‘Rock ‘N’ Roll Suicide’ promo video

Mick Rock directed promo video for the 1974 release of 'Rock 'N' Roll Suicide'

On 11 April 1974, David Bowie’s record label RCA, impatient for new material and having already rush-released ‘Rebel Rebel’ from the Diamond Dogs sessions, arbitrarily picked ‘Rock ‘N’ Roll Suicide’ for single release. ‘Quicksand’ from ‘Hunky Dory’ was chosen as the B-side.

Two years old, the song was already in Bowie fans’ possession via the ‘Ziggy Stardust’ album. The fact that it reached number 22 in the UK charts – Bowie’s first RCA single to miss the British Top 20 since ‘Changes’ in January 1972 – is testament to Bowie’s commercial stock at the time. Unfortunately this also gave RCA the green light to plunder his back catalogue throughout the 70’s whenever they were short of a few bob.

RELATED