Brixton Street Party Tribute To Starman Bowie

From the International Space Station to the Vatican, the death of singer and style icon David Bowie has drawn tributes from a wide spectrum of high-profile figures.

Musicians, actors, fashion designers, politicians and clerics have thanked him for his 'inspirational' work as well as offering personal reflections.

On learning the news of his death aged 69 , famous names described it is a "black day" and spoke of their "loss of a hero".

Bowie's son Duncan Jones confirmed his loss on Twitter and wrote: "Very sorry and sad to say it's true. I'll be offline for a while. Love to all."

The artist, known for hits such as Starman and Life On Mars, died peacefully on Sunday surrounded by his family after an 18-month battle with cancer.

His wife, the model Iman, tweeted on Saturday: "sometimes you will never know the true value of a moment until it becomes a memory."

Fans left flowers at a mural to Bowie in Brixton, London, where he grew up, and there were similar scenes in the US where candles were placed on his star at the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

He released his 25th album, called Blackstar, on Friday 8 January, to coincide with his 69th birthday and the recording was described as a "parting gift".

Space Oddity and Blackstar producer, Tony Visconti, said: "He always did what he wanted to do. And he wanted to do it his way and he wanted to do it the best way. His death was no different from his life - a work of Art.

"He made Blackstar for us, his parting gift. I knew for a year this was the way it would be. I wasn't, however, prepared for it. He was an extraordinary man, full of love and life. He will always be with us. For now, it is appropriate to cry."

The Rolling Stones said they were "shocked and deeply saddened to hear of the death of our dear friend David Bowie", in a statement on Twitter:

"As well as being a wonderful and kind man, he was an extraordinary artist, and a true original," they added.

The band's frontman Sir Mick Jagger, who teamed up with Bowie in 1985 for Dancing in the Street, said: "David was always an inspiration to me and a true original.

"He was wonderfully shameless in his work. We had so many good times together... He was my friend. I will never forget him."

Iggy Pop described Bowie as "the light of my life". He wrote: "I never met such a brilliant person. He was the best there is."

Sir Paul McCartney said he would "treasure the moments" he and Bowie shared together.

"His music played a very strong part in British musical history and I'm proud to think of the huge influence he has had on people all around the world," he wrote on his blog.

"I send my deepest sympathies to his family and will always remember the great laughs we had through the years. His star will shine in the sky forever."

And Queen lead guitarist Brian May tweeted: "All hail, David Bowie, Star Man, Hero. RIP. Very sad."

He said he was finding the news "hard to take in", describing Bowie as a "fearsome talent".

"I had no idea he was close to death. Would like to have said something ...," he wrote on his blog, Bri's Soapbox.

The rock band's drummer Roger Taylor added: "The cleverest and most interestingly brilliant man of our time. What a vacuum he leaves, and how he will be missed."

The band and Bowie recorded Under Pressure together in 1981, which reached No.1 in the UK singles chart.

Music producer Brian Eno said: "David's death came as a complete surprise, as did nearly everything else about him. I feel a huge gap now."

Singer Marc Almond tweeted: "It's not often I truly cry at the loss of an artist but I'm devastated. He meant so much. Goodbye David Bowie and our youth. We loved you. X"

Minutes later he added: "There will never be another that comes close. It's too much. Just can't take it in. Black day!"

Rock pioneers The Pixies tweeted an undated picture featuring the late musician sitting around a sofa joined by the likes of Foo Fighters founder Dave Grohl, Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan and The Cure's Robert Smith.

The caption read: "A true Inspiration".

The German government on Monday credited Bowie with "helping to bring down" the Berlin Wall.

A message on its foreign office Twitter account read: "Good-bye, David Bowie. You are now among #Heroes. Thank you for helping to bring down the #wall."

Gene Simmons, from rock band Kiss, was one of many musicians to cite Bowie's influence on their careers.

He tweeted: "David Bowie, you will be sorely missed. Bowie's 'Changes' and the Ziggy story songs were a major influence for me."

Pop singer Madonna said she was "devastated" by Bowie's death. She wrote on Twitter: "I'm devastated" This great Artist changed my life! First concert i ever saw in Detroit! R.IP. #rebelheart

"Talented . Unique. Genius. Game Changer. The Man who Fell to Earth. Your Spirit Lives on Forever! #rebelheart"

Posting a picture of the pair together, she added: "So lucky to have met you!!!! Hot Tramp I love you So! #rebelheart"

Bowie influenced not only the careers of some artists but their style, too.

Fashion designer Jean Paul Gaultier, who visited the touring 'David Bowie is' exhibition at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London a few years ago, said: "David Bowie was an absolute Rock Star. He transcended the eras, influencing them and sometimes even creating them musically, intellectually and as a humanly.

"Personally he inspired me by his creativity, his extravagance, his sense of fashion(s) that he was constantly reinventing, by his allure, his elegance and his play on gender."

Tommy Hilfiger hailed Bowie a "true style icon" on Instagram.

Glastonbury Festival's Facebook page carried images of the icon - who performed there in 1971 and 2000 - with the message: "Thank you David Bowie for all the magic and memories."

Prime Minister David Cameron said: "I grew up listening to and watching the pop genius David Bowie. He was a master of re-invention, who kept getting it right. A huge loss."

Former PM Tony Blair, who described himself as huge Bowie fan and saw his Ziggy Stardust concert as a student, said in a statement it was "a great privilege when I got to meet him later in life".

His former spokesman and Number 10 spin doctor Alastair Campbell said it was only one of the two times he ever saw Mr Blair star-struck.

The Vatican also paid tribute to the superstar with Gianfranco Ravasi, Cardinal and head of its Culture Council, posting lyrics from Bowie's Space Oddity on Twitter: "Ground Control to Major Tom Commencing countdown, engines on Check ignition and may God's love be with you (David Bowie)"

Radio 1 DJ Tony Blackburn described Bowie as an "amazing showman". He told Sky News: "He was quite unique - you never quite knew what you were going to get. He was always reinventing himself."

Bowie biographer Mary Finnigan, who the singer lived with as a lodger between April and September 1969, described him as a "kind and thoughtful person", who was very dedicated to his career.

She told Sky News: "While he lived with me, he composed a lot of music. Me and my children were witnesses to an extraordinary process, it was one song written after another which appeared after his second album."

Director Guillermo del Toro tweeted: "Bowie existed so all of us misfits learned that an oddity was a precious thing. he changed the world forever."

Chris Hadfield, the former commander of the International Space Station who recorded a video of a version of Bowie's Space Oddity during his final mission in 2013, tweeted: "Ashes to ashes, dust to stardust. Your brilliance inspired us all. Goodbye Starman."

Actor Russell Crowe, referencing one of Bowie's better known singles which featured on covers album Pin Ups 1973, wrote: "RIP David. I loved your music. I loved you. One of the greatest performance artists to have ever lived. #sorrow"

Golden Globes host, comedian and actor Ricky Gervais, who convinced his long-time idol Bowie to star as himself - and ridicule Gervais - in an episode of 2006 sitcom Extras, wrote that he had "just lost a hero".

Fellow comedian Eddie Izzard said the 69-year-old artist would "live forever through his music"

Izzard urged every radio station around the globe to just play Bowie's music today. "I think the world owes him that," he tweeted.

Singer Alison Moyet hailed Bowie as "our greatest, gone and here forever". "A world's heart breaks," she added.

Fellow artist Pharrell Williams described Bowie as a "true innovator" and a "true creative".

Actor Mark Ruffalo wrote: "Rip Father of all us freaks. Sad sad day. Love always Legendary singer David Bowie dies at 69."