Ten years ago this week, David Bowie turned 69, released his 26th album, Blackstar – and then exited the stage for good when he died on 10 January. Unbeknown to fans, or indeed many of his friends, the British musician had been suffering from liver cancer. His death, many theorised, was as artful as his life. “It sounds like Bowie stepping into the light as his body falls apart – like one of the pioneers of pop-star reinvention on a vision quest for one last metamorphosis,” wrote Stereogum critic Chris DeVille in a new retrospective piece on the album. “It made for a perplexing, astonishing finale.”
His extraordinary life – from his 60s beginnings as Davy Jones through to building one of the most diverse and influential catalogues in the history of rock – is the subject of similarly diverse celebrations this weekend, from heady to hedonistic. Fans can listen to a plethora of radio programming: BBC Radio 6 Music’s Bowie Forever season continues today and over the weekend with contributions from artists including Henry Rollins, St Vincent, Brett Anderson of Suede, Tilda Swinton, Neil Tennant of Pet Shop Boys, Christine and the Queens and Iggy Pop.
