David Bowie [“Lazarus”-last work] Dead at 69
Rock and roll legend David Bowie has died just two days after his 69th birthday. The visionary music star passed away on Sunday after a long battle with cancer, according to NBC News on Monday. He had just released his 47th recording to very good reviews from the music critics and the public. The final work was called “Blackstar.”
Bowie was born David Jones on Jan. 8, 1947. He was an English songwriter, singer, musical instrument performer, and record producer. Additionally, he was known as a painter and an actor. He was considered an innovator during his more than forty years in the music business. In the 1970s and 1980s, the height of his long career, he was known very well for his iconic image. From “Space Oddity” in 1969, he evolved into the glam rock period with his alter ego named Ziggy Stardust. Likely his biggest hit song was the number one song “Fame” in 1975 and the album “Young Americans.” He also had a huge hit called “Let’s Dance” in 1983.
He also had an Off-Broadway show called “Lazarus” in the works, according to a New York Times report. In this show, he is to be honored at Carnegie Hall with a concert featuring the Roots, the Mountain Goats and Cyndi Lauper. The concert which is to be presented by Michael Dorf, will take place on March 31. In that show, other performers will include Jakob Dylan, Bettye LaVette, Ann Wilson of Heart, Farrell, and a host of other musical guests. The event will include a house band that is being organized by Tony Visconti who produced Bowie’s works since “Space Oddity” which was released in 1969.
Among Bowie’s accolades, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996. He was ranked as one of the “100 Greatest Artists of All Time” in 2004 by Rolling Stone. He was listed as number 39. He has sold an estimated 140 million records worldwide. In the U.S. he has had five Platinum certified records and seven Gold certified records.
There were rumours within the industry regarding Bowie's ill health, but his battle with cancer was largely kept private.
The statement on Facebook read: "January 10 2016 - David Bowie died peacefully today surrounded by his family after a courageous 18 month battle with cancer.
His publicist is expected to make a lengthier statement shortly.
Bowie's death comes just two days after he released his 25th and final album '★' (Blackstar).
He released a music video for the track 'Lazarus' taken from it last week, which sees him frail, wrapped in bandages and lying on a hospital bed.
"Look up here, I'm in heaven," he sings. "I've got scars, that can't be seen."
The video ends with Bowie shakily writing a note before walking into a dark armoire that stands beside the bed.
Bowie’s son, Duncan Jones, paid tribute to his father on Twitter before retiring from the internet to grieve.
Kanye West tweeted: "David Bowie was one of my most important inspirations, so fearless, so creative, he gave us magic for a lifetime."
Golden Globes host, Ricky Gervais, who brought Bowie on board for his sitcom Extras, wrote that he had "just lost a hero," while comedian Eddie Izzard said the artist would "live forever through his music".
Known for his fierce creativity and bold transformations both in terms of identity and aesthetics, Bowie was one of the most influential men in rock. He won two Grammy awards and had nine albums go platinum in the UK.
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