Legendary British rock star David Bowie, who framed hits such as Ziggy Stardust with daringly androgynous displays of sexuality and glittering costumes, has died aged 69 after a secret battle with cancer.
A chameleon and a visionary, Bowie straddled the worlds of hedonistic rock, fashion and drama for five decades, pushing the boundaries of music and his own sanity to produce some of the most innovative songs of his generation.
“David Bowie died peacefully surrounded by his family after a courageous 18-month battle with cancer,” read a statement on Bowie’s Facebook page dated Sunday. Bowie’s son, Duncan Jones, confirmed the death.
Mourners laid flowers and lit candles beside a memorial to Bowie in the Brixton area of south London where he was born, and tributes poured in from some of the biggest names in music, including the Rolling Stones, Madonna and rapper Kanye West.
“The Rolling Stones are shocked and deeply saddened to hear of the death of our dear friend David Bowie,” the Stones said. “He was an extraordinary artiste, and a true original.”
Madonna said on Twitter: “Talented. Unique. Genius. Game Changer. The Man who Fell to Earth. Your Spirit Lives on Forever!”
Prime Minister David Cameron said he had grown up with Bowie’s music and described his death as “a huge loss”.
In a music video accompanying Bowie’s new Blackstar album, which was released on his 69th birthday last Friday, the singer was shown in a hospital bed with bandages around his eyes.
Born David Jones in south London two years after the end of World War II, he took up the saxophone at 13 before changing his name to David Bowie to avoid confusion with the Monkees’ Davy Jones, according to Rolling Stone.
He shot to fame in Britain in 1969 with Space Oddity, whose lyrics he said were inspired by watching Stanley Kubrick’s film 2001: A Space Odyssey while stoned.
Bowie’s hollow lyrics summed up the loneliness of the Cold War space race between the US and the Soviet Union and coincided with the Apollo landing on the moon.
“Ground Control to Major Tom. Take your protein pills and put your helmet on ...  For here am I sitting in my tin can. Far above the world. Planet Earth is blue. And there’s nothing I can do.”
But it was Bowie’s 1972 portrayal of a doomed bisexual rock envoy from space, Ziggy Stardust, that propelled him to global stardom. Bowie and Ziggy, wearing outrageous costumes, makeup and bright orange hair, took the rock world by storm.