David Bowie receives Edison Award (1974) • TopPop

To commemorate what would have been David Bowie’s 75th birthday, today, January 8, 2022, we publish this rare video of David Bowie receiving the Edison Award in Amsterdam. David Bowie came to the Netherlands in February 1974 to receive an Edison for his ’Hunky Dory’ album and to record his latest single ’Rebel Rebel’ in the TopPop studio in Hilversum. At a special press conference in the chic Amstel Hotel in Amsterdam, Bowie appeared in Ziggy Stardust outfit, complete with black eye patch. This is historic as it was his last public appearance in ’Ziggy’ outfit. He spoke eloquently to the assembled press and posed for the photographers. He received the Edison Award (Hollands equivalent of a Grammy) from TopPop presenter Ad Visser, who made a mistakenly called the award for his Ziggy Stardust album. Ad Visser filled the glasses with the traditional schnapps ’Schelvispekel’ (a herbal bitter with 35% alcohol) and addressed Bowie partly in Dutch. After the press reception, David stepped in a limousine and head