Rock legend and fashion icon David Bowie dies at 69: A look at his flamboyant costumes [PHOTOS+VIDEO]
Rock legend David Bowie, who inspired performers like Madonna and Lady Gaga, will always be remembered for the music he made. His music was a blend of rock, cabaret, jazz and something that he described as "plastic soul.” The artist is also known for his soulful music.
The cult singer and songwriter, who taught generations of musicians about the power of drama, images and personas, died on Sunday. His death was confirmed by his publicist, Steve Martin, on Monday morning. He died two days after his 69th birthday when his last album “Blackstar” was released.
He died after an 18-month battle with cancer, according to a statement on the legend’s social-media accounts. “David Bowie died peacefully today surrounded by his family,” a post on his Facebook page read. “Blackstar” was a mix of a jazz quintet that was typically enigmatic and exploratory and was released on Friday.
The style icon is known for pushing boundaries with his provocative and over-the-top outfits, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Married to model Iman for the last 20 years, Bowie was a fashion force to reckon with.
He was born David Robert Jones on Jan. 8, 1947, in South London. In the late 1960s he emerged with the voice of a rock singer but with the sensibility of a cabaret singer, steeped in the dynamics of stage musicals, NYT reports. He was Major Tom, the lost astronaut in his career-making 1969 hit “Space Oddity.” He made famous Ziggy Stardust, the otherworldly pop star at the centre of his 1972 album “The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars.”
He also belted some of his greatest works in Berlin in the 1970s including “Low,” “Heroes” and “Lodger.” Bowie was to be honoured with a concert at Carnegie Hall featuring the Roots, Cyndi Lauper and the Mountain Goats on March 31.
His most memorable role in films was as an alien in the 1976 Nicolas Roeg directed “Man Who Fell To Earth.” He also appeared in the 1983 film “The Hunger” with Catherine Deneuve and Susan Sarandon. His famous “Starman” tune is features in the Golden Globe winning film “The Martian” directed by Ridley Scott.
Watch his last work here:
[Source: YouTube/DavidBowieVEVO]
