David Bowie dies aged 69 after 18-month battle with cancer
David Bowie's publicist has confirmed that the singer has died.
The 69-year-old musician has been battling cancer for the past 18 months.
He released his new album Blackstar last week, on his 69th birthday.
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
A Facebook post said he "died peacefully today surrounded by his family after a courageous 18 month battle with cancer.
"While many of you will share in this loss, we ask that you respect the family’s privacy during their time of grief."
January 10 2016 - David Bowie died peacefully today surrounded by his family after a courageous 18 month battle... https://t.co/ENRSiT43Zy
— David Bowie Official (@DavidBowieReal) January 11, 2016
The 'Starman' hitmaker is credited with being instrumental in the rise of glam rock and also dabbled in a wide range of other genres, including punk, electronica, rock, jungle, techno, dance and soul during his 40-year career.
His breakthrough came in 1972 with the release of 'The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars' and creation of his alter ego Ziggy Stardust.
His first major US success came in 1975 with the number one single 'Fame'.
He turned to acting in 1976 when he played an alien in 'The Man Who Fell to Earth', and he took on a number of other roles, most famously in 'Labyrinth', as well as a well-received stint on Broadway in 1980 as the lead in 'The Elephant Man'.
I just lost a hero. RIP David Bowie.
— Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) January 11, 2016
In 2013 - 10 years after the release of 'Reality' - he shocked the world with a surprise musical comeback, releasing the album 'The Next Day'.
His last tour came with the 2003-2004 'Reality' tour and his final live performance was in 2006.
I grew up listening to and watching the pop genius David Bowie. He was a master of re-invention, who kept getting it right. A huge loss.
— David Cameron (@David_Cameron) January 11, 2016
As well as Duncan, he is also survived by wife Iman and their daughter Alexandria, 15.
:: Five UK number one singles: Space Oddity (1975), Ashes to Ashes (1980), Under Pressure (with Queen – 1981), Let’s Dance (1983) and Dancing in the Street (with Mick Jagger -1985)
:: 13 weeks at number one in the UK singles chart
:: 61 top 40 hits. The first was Space Oddity in September 1969; the most recent was Where Are We Now in January 2013
:: 336 weeks spent in the UK top 40 singles chart
:: Nine UK number one albums. The first was Aladdin Sane in May 1973; the most recent was The Next Day in March 2013
:: 599 weeks in the UK top 40 album chart, including 23 at number one
:: 140 million – estimated worldwide record sales, enough to make him one of the top 10 biggest-selling UK artists of all time
:: Seven million – copies sold of Let’s Dance, Bowie’s biggest-selling album
:: Two – number of Brit awards, in 1984 and 2014. Both were for Best British Male. Bowie also won one Grammy award in 1985 and one Ivor Novello award in 1969
:: One – number of qualifications Bowie achieved at school: a single O-level in art
