A Year Without David Bowie

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David Bowie died a year ago today of cancer. Like millions of other fans, it came at an extreme shock. Recently, it was reported that Bowie didn’t know he was dying until the final months of his life.

Most will remember Bowie at his peak fame as Ziggy Stardust or the Thin White Duke. I distinctly remember listening to David’s Ziggy-tinged classic “Rebel Rebel” on the in-flight music as I touched down to Darwin, Australia. But I remember him best on his regular guest appearances on Late Night with Conan O’Brien.

The cover art for his 2002 album, Heathen, was arresting enough.

He always had an easy presence, and a refusal to let his past glories overshadow his present interests. He would promote work he was doing with Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails, or sing an acoustic ballad. I knew then, he would not go gentle into that good night.

I became a fan. I backtracked to his classic work, but I always sprinkled in some of his newer work. He made my dreams come true when he and Tilda Swinton co-starred in a music video.

I was so excited to hear, that in late 2015, Bowie planned to release out with a new album called Blackstar. KCRW teased with a couple of singles, and it was getting early rave reviews. 2015 ticked over to 2016.

Then he was gone.

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He always had an easy presence, and a refusal to let his past glories overshadow his present interests. ... I knew then, he would not go gentle into that good night.

In the weeks following his death, I’d put Blackstar on repeat, demanding an explanation or reason for why he was leaving us this way. However, as the year progressed, I’d ignore the album until it would randomly sneak up on my playlist. I didn’t shy away from the hurt. I couldn’t. We’ve lost too many wonderful artists this year, and sometimes it’s healthy to sit in that for awhile. It appeals to the melancholy part of me.

The Living Legends We Lost in 2016 – by Eric J. Lawrence

I was grateful to have a beautiful work of art. “I Can’t Give Everything Away” still ruins me. I think what I’ll really miss is not seeing his charming, irreverent presence — not just on late night television — but anywhere.

I found out after his death that before he focused on music, he studied layout and typesetting in the early ’60s at the Bromley Technical High School for Boys, (now Bromely College of Art). It wasn’t as cool then as it is now. Back then, commercial art was where you tossed all the “difficult” kids. Not necessarily the unruly or violent ones. But the ones no one could make sense of. But for someone Like David, art personally expresses. Design helps make sense of varied interests, as it seeks order and commonality. I’m sure that helped as he evolved.

Ultimately, David Bowie lived and died on his own terms. Exactly the way I should expect him to. And I can’t ask anymore of him.

Thank you, David.