The World Mourns The Death Of Rock Icon David Bowie

Following yesterday's news that UK singer and rock icon David Bowie had tragically passed away after an 18-month battle with cancer, musicians and fans alike have expressed their sadness and sympathies, as well as reflected on the impact he had on the lives of so many around the world. 

Earlier today in his hometown of Brixton in south London, fans gathered to pay their respects by laying flowers down by a mural of Bowie, as well as participating in mass sing-along's of his music. 

Check out some of the pics below — All images taken by Cassandra Fumi.

Meanwhile, The Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger who had a close friendship with Bowie and famously released a cover of the Motown hit Dancing In The Street with him in 1985 took to Twitter to address his death. 

"David was always an inspiration to me and a true original. He was wonderfully shameless in his work..." Jagger wrote. 

"We had so many good times together. He was my friend, I will never forget him."

Similarly, Queen guitarist Brian May who was involved in the band's collaboration with Bowie on the 1981 songt Under Pressure described his passing as "inestimable" in a post on his website.

"In and out of our lives, always challenging and innovative, and … shocking. But this news is hard to take in. I had no idea he was close to death. Would like to have said something."

Fellow British musician and The Beatles bassist Paul McCartney wrote in a Facebook post, "David was a great star and I treasure the moments we had together."

"His music played a very strong part in British musical history and I’m proud to think of the huge influence he has had on people all around the world."

In a touching tribute, rock singer Marilyn Manson said that Bowie's influence changed his life. 

"Every song of his was a way for me to communicate to others," he wrote in Rolling Stone.

"It was a sedative. An arousal. A love letter I could never have written."

"I don't need hope to know that he has found his way to the place that equals his untouchable, chameleon-genius beauty. The black star in space, that only HE belongs.This crushing moment of fear and loss can only be treated the way his music has affected everyone who was fortunate enough to hear and love it. Let's NEVER let go of what he gave us." 

New Zealand artist Lorde also penned a lengthy tribute on her Facebook page and recalled the very first night she met Bowie a few years ago. 

"America was very new to me, and I was distinctly uneasy and distrustful toward everything happening in my life that was putting me in these flat-voiced, narrow-eyed, champagneish rooms," Lorde recalled. 

"David was different. I'll never forget the caressing of our hands as we spoke, or the light in his eyes. That night something changed in me - i felt a calmness grow, a sureness. I think in those brief moments, he heralded me into my next new life, an old rock and roll alien angel in a perfect grey suit."

"I realized everything I’d ever done, or would do from then on, would be done like maybe he was watching. I realized I was proud of my spiky strangeness because he had been proud of his. And I know I'm never going to stop learning dances, brand new dances." 

Beloved Aussie music critic Molly Meldrum recalled many memories he shared with Bowie over the years, and said that the artist "changed the face of music".

Writing in a news.com.au article Meldrum said, "His use of sound and visuals was nothing short of revolutionary, he reinvented himself with nearly every album, something no one else was doing at the time."

"He was an utter gentleman too. When my house burned down in 1984 he called and told me to come and stay with him at his house in Switzerland for a few weeks until I got everything together. And after my accident a few years ago there was the sweetest note from David when I finally woke up."

As well as having an undeniable influence on the music world at large, Bowie proved to have a huge impact in film, with many remembering his role as The Goblin King in the 1986 Jim Henson adventure fantasy film, Labyrinth. 

His co-star in the film, Jennifer Connolly said the experience resulted in Bowie becoming one of her heroes. 

"I met David Bowie when I was 14 and he became a hero to me — because he was an artist, and because he was a genius who had the time to be kind," Connolly said in a statement to Entertainment Weekly. 

"I'd never met such an extraordinary artist before, and I haven’t since — the world will be a greyer place without him."

British comedian Ricky Gervais also expressed his sadness of the news on Twitter, having worked with Bowie in a 2006 episode of his sitcom, Extras.

"I just lost a hero. RIP David Bowie," Gervais tweeted.

Bowie's fascination with space was not forgotten either as a number of astronauts and scientists have written tributes about the late artist including National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). 

'And the stars look very different today.' RIP David Bowie." a post on the official NASA Twitter account read.

Bowie's long-term producer Tony Visconti has since said that the newly-released album Blackstar was intended to be a "parting gift" for fans. 

Other notable names to have spoken out about Bowie's death include Elton John, AC/DC, Iggy Pop, Madonna, Foo Fighters and more. Check out some of the tributes below.

 

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

A photo posted by Elton John (@eltonjohn) on Jan 11, 2016 at 12:17pm PST

As John & I had very few friends, we felt David was as close as family. Sweet memories will stay with us forever. pic.twitter.com/WoZsztnm4E

— Yoko Ono (@yokoono) January 11, 2016

RIP to a true LEGEND. David Bowie. #DavidBowie

— AC/DC (@acdc) January 11, 2016

David Bowie was a huge influence on me throughout my life. The original star-man returned to the stars...

— florence welch (@flo_tweet) January 11, 2016

MESSAGE FROM IGGY: "David’s friendship was the light of my life. I never met such a brilliant person. He was the best there is. - Iggy Pop"

— Iggy Pop (@IggyPop) January 11, 2016

rest in peace Ziggy pic.twitter.com/7GawTAlsI3

— The Weeknd (@theweeknd) January 11, 2016

David Bowie was one of my most important inspirations, so fearless, so creative, he gave us magic for a lifetime.

— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) January 11, 2016

Rest in peace, David. pic.twitter.com/9Kv9yM9igh

— Foo Fighters (@foofighters) January 11, 2016

I just lost a hero. RIP David Bowie.

— Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) January 11, 2016

David was always an inspiration to me and a true original. He was wonderfully shameless in his work. 1/2

— Mick Jagger (@MickJagger) January 11, 2016

We had so many good times together. He was my friend, I will never forget him. 2/2 pic.twitter.com/9xfPj88x8b

— Mick Jagger (@MickJagger) January 11, 2016

It's not often I truly cry at the loss of an artist but I'm devastated. He meant so much. Goodbye David Bowie and our youth. We loved you. X

— Marc Almond (@MarcAlmond) January 11, 2016

There will never be another that comes close. It's too much . Just can't take it in. Black day! #DavidBowie

— Marc Almond (@MarcAlmond) January 11, 2016

In shock about @DavidBowieReal Never in a million years did I think that we'd lose such an amazing guy so young Full https://t.co/FrvXhkxbRg

— Ozzy Osbourne (@OzzyOsbourne) January 11, 2016

 

Just the best. #davidbowie

A photo posted by James Franco (@jamesfrancotv) on Jan 11, 2016 at 6:12pm PST

Kind of feels like we're still hanging at the party after the coolest guy left. #RIPDavidBowie #genius #humble #gracious

— Ben Stiller (@RedHourBen) January 11, 2016

 

2016 is off to a bad start. Another one of my musical idols gone, may his legacy live on forever #RIPDAVIDBOWIE "I DONT KNOW WHERE I'M GOING FROM HERE, BUT I PROMISE IT WON'T BE BORING" -DAVID BOWIE

A photo posted by travisbarker (@travisbarker) on Jan 10, 2016 at 11:24pm PST