David Bowie's 'first' demo of 'Starman' up for auction after being forgotten in loft for almost 50 years

Recording was made in 1971 by Bowie and his guitarist Mick Ronson

A tape believed to be the first ever recording of David Bowie’s song “Starman” is up for auction.

Bowie can be heard telling guitarist Mick Ronson he had not finished the song as he tried to end the recording. Ronson gave it to his friend Kevin Hutchinson, an aspiring musician, to help him learn it.

The song was released as a single in 1972 and was part of Bowie’s concept album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars.

According to the BBC, Mr Hutchinson listened to the song, labelled it “David Bowie rehearsal tape”, and packed it away in a box in his attic.

The demo, which was recorded in 1971, had been “totally forgotten about” for almost 50 years. It also contains recordings of Bowie songs “Moonage Daydream” and “Hang Onto Yourself”.

“I remember listening to it and thinking, ‘This is OK,’” said Mr Hutchinson. “I didn’t think, ‘This is fantastic.’ At 16, you’re not totally impressed. Nothing impresses you.”

He told BBC Radio Humberside in 2017 that he had retrieved the tape after watching a documentary about Bowie, who had died the year before, aged 69.

The tape is being auctioned on Tuesday 12 March at Omega Auctions in Newton-le-Willows, where it is expected to sell for £10,000.