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RIP David Bowie

Yesterday the world was left in shock after the news that music icon David Bowie had passed away following a private 18 month battle with cancer. Bowie was aged 69, and was surrounded by his family at the time of his passing.

David Bowie tribute

The tributes have been pouring in since, with many at a loss and still in awe of his 40 year career. His son, film director Duncan Jones was one of the first to react online, sharing an intimate photograph of his father.

Sir Paul McCartney also paid tribute to the late Bowie, saying his “star will shine forever in the sky.

David Bowie’s career has been nothing more than proflific. He released his self-titled debut album in 1967, shortly after recreating himself as David Bowie. Space Oddity, The Man Who Sold The World and Hunk Dory followed, before Bowie reinvented himself under the persona of Ziggy Stardust. He has since gone on to become not only an icon in music, but fashion and sexuality, as well as dabbling in acting as well.

David Bowie’s final album Blackstar was released on January 8, the same day as his 69th birthday. Bowie had been diagnosed with liver cancer 18 months ago, but chose to keep his condition a secret from the public. He continued to work on Blackstar as well as his musical Lazarus. Director Ivo van Hove noted that Bowie was unable to make it to rehearsals as his condition worsened, saying “Bowie was still writing on his deathbed, I saw a man fighting. He fought like a lion and kept working like a lion through it all.”

Producer Brian Eno, who had worked with Bowie on the Berlin trilogy, consisting of albums LowHeroes and Lodger, paid tribute to his friend. Speakign to BBC News, Eno said “Over the last few years – with him living in New York and me in London – our connection was by email,” Eno continued. “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.”

David Bowie’s final single Lazarus seems to be his final goodbye, and in hindsight is a very transparent one with lyrics like “Look up here, I’m in heaven / I’ve got scars that can’t be seen.” Blackstar producer Tony Visconti said his death was a work of art, much like his life. He continued to day “He made Blackstar for us, his parting gift. I knew for a year this was the way it would be. I wasn’t, however, prepared for it.”