The song was recorded in August 1971, with the core musicians being future members of Bowie's famed Spiders Of Mars line-up - Mick Ronson on guitar (he also wrote the string parts), Trevor Bolder on bass, and Mick 'Woody' Woodmansey on drums.

Musically, both songs have a bass line that steps down a semi-tone through the verse, although Life On Mars? flips this idea in different ways by changing keys and going up in semi-tones in the pre-chorus.īowie even acknowledged the 'revenge trip' in his own oblique way on the back of the Hunky Dory album - next to the tracklisting for Life On Mars? a handwritten scrawl reads 'Inspired by Frankie'. 5.In the wake of Bowie's death in 2016, the song was performed as a tribute by musicians including Rick Wakeman, Lorde, Sarah Blasko, Coldplay, Sinead O'Connor, and Aurora, as well as a church organ version from St Alban's Cathedral in the UK that went viral.4.The song reached #3 on the UK charts and #67 in Australia.3.Released on Bowie's 1971 album Hunky Dory, Life On Mars? was not released as a single until 1973 to cash in on the success of his 1972 album Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars.2.Rick Wakeman's piano parts were recorded on the same piano Paul McCartney used to record The Beatles' Hey Jude.1.David Bowie's epic song Life On Mars? was recorded in August 1971.Loading YouTube content Five things about Life On Mars?

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