David Bowie has died

[jmjones]

I nearly went into shock this morning. My teenage years were punctuated by this man's music, and it went on from there. This feels like the end of a favourite track on my life's album. RIP David.

 

[spiny norman]

I remember you mentioning downloading the hi-res Blackstar album last Friday in the ... "What's your first purchase of 2016 going to be?" thread.

Yes, and now it all makes sense.

 

[Daz B]

Such a sad day and such a massive loss, He was a real true pop icon / legend.

 

[tonky]

I remember my very first hearing of Space Oddity on the radio when I was a teenager and thinking what a beautiful and unique sounding piece of music it was. So much of David Bowie's music has a longevity to it which equals and surpasses many other iconic bands/musicians of that musical era.

RIP Starman - tonky

 

[Q5]

Don't forget, he had many other talents as well, acting and his passion for art.

I recently downloaded the Five Years (1969 - 1973) remastered album set.

A childhood hero of mine, may you rest in peace.

 

[Mr. Iceman]

Truly shocking news. Rest in peace David Bowie, and thank you.

 

[Xanderzdad]

I heard it on the radio while half asleep / half awake at 6:50 this morning. I was hoping I'd dreamt it, until I checked Breaking News on BBC's website. I''ve not been this shocked by the sudden loss of a much admired icon since Mercury died in 1991 the day after announcing he had aids.

That state of disbelief is what happened to us when we heard just after 7 via social media. We were really hoping it it would turn out to be a hoax. Had no idea he was ill. I also echo your sentiments about Freddie Mercury being the last 'great' artist to die.

 

[MUSICRAFT]

RIP David

 

[manicm]

Brian Eno's last response from Bowie 3 days ago ended with the greeting 'dawn'. He only now realizes what it meant. Also the song title I Can't Give Everything Away was probably a hint.

Low and Heroes were some of my favorite Bowie albums, apart from the obvious ones. Scary Monsters ironically saw himself as a washed up superstar, only to hit pop gold, commercially at least, with next album Let's Dance.

And I'm sure he is dancing right now.

 

[BIGBERNARDBRESSLAW]

I feel incredibly sad. A genuine legend of popular music. Very, very sad day.

Just to follow up. I've been listening to 6 Music all day, and I've been surprised at just how upset I am, and how upset listening to the songs has made me. I've never ever felt so damn sad when a musician has died before, and I guess I hadn't realised just how special he was.

I think we've lost the greatest artist in the history of music, certainly modern music, and there is a void that can never be filled.

 

[Pedro2]

Something from my childhood has just disappeared like one of the houses or schools I grew up in being demolished. Quite an odd feeling I've never really had before at the passing of a music icon. It seems a bit more 'personal' this time. Can't explain very well.

+1
Remember first hearing him on vinyl way back in 1974 in the sixth form common room at school along with the likes of The Doors and Led Zep. I'm presently feeling my age and rather sad

 

[steve_1979]

Just to follow up. I've been listening to 6 Music all day, and I've been surprised at just how upset I am, and how upset listening to the songs has made me. I've never ever felt so damn sad when a musician has died before, and I guess I hadn't realised just how special he was.

Me too. Usually when someone famous dies I think that it's sad but without really feeling anything but with Bowie it really does feel sad.

 

[plastic penguin]

I feel incredibly sad. A genuine legend of popular music. Very, very sad day.

Just to follow up. I've been listening to 6 Music all day, and I've been surprised at just how upset I am, and how upset listening to the songs has made me. I've never ever felt so damn sad when a musician has died before, and I guess I hadn't realised just how special he was.

I think we've lost the greatest artist in the history of music, certainly modern music, and there is a void that can never be filled.

Agreed.

This is one surreal day.

 

[steve_1979]

Darkstar is an interesting album and very fitting for today. I doubt I'll ever listen to it again though.

 

[steve_1979]

I think a large part of it is because apart from him being a huge talented legend of a rock star he was also a damn nice bloke as well.

 

[plastic penguin]

True. He was also very English (British). Not only a great singer/songwriter but a wonderful artist. He invented reinvention. A true original.

 

[drummerman]

Personally, I have to admit I did not like too much of his music, some exceptions.

However, he was influental to many people.

 

[radiorog]

Was listening to darkstar last night. One lyric made me double take, in dollar days, he sings "I'm dying to", but its the way he sings the first two words. An honest and exceptional artist to the end. It wasn't just his music either, but the way he lived his life was just as influential, and hard to emulate. RIP Sir ✴ X

 

[steve_1979]

 

[richardw42]

If you're ever sad, just remember the earth is 4.543 billion years old and you somehow managed to exist at the same time as David Bowie.

(A post from FB)

 

[Thompsonuxb]

Although his music was outside my personal musical sphere - this is sad news.

On the Countown re-run this morning at 6am on CH4 the host paid tribute to him on his 68th birthday.

7am came the announcement, I have to say it took me back abit.

RIP

 

[AEJim]

I think what stood out to me from all the airplay of Bowie's music yesterday is just how much good music he'd made. I may have been lucky but I rarely heard the same tracks outside a couple of the usual suspects such as Life on Mars or Starman.

I'm not quite old enough (born in '76) to have been around for his "Golden Years" (sorry) and I've never been what I'd consider a serious fan as such, but it did make me realise and remember how much of his music I've loved and listened to over the years. Tracks such as Sorrow, China Girl and Modern Love don't get as much recognition as some of his hits but are a few of my favourites, even the skit he did with Ricky Gervais on Extras was an instant classic.

Hopefully the coverage will encourage more of the younger generation to revisit his music and gain an appreciation of a true musical great.

 

[iMark]

Yesterday we played a couple of Bowie albums and the Mrs. and me tried to answer the question which could be the best produced and most coherent of all his albums. For me it's "Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)" from 1980. Of all his albums, this one works particularly well from start to finish. It's also very well produced and has some of the best guitar playing you will ever hear by Robert Fripp.

Another great album soundwise is the remastered version (2005) of "Stage", originally from 1978. This time it's Adrian Belew starring on lead guitar and we get to hear Dennis Davis at his best on drums. IMHO the Ziggy Stardust songs have never sounded better than on "Stage".

On a personal note, I remember being asked to buy a yellow vinyl copy (a UK pressing) of Stage in my hometown of Haarlem for my cousin's best friend who was (and is) a massive collector of Bowie stuff. In his hometown they only had the blue vinyl (the Dutch pressing) version in stock. I suppose he still has both the yellow and blue vinyl and has never played them.

 

[manicm]

I think what stood out to me from all the airplay of Bowie's music yesterday is just how much good music he'd made. I may have been lucky but I rarely heard the same tracks outside a couple of the usual suspects such as Life on Mars or Starman.

I'm not quite old enough (born in '76) to have been around for his "Golden Years" (sorry) and I've never been what I'd consider a serious fan as such, but it did make me realise and remember how much of his music I've loved and listened to over the years. Tracks such as Sorrow, China Girl and Modern Love don't get as much recognition as some of his hits but are a few of my favourites, even the skit he did with Ricky Gervais on Extras was an instant classic.

Hopefully the coverage will encourage more of the younger generation to revisit his music and gain an appreciation of a true musical great.  ?

 

Modern Love was just terrific, and also This Is Not America although the music was written by Pat Metheny.

 

[plastic penguin]

On a personal note, I remember being asked to buy a yellow vinyl copy (a UK pressing) of Stage in my hometown of Haarlem for my cousin's best friend who was (and is) a massive collector of Bowie stuff. In his hometown they only had the blue vinyl (the Dutch pressing) version in stock. I suppose he still has both the yellow and blue vinyl and has never played them.

I have the picture disc of the LP 'Let's Dance'. Cool looking album but a lot of Bowie's stuff was cool.