by Andrew Trendell Staff | Photos by wenn

Tags: David Bowie 

Ricky Gervais writes moving tribute to 'hero' David Bowie

The pair appeared together in the brilliant Extras

 

Ricky Gervais tribute to David Bowie after death, appeared in Extras Photo: wenn

Ricky Gervais has penned a heartfelt and emotional tribute to his friend and 'hero', David Bowie. Relive his amazing appearance in Extras below. 

The Office creator and British comedy sensation was a lifelong fan of The Thin White Duke, and fulfilled his dream of working with him - with Bowie appearing in Extras for a now classic scene, in which he insults Gervais with the hilarious put-down song, 'Chubby Little Loser':

Sharing the scene after Bowie's death this week, Gervais put:  

Co-Writing this song with my all time hero & friend was the highlight of my career.

Posted by Ricky Gervais on Tuesday, 12 January 2016

Now, Gervais has written a moving eulogy to Bowie in The Hollywood Reporter, speaking of their meeting and relationship, and honouring Bowie's private and 'dignified ending'

"After the show (The Golden Globes) I saw the tweets and was trying to find out if it were a hoax — and it wasn't," writes Gervais. "Our relationship was bizarre and surreal, and I felt so privileged to know him. I never forgot he was my hero, even when he became my friend. I somehow divorced the two concepts in my head. When I talked to people, I talked about this rock star who changed my whole outlook. He put my life in color. He made me believe: You can do anything; you're a working-class kid in Reading; creativity is freedom. Ability is a poor man's wealth. I loved everything he did. He never let me down, even at the end. I've never seen a more dignified ending. 

"I was looking at an email he sent me a few weeks ago. It was as funny and fresh and smart as any in the last 10 years I knew him. That's integrity. That's f—ing privacy. All this about being one of the most worshipped artists in the world — he never fell for it. I remember the first time I went to see him, I didn't know what to say. "You're here for Mr. Jones?" I smiled — of course I was. Right then, David Bowie didn't exist. His apartment was as amazing as you'd imagine. There was a 3D Picasso-esque sculpture in the middle — beautiful. He said, "My daughter likes to hit that with a hammer."

"I wrote the Extras scene about meeting your hero and him not being what you thought. I wrote the lyrics and called him and he said, "Sorry, I was eating a banana." I thought that was funny. I asked if he could do something retro, something like "Life on Mars?" He said [sarcastically], "Sure, I'll just knock off a quick little 'Life on Mars?' for you." We laughed. And then he came and did the show and gave us exactly what Bowie was.

Gervais adds: "Later he was doing a benefit in New York for The High Line [park] and wanted me to do the show in Madison Square Garden. I said yes, "but only if you introduce me." So he came out in a tuxedo, the crowd goes completely crazy, and then, a cappella, he started in with, 'Chubby little loser … Please welcome Ricky Gervais.' " So that's two highlights of my career with the same man."

MORE: Why David Bowie will always be with us

Now, Bowie's Blackstar is set to go straight to No.1 in the UK, and even make his first US chart-topper - while a staggering 13 of his albums are currently in the charts

Meanwhile, it is reported that Bowie was cremated in a quiet ceremony with no friends or family present in New York

Below: The artists that David Bowie inspired

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