A tribute to David Bowie made in his hometown, Brixton. (Image Credit: Amy T. Zielinski / Getty Images)
David Bowie’s long-time producer Tony Visconti has described how the singer informed him that he had been diagnosed with cancer.
Speaking with Mojo magazine, Visconti recalled how Bowie broke the news to him prior to the pair’s recording of Blackstar: “He called me for a meeting and it sounded like I was getting the sack.
“David said, ‘I have something to show you’, and pulled his woolly hat off. He was completely bald and he said, ‘I have cancer’.
“My life has not been the same since.”
Tony Visconti, performing a David Bowie tribute in Toronto. (Image Credit: Steve Russell / Getty Images)
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Visconti also previously spoke of how Bowie once headed into the studio after receiving chemotherapy, telling Rolling Stone: “He just came fresh from a chemo session, and he had no eyebrows, and he had no hair on his head.
“There was no way he could keep it a secret from the band. But he told me privately and I really got choked up when we sat face to face talking about it.”
While it had previously been believed that Bowie had released Blackstar knowing that he didn’t have long left to live, Visconti has stated that the legendary musician was actually working on a follow-up album. “I thought, and he thought, that he’d have a few months, at least,” the producer said. “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.”
