Ziggy | theblocrock

Ziggy's

Today, on the 20th September 2018, a new bar has opened in London. What's so special about this one ? It's a David Bowie cocktail bar.

David Bowie was born in 1947 in Brixton (a place I had the chance to live - by the way, the spectrum of Bowie is everywhere in this place, you can feel it and some people are very proud to live in Brixton because of him), and died of cancer in 2016. He was one of the most inspiring English artists of the last century. He made a lot of hits such as "Heroes", "Starman" and "Rebel,Rebel".

In 1972 he released the album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and The Spiders From Mars, his fifth one. It's a concept album about Ziggy Stardust, Bowie's alter-ego. Ziggy is an (fictional then) androgynous bisexual rock star who delivers messages from extraterrestrial beings. The main themes are sexual explorations and social taboos. But after a while, it became impossible for Bowie to separate from Ziggy. "He [Ziggy] wouldn't leave me alone for years. That was when it all started to go sour... My whole personality was affected. It became very dangerous. I really did have doubts about my sanity."

Then Bowie decided to get rid of him. In 1973 he hosted an extravagant soirée at London's Hotel Cafe Royal on Regent Street. He invited many guests such as Sir Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger or Lou Reed. The party was named the "Last Supper" and Bowie performed his last gig as Ziggy at the Hammersmith Odeon. The Hotel Cafe Royal is celebrating this legendary event by opening a new cocktail bar "Ziggy's".

The David Bowie themed bar will be decorated by many pictures taken by Mick Rock, the official photographer of Bowie when the party was held in 1973. You will find the star's favourite drinks and of course a selection of cocktails, like the "Tigers on Vaseline" (it takes its name from the song "Hang on to Yourself"), a new and modern twist of the Pina Colada, or the "Darkness and Disgrace" (takes its name from the song "Lady Stardust") which is an Espresso Martini made with rum, instead of vodka. And of course, on top of that, Bowie's music will be played on.

Fabio Spinetti, the hotel's bar manager, said : "Cafe Royal has always been the place where great minds would come to discuss great ideas. David Bowie played a really important part in Cafe Royal's history, with the famous Last Supper taking place here. It only seems fitting to provide a homage to one of our most esteemed patrons". Indeed, the Cafe Hotel Royal has been a favourite place for many artists and celebrities such as Oscar Wilde, Winston Churchill or even Muhammad Ali.