Global fans flock to pay tribute to Bowie

Fans around the world have been paying tribute to David Bowie, who died of cancer at the age of 69, the BBC reports.

They gathered in London, Berlin, New York and Los Angeles to lay flowers and remember their musical hero.

As yet there has been no official confirmation of the type of cancer Bowie had.

But Ivo van Hove, who directed Bowie's current off-Broadway play Lazarus, told Dutch public radio broadcaster NOS that he had suffered from liver cancer.

"He told me more than a year and three months ago just after he had heard himself... he said it was liver cancer," van Hove said.

A planned concert at New York's Carnegie Hall dedicated to his musical legacy looks set to become a memorial concert, according to Rolling Stone.

The event featuring Cyndi Lauper, Perry Farrell and The Roots will take place on 31 March.

On Monday, hundreds of people gathered in Brixton in south London - where Bowie was born - to celebrate his life.

Fans also placed candles, flowers and glitter at his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, outside his New York home and outside his former flat in Berlin.

Bowie's social media accounts said on Monday that he "died peacefully, surrounded by his family".
'He was my friend'

Tributes have continued to be paid by fellow musicians to the "extraordinary artist" whose last album Blackstar was released days ago.

Mick Jagger, who recorded a cover of Dancing in the Street with Bowie in 1985, said in a statement:

"David was always an inspiration to me and a true original. He was wonderfully shameless in his work. We had so many good times together... He was my friend. I will never forget him.''

The Rolling Stones as a band also issued a statement that said they were "shocked and deeply saddened" by his death.

They said that "as well as being a wonderful and kind man, he was an extraordinary artist, and a true original."

Sir Elton John shared a photo of a young David Bowie on Instagram.

"I am still in shock. Never saw it coming. My deepest condolences to Iman and the family. An amazing life. An amazing career," he wrote.

Bruce Springsteen called Bowie "a visionary artist and an early supporter of our music. Always changing and ahead of the curve, he was an artist whose excellence you aspired to. He will be sorely missed.''

Debbie Harry said "without this visionary and his friend Iggy Pop where would Blondie be today? Silly question and one that can't be answered really but there is no doubt in my mind that Bowie played a big part in our future successes. As for now, love you David Bowie".