It's 40 years since David Bowie's album Ziggy Stardust was released and to celebrate the anniversary a commemorative plaque is being unveiled in central London, where the photograph on the cover of the album was taken.

Arts correspondent Rebecca Jones reports from 23 Heddon Street where the iconic photograph was taken and spoke to Spandau Ballet's Gary Kemp, who said the album was really about the character that Bowie created as a conceptual artwork.

He said that the character of Ziggy came out of a less glamorous London and was a "great means of escape" for a generation which was "still in the shadow of the Second World War".

Music critic Pete Paphides said that it was Bowie's "attention to detail" which was so startling and forward looking at the time.

"Nothing was left to chance," he explained.

Gary Kemp told Rebecca Jones that Ziggy's appearance was a "eureka rock and roll movement" for a lot of people in 1972.

He said that there was a feeling that this "messianic rock star" came to save us and inluenced Spandau Ballet in later years.

Pete Paphides said that Bowie's music seems to speak to every generation.

"There isn't a generation since that hasn't thought David Bowie is one of the coolest people on the planet," he added.

Get in touch with Today via email , Twitter or Facebook or text us on 84844.