Who can believe it’s been an entire year since the death of one of music’s most-loved superstars? David Bowie passed away following a battle with cancer on January 10, 2016 and, whilst at the time the world was at mourning, his fans didn’t take long to turn things round into a celebration of his life. Looking back on some of the greatest moments of his career, a slew of tributes poured in and Bowie fans across the globe ensured that Bowie’s legacy would be one that was never lost.
Here are just a few moments and quotes from the world who decided the Bowie flame would never go out, as we take a look back at a year without the Starman…
Lady Gaga
Alice Cooper: “The loss of David Bowie will be hard to swallow for everyone. He leaves behind a rich history of musical and cultural experimentation and invention that will rarely be seen again, if ever. He was one of a kind. The man that fell to Earth has gone back to the planet that he came from.”
Elton John: “He had treatment for his illnesses without anyone knowing or anyone saying anything. And that is the mystique of the man, because we know David Bowie the figure, the singer, the outrageous performer, but actually, we don’t know anything about him – and that’s the way it should be in music and should be in any art form whatsoever.”
Marilyn Manson: “All of my nostalgia, instantly turned to awe. I was hearing him sing about fiction as a mask to show his naked soul. This changed my life forever. Every song of his was a way for me to communicate to others. It was a sedative. An arousal. A love letter I could never have written.”
Kanye West: “David Bowie was one of my most important inspirations, so fearless, so creative, he gave us magic for a lifetime.”
Lorde: “I realised I was proud of my spiky strangeness because he had been proud of his. And I know I’m never going to stop learning dances, brand new dances. It’s not going to change, how we feel about him. For the rest of our lives, we’ll always be crashing in that same car.”
Ricky Gervais: “He put my life in colour. He made me believe: You can do anything; you’re a working-class kid in Reading; creativity is freedom. Ability is a poor man’s wealth. I loved everything he did. He never let me down, even at the end. I’ve never seen a more dignified ending.”
Brian May: “He was a fearsome talent, and the loss to Music and Culture from his passing is inestimable. In and out of our lives, always challenging and innovative, and… shocking. But this news is hard to take in. I had no idea he was close to death. Would like to have said something… Very sad. Sincere condolences to his family. But what a life. All hail, David Bowie, Star Man, Hero. RIP.”
Bruce Springsteen
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