David Bowie dies aged 69 following secret 18-month battle with cancer

MUSIC legend David Bowie has died after a battle with cancer.

By Rory McKeown / Published 11th January 2016

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LEGEND: David Bowie

The 69-year-old's death was confirmed on his website.
A statement issued on his Facebook said: "David Bowie 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."

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CONFIRMATION: David Bowie's Facebook page broke the news

His son Duncan Jones posted the news on his Twitter account.

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LEGEND: David Bowie as Ziggy Stardust in 1972

Tributes have been pouring in since news of his death emerged.
Prime Minister David Cameron tweeted Bowie's death is a "huge loss".

Rap star Kanye West said Bowie was one of his "most important inspirations" and "gave us magic for a lifetime".
Comedian Ricky Gervais, who starred alongside Bowie in Extras, tweeted: "I just lost a hero. RIP David Bowie."
Britain's own spaceman Tim Peake said: "Saddened to hear David Bowie lost his battle with cancer – his music was an inspiration to many."

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ICON: David Bowie performing at the Isle of Wight Festival

The Space Oddity singer released his 28th studio album Blackstar to critical acclaim on January 8.
Born David Robert Jones in Brixton in 1947, Bowie's career spanned five decades as he became one of the most iconic musicians of all time.
He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996.
He was married to Angie Bowie from 1970 to 1980 before marrying model Iman Abdulmajid in 1992.
Throughout his extensive career he worked with the likes of Queen, Mick Jagger and John Lennon.

Bowie, son to mother Margaret "Peggy" and charity worker Haywood "John" Jones, formed a number of bands after turning 16 which led to a groupd calling himself Davy Jones.
He changed his name to David Bowie – inspired by a knife developed by the 19th century American pioneer Jim Bowie – to avoid confusion with the Monkees' Davy Jones.
The Life on Mars singer released his debut album The World of David Bowie but retreated to a Buddhist monastery in Scotland in 1967 after the album failed to gain success.
He released Space Oddity on July 11 in 1969 and reached international stardom with The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars in 1972.
Bowie's work with Lennon on Fame earned him his first US number one in 1975.
Albums Low, Heroes and Lodger followed before he combined his music career with films in the 1980s.

David Bowie: 1947 - 2016

Monday, 11th January 2016

David Bowie died today after an 18 month battle with cancer

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HERO: David Bowie was famous for songs such as Heroes, Life on Mars and Absolute Beginners

His starring role in the 1986 fantasy film Labyrinth is widely considered as a cult classic.
In 2003 he released solo album Reality to critical praise and followed it with the Mercury Music Prize nominated The Next Day – missing out to James Blake.

The video to Lazarus, the last single released before his death, features Bowie in a hospital bed with a bandage covering his eyes.
The disturbing video may have foretold his impending death.