Before he created his fictional androgynous, bisexual rock star persona, Ziggy Stardust, David Bowie was an odd, sci-fi loving, psychedelic/ prog rock performer with little success. Before he reached great fame in 1972 he produced two brilliant and influential albums, David Bowie (aka Space Oddity) (1969) and Hunky Dory (1971). These albums focused on drug abuse, death, and the artistic reinvention Bowie constantly went throughout his career to that point (a trait that would serve him well for the rest of his career). Bowie goes on to be a major influence in many different genres of music including alternative rock, glam rock, and pop music.