’ Roll Suicide”. Just before the end of the encore, Bowie gave a farewell speech to the surprise of everyone in attendance (excluding Mick Ronson and his manager Tony DeFries, whom he had told beforehand):
“Everybody… this has been one of the greatest tours of our lives. I would like to thank the band. I would like to thank our road crew. I would like to thank our lighting people. Of all of the shows on this tour, this particular show will remain with us the longest because not only is it… not only is it the last show of the tour, but it’s the last show that we’ll ever do. Thank you.”
The band then concluded the show with “Rock ’n’ Roll Suicide”. Some took his speech to mean that he was retiring, while others interpreted it as the end of the Ziggy Stardust character. In the end, neither were truly the case.