Iconic Photos of Celebrities Partying in the 1970s

In this cozy, candid moment from 1971, David Bowie sits cross-legged on a bed with an acoustic guitar, surrounded by mellow partygoers in an L.A. home. Dressed in flowing satin and flashing a grin mid-song, he’s in his element—already a star, but still grounded in the intimacy of jam sessions and shared creative energy.

This was a party hosted by Rodney Bingenheimer at lawyer Paul Figen’s house, a space where Bowie could just be himself: equal parts performer and friend, caught in the magic of early ‘70s counterculture before Ziggy Stardust entirely took flight.