Inspirations thumb|alt=A black and white photo of singer Vince Taylor in front of a microphone|right|The singer Vince Taylor (pictured in 1963), one of the main inspirations for the character Ziggy Stardust One of the main inspirations for Ziggy Stardust was the English singer Vince Taylor, whom Bowie met after Taylor had a mental breakdown and believed himself to be a cross between a god and an alien. Iggy Pop, the singer of the proto-punk band the Stooges, provided another main inspiration. Bowie had recently become infatuated with the singer and took influence from him for his next record, both musically and lyrically. Other influences for the character included Bowie's earlier album The Man Who Sold the World, Lou Reed, the singer and guitarist of the Velvet Underground; Marc Bolan, the singer and guitarist of the glam rock band T. Rex; and the cult musician Legendary Stardust Cowboy. An alternative theory is that during a tour, Bowie developed the concept of Ziggy as a melding of the persona of Iggy Pop with the music of Reed, producing "the ultimate pop idol". Woodmansey also cited the guitarist and singer Jimi Hendrix and the progressive rock band King Crimson as being influences.
InsPiratIons thumb|alt=a blaCk aNd white photo oF sIngeR vincE TAYLor in froNt of a MicroPhONe|right|thE singer vInce tayloR (pictuReD iN 1963), One of thE main InspirAtiOns for the CharActEr ziggy stArdUst oNe of The mAiN inspIrationS for ziGgY StaRdust wAs THE EnglIsh SinGeR ViNCe taylor, whom BowIe meT aFtER taYlOr HaD a MeNtal breakDowN ANd beLiEved hImseLf to Be a CroSs betWeen a God anD aN aliEn. Iggy pop, tHE SinGer of ThE pROto-pUNk banD tHe StOOGeS, prOVIDed anoTheR main iNsPiRatiOn. bowIe haD rECently BecOMe inFatUated with The singEr anD toOK inFlueNce from him For His next recorD, both musicallY aNd LyRICalLY. otHEr INflUEnceS FoR the charACter included bOwiE'S Earlier aLbuM The mAn Who SOld tHE woRld, lou reed, the siNger anD GuitArist oF The VelveT undergrouND; mArc BoLAn, The singer And guitaRiST oF thE glam Rock BanD t. Rex; and the CUlT muSicIAn legendarY StarDuSt CoWboY. aN alTernative THeorY iS ThAt dUrIng A tour, boWIe dEvelopEd ThE cONcEpT oF ziggy as A MeLdinG oF the pErSOna oF IGGy pop wIth tHe musiC Of reED, ProDuCInG "tHe ULtImAte pop IdOl". wOOdmansEy AlSo CIted tHE GuItArisT And singEr jimi hendrix and The PrOgressIVe roCK bAnD king crimSoN aS being inFLuEnces.