David Bowie, whose song “Heroes” became a sports anthem around the world, died Sunday, two days after his 69th birthday and the release of an album, “Blackstar.”
“David Bowie died peacefully today surrounded by his family after a courageous 18 month battle with cancer,” a statement posted on the singer’s social media accounts read. “While many of you will share in this loss, we ask that you respect the family’s privacy during their time of grief.”
Reaction from the sports world came almost as swiftly as news of Bowie’s death did.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, whose team is preparing for Wednesday’s Premier League match with Liverpool, told The Independent: “I am a fan of his music. The message he gave to my generation was important — be strong enough to be yourself.”
Soccer legend David Beckham and Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton also posted tributes to Bowie on social media.
Bowie, born David Jones in 1947 in London, broke on to the music scene in 1969 with his hit “Space Oddity,” a tale of a spaceman named Major Tom who’s lost in space. His 1972 album, “The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars,” confirmed Bowie’s status as a rock force, and the Ziggy Stardust persona became his signature for some years. Bowie shifted personas throughout the years, though, going from Ziggy to The Thin White Duke (among others), and he also acted in TV and film, most famously starring as Jareth the Goblin King in the 1986 movie “Labyrinth.”
Bowie is survived by his second wife, supermodel Iman, and two children, Lexi Jones and Duncan Jones.
Thumbnail photo via Snopes.com
