David Bowie dies from cancer aged 69: tributes, memories and pictures (2024)

David Bowie died from cancer onJanuary 10, aged 69. His representatives confirmed the news on Monday morning through his website and social media feeds. The world was shocked by the announcements, which read: "January 10-David Bowie died peacefully today surrounded by his family after a courageous 18 month battle with cancer. "

Bowie's death came two days after the release of his critically acclaimed25th album, Blackstar. His long-term producer and friend, Tony Visconti, posted a statement that the recordwas Bowie's "parting gift", confirming what many critics and fans later realised about the timing of its release. Blackstar is near-guaranteed to top the UK album charts on Friday as Bowie's older records re-appear in the charts.

Bowie was reportedly suffering from liver cancer. Although his illness was a well-kept secret from the press and public– Midge Ure commented that there had only been "rumours" within the music industry– Belgian theatre directorIvo van Hove was one of the few people who knew the full extent of Bowie's condition.

Van Hove, who worked with Bowie on another of his final works, the Lazarus musical,told Dutch website dutchnews.nlthat he was suffering from live cancer and would not always be able to attend rehearsals.

Bowie's ex-wife Angie, currently a contestant in the Celebrity Big Brother house,was told the news on camera. She decided to remain on the reality TV show, but viewers criticised Channel 5 for broadcasting heroutpouring of grief.

On Monday night the world mourned Bowie with street parties and vigils from Brixton, where he was born, to Hollywood, around his star on the Walk of Fame. In New York fans gathered around his apartment. Neighbours and employees in his local cafe said they had not seen Bowie for months.

Prime Minister David Cameron joined The Rolling Stones, Elton John, Paul McCartney,Brian Eno, Yoko Ono, Kanye West, Madonna, Pharrell Williams, Brian May, Krist Novoselicand countless other stars, fans and friends in sharing their grief. More than 8 million tweets were sent in tribute to Bowie in the 24 hours following the news.

Brian Eno: 'I realise now he was saying goodbye'

Brian Eno released a statement about a recent, and last, email from his friend and collaborator.

He said: "David's death came as a complete surprise, as did nearly everything else about him. I feel a huge gap now. We knew each other for over 40 years, in a friendship that was always tinged by echoes of [comic characters] Pete and Dud.

"Over the last few years – with him living in New York and me in London – our connection was by email. We signed off with invented names: some of his were 'mr showbiz', 'milton keynes', 'rhoda borrocks' and 'the duke of ear'.

"I received an email from him seven days ago. It was as funny as always, and as surreal, looping through word games and allusions and all the usual stuff we did. It ended with this sentence: 'Thank you for our good times, brian. they will never rot'. And it was signed 'Dawn'. I realise now he was saying goodbye."

Tony Visconti: 'I knew for a year this was the way it would be'

Bowie's long-term producer and friend sheds light on the musician's swansong:

Fans found new meaning in the lyrics from Bowie's last single,Lazarus, and Blackstar in the wake of the news.

The final picture

Days before his death, Bowie posed for final photographs in New York:

Bowie posted the photographs, which were taken by Jimmy King, the photographer he had collaborated with throughout his entire career, on his Instagram last week.

Tributes

Paul McCartney: "I send my deepest sympathies to his family and will always remember the great laughs we had through the years. His star will shine in the sky forever"

The Rolling Stones: "The Rolling Stones are shocked and deeply saddened to hear of the death of our dear friend David Bowie.As well as being a wonderful and kind man, he was an extraordinary artist, and a true original"

David Cameron: "I grew up listening to and watching the pop genius David Bowie. He was a master of re-invention, who kept getting it right. A huge loss."

Yoko Ono:

JK Rowling: "I wish he could have stayed on earth longer"

Elton John: "I am still in shock. Never saw it coming. My deepest condolences to Iman and the family. An amazing life. An amazing career."

Michael Eavis:

Emily Eavis:

Kanye West: "David Bowie was one of my most important inspirations, so fearless, so creative, he gave us magic for a lifetime."

How the press reacted:

In the UK,Tuesday's front pages all recalled the many different faces of Bowie:

'Why we will never solve the mystery of David Bowie's music'

Neil McCormick writes: "It is with astonishment as well as sadness that we have to comprehend the death of David Bowie. Like a great showman making his exit, a supreme magician vanishing amid his last great illusion, Bowie’s final act appears as masterfully and mysteriously staged as everything else in his extraordinary career."

Read the tribute in full here.

'David Bowie played the fame game with dignity and class to the very end'

Mick Brown writes:"It is hard to think of any contemporary cultural figure whose passing would occasion quite such a sense of stunned shock, such an outpouring of personal sadness, as Bowie’s has. The commonplace observation about Bowie was his capacity for shape-shifting and reinvention."

Read the piece in full here.

'Androgyny and psychedelic make-up: David Bowie’s impact onfashion can’t be overstated'

Lisa Armstrong writes: "Unlike other agents of glam rock, Bowie’s gender fluidity managed to shock because it wasn’t mere posturing. While the members of Slade and Sweet went out of their way to demonstrate their machismo, Bowie, with breath-taking insouciance, flouted his bisexuality."

Read the piece in full here.

How the world reacted:

In Hollywood, Bowie's Walk of Fame star was eclipsed by flowers, glitter, candles and fans:

In St Petersberg, a vigil took place in front of the British Consulate. In New York, a Bowie tribute concert featuring he Roots, Cyndi Lauper and the Mountain Goatsplanned hours before Bowie's death will go ahead as a memorial concert instead.

Thousands of people gathered in Brixton with hours' notice to remember the musician born on the south London town's streets.

David Bowie,January 8 1947 -January 102016

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