In a statement on Facebook Thursday, David Bowie’s family said a few words of gratitude to fans around the world who have posted in droves about their sorrow over the star’s passing. Bowie’s family stated:
“We are overwhelmed by and grateful for the love and support shown throughout the world.
However, it is important to note that while the concerts and tributes planned for the coming weeks are all welcome, none are official memorials organized or endorsed by the family.
Just as each and every one of us found something unique in David's music, we welcome everyone’s celebration of his life as they see fit.”
Their statement came on the heels of news Bowie was reportedly planning a follow-up album to his latest album Blackstar, which went No. 1 in the UK and No. 2 in the USA on iTunes/Amazon. According to his friend and producer Tony Visconti, in an interview with Rolling Stone, Bowie had written and demoed five new songs for his new project in the final weeks of his life.
"And I was thrilled, and I thought, and he thought, that he'd have a few months, at least," Visconti told Rolling Stone. "Obviously, if he's excited about doing his next album, he must've thought he had a few more months. So the end must've been very rapid. I'm not privy to it. I don't know exactly, but he must've taken ill very quickly after that phone call."
According to Visconti, Bowie knew in November that his cancer was terminal but forged forward with his Blackstar and post-Blackstar work. The lyrics of Bowie’s new project led Visconti to remark, “You're writing a farewell album,” to which Bowie just laughed.
