Countless tributes, memories and condolences have followed the death of music legend David Bowie, 69, this week. We’ve learned so much about the man who changed our music, pop culture, fashion and culture. We were also gifted with his final album, which he planned for fans right before he passed. Bowie was thoughtful, and he prepared his last days in a way that would make an impact. Still, he didn’t want a fuss made over him. The Mirror reports that Bowie has been cremated and that he didn’t want to have a big funeral, he just wanted us to remember him by his music. His family has issued a statement asking for privacy and revealing that they will have a ceremony for him but no officially sanctioned public memorial.
THANK YOU
The family of David Bowie is currently making arrangements for a private ceremony celebrating the memory of their beloved husband, father and friend.
They ask once again that their privacy be respected at this most sensitive of times.
We are overwhelmed by and grateful for the love and support shown throughout the world.
However, it is important to note that while the concerts and tributes planned for the coming weeks are all welcome, none are official memorials organized or endorsed by the family.
Just as each and every one of us found something unique in David’s music, we welcome everyone’s celebration of his life as they see fit.
[From David Bowie’s official Facebook]
You get the sense that Bowie had it all mapped out and that he was productive and thoughtful up until the end. I’m reminded of the huge memorial for Michael Jackson and I wonder if Bowie saw that and realized he didn’t want his fans to celebrate him in any kind of formal way, just in their own unique way, with a relationship to his music that we’ve listened to all our lives. As you’ve probably heard (and as Kaiser reported yesterday), Bowie’s music has broken Vevo and Internet records with 51 million views on the day after his death, making him the most watched artist in a day. So many people are celebrating and mourning him all over the world.
Here’s a huge crowd in Brixton, England (where Bowie was born), at a memorial for Bowie all singing Space Oddity. Goosebumps and tears.
This is the picture Bowie’s family used along with their statement on Facebook. I love it.
photos are of memorials at Bowie’s former homes in Berlin and NY and in Brixton where he was born. Photos credit: WENN.com and FameFlynet
Good strategy. Hope they are left alone by the press for their private memorial. They don’t owe the fans a sponsored memorial, and who would want to given that they lost a love one, and to be honest there are enough memorials that they don’t need to.
He was so beautiful. I’m gutted this week.
I don’t know how I will ever be used to hearing that David Bowie and Alan Rickman are dead.
I don’t either… I’ve never really been big on celeb crushes, but I actively loved Alan and Bowie for decades. I admire both for keeping their illnesses private. It says a lot about their character and makes their passing all the more sad and shocking. 😔
Singing tunelessly at the top of your voice and laughing at the most tuneless amongst you is a MILLION MILES better than flowers and candles.
That’s all I’ve got cos I might get snivelly otherwise.
It is a very cathartic celebration of the joy that is life
And you can really feel their joy in that video, can’t you?
Complete joy of an amazing life. No pity. Just being glad they lived.
We are hosting a second line funeral procession in honor of the great Bowie, down here in New Orleans on Sunday. They will march, umbrellas and bugle in hand, down through the French Quarter in celebration of his life. It’s our way of showing love to those who have left a foot print in our lives and especially those who make a mark on the world with their music.
I think there’s something to be said about wanting to keep things low key. I’ve told my family that when the day comes, I don’t want a funeral. Just think of me warmly.
My father (still living and healthy) told me how he wants his funeral: we have to go to his favourite restaurant, have a nice dinner, and keep one place for him, with a glass of champagne, he wants his glass to be always full. “Keep an eye on it”.
He wants us to celebrate his life.
It’s nice.
While every year the day of my late grandma’s death I organize a dinner with friends: I cook one of her recepies it takes me one or two days (Italian grandma would approve), it’s a tradition for me, my friends, and a beautiful tribute to her.
I think that’s lovely. That’s how it should be. Think of your loved one, do something that they would appreciate to honor them. It’s respectful and loving. I don’t want my loved ones sad or mournful . I want tears of happiness when they get together. Like you said. Have a nice meal and swap stories.
The first anniversary of my dad’s passing is coming up, and I think I’ll do something like you are doing for your grandmother. I want to remember happier times and not be dragged down by those who really weren’t close or concerned, but want to convince me they were.
That’s lovely, Eleonor.
I’ve made it a tradition to go have Posole, (Mexican food) at a place I took my mom to, on the anniversary of her passing. For such a tiny woman, she sure loved to eat! lol It’s only been 2 years now, but I will keep it up.
That sounds so lovely and non-stressful.
That’s exactly what I want, and what I did for my parents. It went against the local tradition of a lengthy visitation and public funeral, but I have no regrets.
I was completely exhausted from trying to work and provide care, and the thought of standing around for hours receiving people was too much. I suspect private / no memorials will be much more prevalent within a decade or so. I have had several people (including elderly folks) tell me they want the same type of low key memorial as what my parents had. Everyone can remember in their own way. I don’t feel it’s up to the immediate family to host a public event.
My mom just passed away and there was a service for her. I didn’t attend. I loved my mother and we would talk about four times a day we were so close. I just couldn’t bear the thought of having strangers or family members I haven’t talked to in years coming up to me wanting to talk. I have her ashes and I’ll be doing something privately. When a loved one passes away it’s such an emotionally draining time.
Aims, please accept my sympathy for your loss. I completely understand your feelings. When people (including relatives) don’t make the effort to stay in contact, their attempts at sympathy can seem very hollow.
Thank you christin. I agree, after not keeping in contact with someone in years then acting like we’re close, doesn’t sit well with me.
I slept through my dad’s wake as it certainly was emotionally draining.
You just don’t have the energy to deal with more than grief. I respect this is what they’re doing.
And reading your comments i’ve found them all to be lovely 🙂
And that video… So beautiful and so sad.
My mum was queen of general knowledge and, after a short humanist service, we had a daft quiz at her funeral and gave the “winners” a certificate that said, “Yes, yes, but you still know less than Sixer Mater”. Sounds disrespectful now I come to type it out, but it was actually lovely.
Doesn’t sound disrespectful at all. What better way to honor her memory than doing something that’s fun and participatory. An activity she would have enjoyed had she been alive.
I Choose Me
I agree.
Sixer
Sounds like a lovely celebration of her humor and personality.
I also plan on being cremated and told my children (and I will put in down in writing, legally) that I don’t want any type of service or burial. Instead have a party and enjoy. Then take my ashes and spread them in the creek I have lived by for all but 4 years of my life (the first four). I had a service for my mom, that is what she would have wanted. But I went against some traditions as she loved daisies and so instead of the traditional rose spray on the casket, I had a gerber daisy spray, mostly red, on it. Also, dressed her in red because that was her favorite color. I do not want my children or grandchildren to go through what I went through with my dad. I had an aunt who badgered me for 30 minutes to touch my dad and why hadn’t I touched my dad (I was 22, devastated by watching him die of cancer for 3 months and was barely holding it together). Glad they are keeping it private, just as Bowie would want it.
I’ve requested the same thing from PunkyDaddy: roast me twice – cremate me and then throw a party laughing about me.
No embalming. No viewing. Sent me back into the Cosmic Soup ASAP.
Truly a one-of-a-kind class act to the end. RIP, David.
Bon voyage Beautiful Alien.
I really respect his family.
They have dealt with the tragedy so well.
In NOLA, Preservation Hall and Arcade Fire (i think 2 band members live here part time now) are hosting a second line for Bowie in the French Quarter on Saturday.
I couldn’t sleep last night and put on Blackstar. It was magnificent listening to it in a whole new light than I did last weekend before the sad and shocking news, and there had been enough days for that news to sink in. It was so hard trying to listen to it on Monday or Tuesday.
All week I’ve been reading tributes from other artists or even comments posted by nonfamous people who had interacted with him over the years, and he really was just a kind and gracious guy with a great sense of humor. He certainly didn’t travel around with an “entourage.”
This is a wonderful article by Henry Rollins.
http://www.laweekly.com/music/fanatics-i-am-trying-to-face-a-world-without-david-bowie-6485052
Rock on , David.
I know in bones Bowie had to have been holding on, as the very, very ill are capable of — and as each of my grandparents did for separate family events or milestones they had reasons to be there for — for his album release and birthday. Afterwards he let himself let himself go. Sorry for the poor grammar. I’m all teared up after the photos and video. But the sick have a shocking strength to be there for healthy when the healthy need them to share an experience with most. Then they can go peacefully. I hope Bowie went in peace.
Sniveling.
And his sold-out off-Broadway play, Lazarus, that he collaborated on and wrote the music and managed to show up opening night in the first week of December and see his vision come to fruition. T And it also got great reviews.
And the Henry Rollins link above was the wrong link. This is the right one that had the full article.
http://www.laweekly.com/music/henry-rollins-bowies-blackstar-is-on-the-level-of-low-and-heroes-6481055
I’ve seen a lot of people pass in my job and it’s so common they appear to hold on for some milestone. And within a week they’ll pass on. More recently my husbands grandfather waited until after christmas. He just wanted 1 more family gathering.
And now i have to leave this thread because i’m crying again….
Before I go.. For what it’s worth. We’re a snarky and judgy bunch, but comments of sharing like these you’re a great batch of people. Wish you all, all the very best in dealing with your losses and lives.
@FLORC – Same here. Wishing peace to all who are dealing with loss of any type and the transition those left must face.
Completely understandable, if the public were aware of a memorial it would close NYC down/become a complete circus. I’m sure fans will find ways to organize their own tributes and memorials, and hopefully respect his family’s privacy at this time.
I am a black woman. I must say, when I saw Iman and David Bowie as a married couple, I started to believe that I can one day be as lucky as she was.. I love interracial love… I wished her and the family the best going through a mourning and dreadful process. My condolences.
They made a beautiful couple. I think they both were lucky to have each other.
He always seemed so in love with her. It never seemed like a fetish. Just so much love and respect for her in his eyes and I absolutely loved it!
Love is love. I’m sure they didn’t put a label on it.
I have such admiration for the the thoughtful way he planned out his death. That takes a special kind of person.
It really does. The way he chose to die speaks to how he lived.
Im not gonna lie I only knew a few Bowie songs but I was a big fan of his relationship with Iman. They looked so beautiful together and it was clear they were very much in love.
It was really sad to hear the news of his death this week. But bc of it, I’ve gone back to listen to more of his music and I’m so enamored with his voice and his songs. I using his art to push me.
I loved so much David Bowie in life and I love him even more now. He was (and he will always be) one of the most brilliant , eccentric , original and freeminded artists of his era and, at the same time, one of the most discreet , elegant and low key.
He was provocative and transgressive , yet I greatly admire the way he always protected his children from the intrusiveness of the press and media. (Madonna, you can learn two o three things here).
Thanks for everything, Mr Bowie
I have had the Best of Bowie on repeat in my car all week long. I tried to buy Labyrinth off of Amazon, but wouldn’t you know that it’s out of stock? I had to download it from Itunes.
I haven’t heard any mention yet of the depressing movie known as ‘Christiane F’.
If anyone cares… its supremely depressing, but Bowie did the soundtrack (that’s why I went, in 1979!) : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christiane_F.
With these 2 sad, sudden deaths this week, there is one thing that was actually nice: both David Bowie and Alan Rickman were able to quietly deal with their illnesses, enjoy time with family and friends, as they wished.
They were able to avoid a media circus and intense scrutiny; there was no invasion of privacy, no hounding by photographers, news teams or fans. They were able to have their private lives, with dignity. The fact that this could happen, to a superstar of Bowie’s stature and someone as immensely popular and well-known as Rickman, is somewhat heart-warming.
I’d like to second all of this. They lived long, full lives, and as someone who was touched by their art, I’m sad that they’re no longer in this world but happy to let them go, and wish that they rest in peace.
Agree . It is wonderful that the few who knew the reality, managed to keep it quiet.
This is the difference between so-called celebrities that will tweet about a hangnail, versus these class acts.
An artist to the end and beyond. I am full of admiration for David Bowie, even more than before. Godspeed.
Long time reader and fan of the site. Never commented. Just wanted to say that his death is the first time I felt real emotion for someone I don’t really know. Shows the power of music/art. Revisiting his 70’s albums this week has left me with an even greater appreciation of him than I originally did in my teens and twenties. Jayna, thanks for the link to the Rollins piece. He seems universally adored from the tributes I’ve read. Have not felt any desire to click on the normal links I read on this site. Most of the people that I won’t name don’t deserve the attention after remembering what a true artistic genius sounds like.
I feel for Iman. That man loved her with everything in him. She must be feeling so lost right now.
While this is obviously sad, I think Bowie achieved artistic immortality. His legacy will carry on the thousands of artist who were inspired by him. His music will live forever. Bowie will not be forgotten.
Thank you for sharing your enormous gifts with the world, David Bowie. It is truly appreciated.
Okay. I really teared up. Yet, parts were beautiful showing his grace and humor and artistic passion going strong, all while being very ill undergoing treatment with good and bad days. His collaborator on his two music videos and his collaborators on his off-Broadway play talk about Bowie during this period.
http://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/jan/15/david-bowies-last-days-an-18-month-burst-of-creativity
I just read the notice the family issued, and it is just so nicely worded. They are entitled to their privacy, yet they respect that others may want to remember in some way. Just as it should be.
He is the biggest artist of our time.
Still dealing with his death. I cannot even imagine how the family must feel.
But this is so Bowie. Why make it about death, when we can make it about art! Love you for ever, wherever you are!
I feel so much for his close family too, I am devastated and I never met the man. I just can’t imagine, my heart aches for Iman & his daughter and son.
It’s really heartwarming and consoling the huge amount of love expressed for him from pretty much every single person I read comment from or talk to. I’ve never personally felt anything like it, he was truly so special. So much respect and love for him.
I think Christmas time will forever be a remembrance for me of both Bowie and Rickman. I adore the duet David Bowie did with Bing Crosby and it has been one of my favorite songs that I look forward to hearing throughout the holiday season. I’ll forever remember Alan Rickman for his role in Love Actually – every year that movie just adds more depth to the meaning. It was heart wrenching for me to watch again after Liam Neeson lost his beautiful Natasha and to see it played out in the movie was so sad.
It goes without saying that David Bowie and Iman such a beautiful, adoring couple whose love knows no bounds. I’ve watched them together on youtube and their mutual respect and admiration is just beautiful to see.