Reaction to David Bowie's death

Summary

David Bowie dies of cancer, spokesman confirms
His son Duncan Jones confirms his father's death on Twitter
Tributes flood in for singer, who died aged 69
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Kev Geoghegan, Emma Saunders, Joel Gunter and Emma Ailes

Florence on 'huge influence'published at 12:30
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More tributes from social mediapublished at 12:15
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Your memories of David Bowiepublished at 12:02
Image source, PA
You've been getting in touch with the BBC to share your memories of David Bowie.
Chris Chappel from Suffolk, is among them. He said: "I had the amazing experience of being tour manager for David Bowie on his Glass Spider, Sound and Vision and Tin Machine tours.
"He was amongst the most charming, creative and talented musicians I had ever worked for in my 30 years on the road."
Read more.
Forever youngpublished at 11:54
Image source, AFP
In a 2003 interview, Bowie said: "It's a struggle to understand how I am no longer 20. I don't know anybody else that this has ever happened to. Most people they get to 20 and then they stay 20. It didn't happen for me though, I just went on and on and on and suddenly I'm 56! So I have to write from this unique perspective of somebody who never stopped being 20, but I went on. Isn't that weird?"
Bowie was "the leader. He was the guv'nor.”published at 11:42
Today Programme
BBC Radio 4
Singer Midge Ure has labelled David Bowie "the guv'nor".
The former Ultravox singer and Live Aid co-founder told the Today programme on Radio 4: “We are all still walking in his slipstream.”
Listen to the interview.
Kasabian's Serge on Bowie's influencepublished at 11:30
Serge from Kasabian spoke to BBC Radio Leicester earlier. The band covered Bowie's Heroes in 2006:
"You just don’t quite believe it when you first see it and then you find out its true and it’s really heart breaking. We’ve lost the greatest ever British artist we’ve ever produced."
He admired how he wasn’t frightened to do something different: “For me it’s the courage he gave us to be creative… he had this way of making you feel like you could do anything."
Angie Bowie 'to be informed' of deathpublished at 11:20
Image source, Getty Images
Celebrity Big Brother producers have confirmed that housemate Angie Bowie, David's first wife and the mother to his director son Duncan, will be informed of the star's death.
Channel 5 said in a statement:
Quote Message
Following the very sad news of David Bowie's death this morning, we can confirm that Angie Bowie will be informed off camera today at the earliest opportunity. We will update further once this has taken place.
The couple were married for 10 years until their divorce in 1980 and she inspired several of his songs.
Image source, Getty Images
Iggy: 'The light of my life'published at 11:11
Image source, Getty Images
Iggy Pop and David Bowie became good friends in the mid-1970s, relocating to Berlin together as Bowie helped write and produce Pop's first two solo albums, while Pop fed into Bowie's albums including Low.
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Ricky Gervaispublished at 10:59
Comedian Ricky Gervais, who managed to persuade Bowie to appear in his TV comedy show Extras, also paid tribute.
Ronson: 'Can't believe he is gone'published at 10:50
Singer Lisa Ronson, whose father Mick Ronson famously played guitar for David Bowie during his Ziggy Stardust phase, told BBC Breakfast she was in shock this morning.
Media caption,
Lisa Ronson daughter of guitarist Mick Ronson, on the death of David Bowie.
...and here is that simple iconic moment that changed pop history.
Media caption,
David Bowie performs Starman on Top of the Pops
Michael Eavis recalls Bowie at Glastonburypublished at 10:37
Image source, PA
Michael Eavis, the founder of the Glastonbury festival, told the BBC News channel about the first of two times that he played at the event.
Quote Message
He came in '71 with lovely, long flowing hair like a hippie, he was fantastically beautiful and nobody knew who he was. He played at four in the morning at sunrise, songs that we’d never heard before and it was great fun. He's one of the three greatest, there is Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley and David Bowie. I was only half awake because I'd been up all night, I thought, 'Who is this fellow?'. I've no idea now what he sang then.
More Twitter tributespublished at 09:53
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Bowie defends long hair in 1964 interviewpublished at 10:09
At the age of 17, David Jones, as he was still known at the time, was interviewed by Cliff Michelmore (who introduced him as 'Davy') for the BBC's Tonight programme, where he extolled the virtue of long hair for men.
Media caption,
A 17-year-old Bowie defended men with long hair on the BBC's Tonight, in 1964
Bowie defends long hair in 1964 interview
At the age of 17, David Bowie was interviewed by Cliff Michelmore for the BBC's Tonight programme.
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6 Music requestspublished at 10:05
Producer Tony Visconti pays tributepublished at 09:49
Image source, Getty Images
Tony Visconti, who collaborated with Bowie on most of his albums, paid tribute on Facebook:
"He always did what he wanted to do. And he wanted to do it his way and he wanted to do it the best way. His death was no different from his life - a work of Art. 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. He was an extraordinary man, full of love and life. He will always be with us. For now, it is appropriate to cry."
'An incredible creative force'published at 09:37
BBC broadcaster "Whispering" Bob Harris, who presented music show The Old Grey Whistle Test, recalled his friendship with Bowie. He was speaking to BBC 5 live.
Quote Message
I first met David in 1967. He was part of a mixed media group called Feathers. David was very into his mime expression at that moment. He was hugely influenced singing-wise by Anthony Newley.
Quote Message
David was an incredible creative force. He was driven, he wanted to make a mark on the world. He was incredibly innovative with his music. The first album, I actually sing on one or two tracks…
Quote Message
There’s something quintessentially English about his music as well, isn’t there, particularly the early days. You know that some artists are going to be very, very special indeed and you just knew that about David. He had a great sense of PR as well. He knew how to get himself noticed.
Quote Message
But he could back it up with just sensational music. I think one of the moments that propelled him – that made possible the phenomenal success that he had – also was his partnership with Mick Ronson. Mick was the rock ‘n’ roll expression of the ideas David had in his head.
Saxophonist on Bowie and Blackstarpublished at 09:28
Saxophonist Donny McCaslin worked with Bowie on his latest album, Blackstar. Speaking on Friday, the day the album was released, he told BBC 5live the musician "couldn't have been more gracious and encouraging".
Media caption,
Saxophonist Donny McCaslin says collaborating with the Starman on Blackstar was 'great'
Marc Almond 'in tears'published at 09:21
Singer Marc Almond, the former frontman of Soft Cell, told the BBC News channel that he "was in tears this morning".
"A lot of the lyrics on the album (Blackstar) now seem quite prophetic... it's an enormous loss.
"David Bowie taught me more than my teachers did at school.
"He was a real world changer."
Madonna pays tribute to 'genius'published at 09:07
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More Twitter tributespublished at 09:03
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Summary

Live Reporting

Bowie defends long hair in 1964 interview