New waxwork of David Bowie unveiled at Madame Tussauds London
The Ziggy Stardust figure is part of a revamped Music Festival area
By Joe Goggins
Madame Tussauds have today (March 31) unveiled a new waxwork of David Bowie in London, as part of its revamped music section.
The new tribute to Bowie immortalises his Ziggy Stardust alter-ego, and joins an “impossible lineup” of stars in the Music Festival zone, including the likes of Amy Winehouse, Ariana Grande, Stormzy and Freddie Mercury. It is not the tourist attraction’s first Bowie statue; that arrived in 1983, capturing him during his ‘Let’s Dance’ era, and information from his sitting for that waxwork was used to create the new piece, which was made in consultation with Bowie’s estate.
As part of their drive to reimagine the music area of the gallery, the Madame Tussauds team took inspiration from the storied history of London’s most famous venues. In the new exhibition, which opens to the public tomorrow (April 1), Bowie’s figure lines up next to that of Stormzy in a nod to the Hammersmith Apollo, almost 50 years since the Starman made his final appearance there as Ziggy Stardust.
Jimi Hendrix’s waxwork is also in display alongside Dua Lipa ,Ed Sheeran, Winehouse and Mercury. Visitors can also bear witness to the sight of Bob Marley and Beyoncé.
Speaking about the revamp, general manager Tim Waters said: “David Bowie as Ziggy Stardust transcends generations and music genres, making him the ultimate headliner to launch our new Music Festival zone. We were honoured to work with his estate in what would have been his 75th year and play our small part in keeping his inimitable legacy alive for generations to come.”
“We know that guests love to meet their music heroes here at the attraction,” Waters continued. “With our new Music Festival experience, we’ve captured the magic of live music, with legends you literally could not see perform together anywhere else, in a way that only Madame Tussauds London could. There’s also the added bonus of no muddy fields or main-stage clashes to contend with.”
Tussauds will be hoping Bowie’s new figure goes over better than the one of Zendaya that they installed in February; it attracted widespread ridicule on social media.