David Bowie dead at 69 after cancer battle

David Bowie has died after a battle with cancer, his publicist said late Sunday. He was 69.

A message posted on Bowie's official Facebook page read: "David Bowie died peacefully today surrounded by his family after a courageous 18 month battle with cancer."

It added, "While many of you will share in this loss, we ask that you respect the family's privacy during their time of grief."

Bowie's son, Duncan Jones, also confirmed the news, saying on Twitter, "Very sorry and sad to say it's true. I'll be offline for a while. Love to all."

One of the most unique and influential figures in the history of modern music, Bowie's extraordinary career spanned more than 40 years. The British artist covered a myriad of genres during his time in the limelight, leading to a huge catalog of work that included memorable hits such as Let's Dance, Space Oddity, Heroes, and Changes.

His death comes just two days after the release of his 29th album -- Blackstar -- on what was his 69th birthday.

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