Bowie ‘curated his death’ with last album: Leibovitz

Producer Tony Visconti, who worked with Bowie on his final album Blackstar – released just two days before his death, on his 69th birthday – described the record as his “parting gift” to fans. “Basically, I was in this whirlwind with him in a period between Young Americans and Station to Station”.

Much has been made of the lyrics and videos for both Lazarus and Blackstar, in which Bowie variously appears on his deathbed and surrounded by images of mortality, such as skulls. “Since his death, many of our channels have been playing music from his legendary career”, said Scott Greenstein, President and Chief Content Officer, SiriusXM. “The Music of David Bowie” was originally supposed to be a tribute show, but will now be a memorial.

Bowie, who passed away on Monday, battled liver cancer for 18 months without the public’s knowledge. Throughout a roller coaster of improving and worsening conditions, Bowie finished Blackstar before his final diagnosis.

The music icon is said to have expressed a wish to “go without any fuss” before his death on Sunday. “Thank you, David Bowie and Goodbye”. The only time Bowie waited more than five years in between albums was after his 2003 album, “Reality”, when it took 10 years to released 2013′s “The Next Day”. “It was then that I knew that it may be the last time I would see him”.

David Bowie’s close friend has told how the star was feeling “optimistic” about a new cancer drug just weeks before his death.

He said: “David Bowie was one of the most important and influential songwriters and performers ever and, like so many fans around the world, we’re devastated to hear of his loss”.

In the end, Visconti – like Bowie fans everywhere – can only wonder at what might have been, had he lived.