Rock Star David Bowie Succumbs To Cancer Aged 69

Singer David Bowie, one of the most influential musicians of his era, has died of cancer at the age of 69. A statement was issued on his social media accounts, saying he “died peacefully, surrounded by his family” after an “18-month battle with cancer”.

Tributes have been paid from around the world to the extraordinary artist whose last album was released days ago. Sir Paul McCartney described him as a “great star” who “played a very strong part in British musical history”. Hundreds of fans have gathered in his birthplace of Brixton, south London, to pay tribute to the singer, laying flowers and candles at his mural and taking part in an impromptu sing-along of his hits.

There have also been crowds outside his New York home and in Berlin where he lived in the late 1970s. Bowie’s son Duncan Jones, who is a Bafta-winning film director, wrote on Twitter: “Very sorry and sad to say it’s true. I’ll be offline for a while. Love to all