David Bowie passed away in January 2016 aged 69, two days after he released his final album Blackstar, and the circumstances around his death were examined in a Autopsy documentary
David Bowie passed away nine years ago and would've been celebrating his 78th birthday today. To pay tribute to the icon, we take a look at his final days and generosity.
He was one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century and sold over 100 million records worldwide during his career. This made him one of the best-selling artists of all time, earning millions throughout his career.
Known for his reinvention of music both audibly and visually, he also became famous as his '70s alter ego Ziggy Stardust. However, his health began to deteriorate while working on his final album, Blackstar, which was released on his 69th birthday on January 8, 2016, just two days before his tragic death on January 10.
Autopsy findings revealed that David had been battling liver cancer for 18 months. He kept his diagnosis private and reportedly only discovered he was terminally ill in the later months of his life.
He died at his home in Lafayette Street, New York, leaving behind his wife, Iman, and his children: Alexandria Zahra Jones and Duncan Jones. Following his death, there was speculation about whether his hedonistic lifestyle contributed to his early demise.
In a documentary titled Autopsy: The Final Hours of David Bowie, US medical expert Dr Michael Hunter discussed the details of the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the multi-award-winning star's passing. He stated: "Despite abusing drugs such as cocaine, and alcohol, he had given both up many years before the end and I believe they played no part in his death," reports the Daily Star.
Dr Hunter, discussing the unique condition of David's eye, known as anisocoria, which he got from a punch during a schoolyard scrap over a girl, hinted at the possibility of an aneurysm. He also dismissed any thoughts of suicide and schizophrenia, which ran in David's family, as factors in his death.
The doc pointed to David's heavy smoking habit, a whopping 60 cigs a day for years, as a potential cause of his liver cancer. Dr Hunter speculated: "Liver cancer is rarely a primary cancer. I have to ask: Did the cancer start in his lungs and migrate to the liver? It's highly possible."
Squashing gossip about assisted suicide, he clarified: "It's possible, of course... but there's no evidence he wanted to cut short his life." He added: "I can see, however, that in Blackstar, Bowie was able to confront his approaching death and deal with it creatively."
Dr Hunter believes David held on just long enough to witness the release of Blackstar before letting go. In his will, Bowie left a fortune of around $100m to his wife Iman and their kids, plus $2m (£1.5m) to his loyal assistant Corinne Schwab and $1m to Marion Skene. His daughter Alexandria got a property and a slice of the estate, while his son Duncan Jones bagged a 25% share too.
The remaining 50% was inherited by Iman, along with his other properties.
English (US) ·