David Bowie Tribute: North East fans reveal their fondest memory of the idol

David Bowie Tribute: North East fans reveal their fondest memory of the idol

11th January 2016 Off By Megan Goodwin
File photo dated 19/06/87 of David Bowie, who has died following an 18-month battle with cancer.

File photo dated 19/06/87 of David Bowie, who has died following an 18-month battle with cancer. Picture by: PA / PA Wire/Press Association Images

Singer David Bowie has died of cancer at the age of 69, following an 18-month battle with cancer.

statement issued on the singer’s Facebook page said that he “died peacefully” on January 10, 2016, “surrounded by his family after a courageous 18 month battle with cancer”.

Fans have been left shocked and heartbroken after the news broke this morning, with many celebrities, including Sir Paul McCartney, Iggy Pop and Madonna paying tributes to the Space Oddity singer.

 

Becoming a fan of Bowie’s from the age of 14, Ms Valarie Wilkie, 51, from Chester-le-Street, said: “I couldn’t believe it. It came over as breaking news on my iPad this morning. I thought, ‘that can’t be right’, as I was just watching his latest video a couple of days ago.

“I’ll never forget it rained when I saw Bowie perform at Roker and he wouldn’t do his grand finale of being suspended above the stage because didn’t want to get his air wet. He started singing Rain instead of Fame!

“It was a complete shock as I feel he was someone I grew up with. I loved the way he dressed. I had loads of his albums.

Michael Grice, 58, from Washington, who has been a Bowie fan since 1972, said: “Shock was my initial reaction to his passing and then sadness at knowing he’ll not be around to influence the music scene in the future.

“I saw him first at City Hall in 1978 on his world tour. The ambience was electrifying and a stand out moment for me was when a foot came through the ceiling of someone trying to find a way in”.