Singer David Bowie, who had only released his latest album, Blackstar, on his birthday on Friday, has died at the age of 69 from cancer.
An official statement 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.’
Bowie, one of the country’s most influential musicians, was born David Jones in 1947 and lived at 40 Stansfield Road in Brixton. He moved to Bromley with his family when he was six, and the character Ziggy Stardust was born while he was living in Beckenham.
4 ways to celebrate Bowie’s south London legacy
1 The Brixton mural
Many fans have been paying tribute to Bowie at the popular Tunstall Road mural in Brixton, on the side of Morley’s department store. Painted by Australian street artist James Cochran, it caused a stir among local fans last year when it was covered up by an advertisement.
2 The Glam Messiah print
Head to The Flood Gallery, in Greenwich, where you can pick up this fantastic limited-edition silkscreen print, signed by Justin Hampton (£35), called Glam Messiah.
3 Use Brixton’s local currency
Embrace Brixton’s local currency, the Brixton Pound, which features David Bowie alongside other influential Brixtonites. The currency was designed by local design agency This Ain’t Rock’n’Roll, and are available to buy from the Brixton Pound Shop at 3 Atlantic Road SW9 8HX) or various issuing points, or online here.
4 Visit the place where it all began
A plaque on the wall of Zizzi’s restaurant on Beckenham High Street honours pop legend David Bowie. The side of the restaurant, formerly the Three Tuns pub where Bowie started a creative arts scene, became known as the Beckenham Arts Lab in 1969. The plaque was first erected by Bowie-enthusiast Cliff Walker, but was removed two years later when the pub, then called the Rat and Parrot, was sold and the building was left derelict. It was reinstated in 2010.
Watch Blackstar
Bowie released his new album, Blackstar, just days before his death. Watch the video for the first single from the album here:
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