Yoko Ono admits David Bowie's death has left a "big empty space" in her life.
Yoko Ono
The 83-year-old musician-and-artist and her late husband John Lennon were good friends with Bowie and Yoko remained very close with the 'Heroes' singer in the wake of The Beatle's murder in 1980.
Yoko was aware that David had been battling cancer but admits his passing in January at the age of 69 still shocked her and she, like many of his friends and family, are still trying to come to terms with his death.
Speaking about David on the red carpet at the NME Awards in London on Wednesday night (17.02.16), she said: "It was terrible, it was such a shock, some of us knew that he was not well. Still when he actually went it's still a big empty space to fill."
Yoko - who was honoured with the Inspiration Award at the bash - also revealed she and John were always close with David because their shared a connection over their artistry.
She told BANG Showbiz: "We understood each other, he was great. David was such a happy person."
Yoko previously described David as being "like family" to her and John and acted as a father figure to their Sean when the 'Imagine' songwriter was gone.
She stated: "John and David respected each other. They were well matched in intellect and talent. As John and I had very few friends we felt David was as close as family.
"When Sean was at boarding school in Switzerland, David would pick him up and take him on trips to museums and let Sean hang out at his recording studio in Geneva. For Sean this is losing another father figure. It will be hard for him, I know. But we have some sweet memories which will stay with us forever."
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