# David Bowie has died **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 11, 2016, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-bowie-has-died/742794 "2016-01-11T07:02:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2016, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-bowie-has-died/742794/61 "2016-01-11T13:56:19Z")
Also, if you ask me any time to name the first riff that pops into my head when you say the word “riff,” it would be Ziggy Stardust’s. The next one that will always occur to me? Rebel Rebel. (Take that, Keith Richards!). I just typed in “Bowie” on my hard drive search to enjoy a tribute mix while making breakfast, and two of the files that appeared were themselves tributes: Nirvana’s MTV-unplugged rendition of Bowie’s “The Man Who Sold the World,” and the early Phish song “David Bowie.” ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2016, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-bowie-has-died/742794/62 "2016-01-11T14:16:44Z")
One artist who took so many forms in the public eye in so many fields. It seemed there would always be a version of Bowie to go with the times. He had been looking not too well for a while but still, damn… ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2016, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-bowie-has-died/742794/63 "2016-01-11T14:19:45Z")
I wasn’t a big fan of his music, but I understood how he was one of the greats and admired his range of talent. He also was a pretty good actor. It was a shock to hear he was gone. It looks like he released a new album just a couple of days ago and I see he kept his health situation secret. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2016, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-bowie-has-died/742794/64 "2016-01-11T14:26:06Z")
SarcasticRover has named a rock on Mars after David Bowie. [https://twitter.com/SarcasticRover](https://twitter.com/SarcasticRover) I just love this, and yet, this is what brought the tears to my eyes today. ---
**Author:** ![Galwegian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galwegian/32/3426_2.png) [@Galwegian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Galwegian)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2016, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-bowie-has-died/742794/65 "2016-01-11T14:32:12Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > Do you suppose someone at VH1 knew something? I didn’t see anything mentioned about it being a birthday tribute. Actually there was no host or anything, just hours of great footage of a legend. Probably both for his birthday, and to celebrate his new album that came out on Friday. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2016, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-bowie-has-died/742794/66 "2016-01-11T14:40:34Z")
Fitting he should have a spider named after him: [Heteropoda davidbowie - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heteropoda_davidbowie) I was never his biggest fan, but I liked some of his songs very much - “Let’s Dance,” “China Girl,” “Modern Love” and his duet with Queen, “Under Pressure,” are particular favorites. He always impressed me as a multitalented, funny, wry, endlessly self-inventing pop star. May he rest in peace. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2016, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-bowie-has-died/742794/67 "2016-01-11T14:54:49Z")
Such a shock. 69 is too young. The man was talented and hardworking - that is a fearsome combination. Off to listen to some of his wonderful music. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2016, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-bowie-has-died/742794/68 "2016-01-11T14:58:01Z")
“It never occurred to me he would do something as mundane as dying.” -Someone on the Internet ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2016, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-bowie-has-died/742794/69 "2016-01-11T15:05:56Z")
I just heard the news and I am shocked and saddened. His music was a huge part of my life in high school and college. I have a concert tape (which goes to show how times have changed). I think I’ll dig that up and have a listen today. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2016, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-bowie-has-died/742794/70 "2016-01-11T15:07:25Z")
A friend posted this on Facebook: “If you’re ever sad, just remember the world is 4.543 billion years old and you somehow managed to exist at the same time as David Bowie.” ---
**Author:** ![Fuzzy\_wuzzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a8b319/32.png) [@Fuzzy\_wuzzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_wuzzy)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2016, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-bowie-has-died/742794/71 "2016-01-11T15:12:06Z")
> [@SeaDragonTattoo](#): > > After listening to the new album and now hearing he’s been sick through the whole thing, it makes sense. Lyrics to Blackstar and Lazarus, there’s so much obvious now knowing he knew his time was short when he wrote them. > > His music has been part of my life since I was born. Labrynth has been my answer to “what’s your favorite movie?” forever, and the amazing Bowie Is exhibit was at the MCA in Chicago just over a year ago - knowing now that he was already sick when that exhibit was touring. I’m just even more glad now that I made sure to go. > > Damn. > [@Penfeather](#): > > I’m listening to _Blackstar_ now, and in hindsight it’s astonishing. Bowie knows he’s dying, so he decides not to make a quietly valedictory retrospective or give the old songs {and how many songs there were} another last bash, but heads off in a completely new direction one final time to give us some moody, challenging free jazz bodily shackled to some great pop songs. David Bowie, you bloody magnificent bastard. Im not in here for a fight but I really do wonder how good this latest album is. I just listened to Lazarus(and a few other songs) a moment ago and I was underwhelmed. Perhaps I need more time with the entire album. His death is sad of course, but I have a nagging feeling we are being played here as consumers. This album is described as a “return to form”, just as some of his previous albums were described. I am as yet to be convinced. Im not in here to be snarky. As a fan of Bowie I appreciate his musical & artistic contribution as a whole. ---
**Author:** ![eenerms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cdc98d/32.png) [@eenerms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eenerms)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2016, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-bowie-has-died/742794/72 "2016-01-11T15:27:39Z")
No words…RIP ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2016, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-bowie-has-died/742794/73 "2016-01-11T15:28:35Z")
RIP ---
**Author:** ![orderfire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orderfire/32/10908_2.png) [@orderfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orderfire)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2016, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-bowie-has-died/742794/74 "2016-01-11T15:38:41Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > A friend posted this on Facebook: “If you’re ever sad, just remember the world is 4.543 billion years old and you somehow managed to exist at the same time as David Bowie.” That’s a wonderful sentiment. Streaming all the Bowie LP’s on YouTube at work today, and fuck anyone who doesn’t like it. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2016, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-bowie-has-died/742794/75 "2016-01-11T15:40:25Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > One artist who took so many forms in the public eye in so many fields. It seemed there would always be a version of Bowie to go with the times. It’s very interesting to see my Facebook feed this morning, all of the different types of people and their little tributes to Bowie and what he meant to them. Some surprising people I wouldn’t even think knew who he was of course posting their \*Labyrinth \*pics all the way to the friend who counted him as her most favorite ever, being shocked at her own emotion. He really is an ICON, that is for sure. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2016, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-bowie-has-died/742794/76 "2016-01-11T15:57:30Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > “It never occurred to me he would do something as mundane as dying.” -Someone on the Internet > [@Asimovian](#): > > A friend posted this on Facebook: “If you’re ever sad, just remember the world is 4.543 billion years old and you somehow managed to exist at the same time as David Bowie.” Thanks - these are both great. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2016, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-bowie-has-died/742794/77 "2016-01-11T16:00:04Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > All, please refrain from quoting excessive amounts of lyrics. Quote some and link to the rest. Admit it, you wanted to say “Oh baby just you shut your mouth” to China Guy. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2016, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-bowie-has-died/742794/78 "2016-01-11T16:05:23Z")
Another rock icon gone. He was a real space oddity, but had his brilliant moments. I remember an old film clip where a Motown group (I think it may have been The Funk Brothers) went to England for a tour, and a fan club met them. The president of the club asked them some questions. His name was David Bowie, and it was way before any fame came his way. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2016, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-bowie-has-died/742794/79 "2016-01-11T16:12:19Z")
[QUOTE=David Bowie] Music has given me over 40 years of extraordinary experiences. I can’t say that life’s pains or more tragic episodes have been diminished because of it. But it’s allowed me so many moments of companionship when I’ve been lonely and a sublime means of communication when I wanted to touch people. It’s been both my doorway of perception and the house that I live in. I only hope that it embraces you with the same lusty life force that it graciously offered me. Thank you very much and remember, if it itches, play it. [/QUOTE] Thank you for gracing us with your art, Mr. Bowie. RIP ☹ ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2016, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-bowie-has-died/742794/80 "2016-01-11T16:24:09Z")
First Angus Scrimm and now this…☹ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-bowie-has-died/742794.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-bowie-has-died/742794.md?page=5)