Photo: Press
David Bowie, one of the greatest musical innovators and true artists of our time, has died at the age of 69.
The Thin White Duke, who released Blackstar, one of the finest albums of his career, just last week on his 69th birthday, passed away yesterday - in news confirmed on his Facebook and by his son.
"January 10 2016 - David Bowie died peacefully today surrounded by his family after a courageous 18 month battle with cancer," they wrote on Facebook. "While many of you will share in this loss, we ask that you respect the family’s privacy during their time of grief."
His son, acclaimed film director Duncan Jones, then took to Twitter to pay tribute to his father:
Very sorry and sad to say it's true. I'll be offline for a while. Love to all. pic.twitter.com/Kh2fq3tf9m
— Duncan Jones (@ManMadeMoon) January 11, 2016
Reviewing the record to make it our album of the week, we wrote: "Bowie could have delivered a smattering glam-rock-lite hits, a pastiche of his past glories - but there would be no challenge in that. It's not in his nature to make the same record twice.
"One can't help but feel that this may have been part of his plan all along. If The Next Day was his bridge back on to the world stage, one can't help but feel that Blackstar is him again leaping sideways into the breach. This is a far more bold, artful and fulfilling affair. Never second guess Bowie. Tomorrow never knows, especially when it comes to an artist always with one foot in the future."
Born David Robert Jones on 10 January 1947, he released an incredible 25 solo albums over his career - but his influence of music, film, fashion, dance, culture and much more will forever be unmeasured.
He leaves behind his wife Iman, and two children Duncan Jones, and Alexandria Zahra Jones, born in 2000.
