The Real Ziggy Stardust who Lost his Career to Acid by LIAM WARD | MESSY NESSY

A great article here from the always dependable Messy-Nessy on Vince Taylor the all too likely inpsiration for Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust . . . . . The Real Ziggy Stardust - Messy Nessy and other acid casualties

"Before Vince Taylor would begin his journey into the realms of the psychedelic wilderness, he’d been born Brian Maurice Holden in Middlesex, England. His family had immigrated to America when Taylor was aged 7. There, he’d witnessed the birth of Rock and Roll. He’d developed a ‘teddy boy’ look; changed his name to Vince after Elvis’s character in Jail House Rock and began to sing in talent shows. He would have limited success until his return to England in 1957 where the appetite for authentic American Rock and Roll was great. Taylor had the accent, the look; he wore tight leather pants and biker boots and stalked London’s Soho clubs looking menacing. What Taylor lacked in vocal talent and musicianship, he made up for in a blistering performance that saw him gyrate and jitterbug all over the stage, rolling on the floor in spasmodic convulsions of rock and roll ecstasy.”