EW remembers David Bowie, who died Jan. 10, 2016 after an 18-month battle with cancer.
My reason for performing is not to c’mon an audience, Bowie continued.
Its to present what I believe are exciting new ideas.
Credit: Herb Ritts/Trunk Archive
He floated into the lobby, really happy.
He morphed and moved on and never looked back, leaving the past where he thought it belonged.
That didnt ever bother me one iota.
Mick Hutson/Redferns
I have no confidence in David Jones as a public figure, Bowie told People in 1976.
It wouldnt be Bowies last reinvention, of course.
Im very aware of the impact Ive had in Europe, Bowie told EW.
Gill Allen/AP
But my impression of the reception Id had in America was Oh, here comes this eccentric limey again.
I never felt that Id contributed much to the fabric of American rock.
The album also paved the way for future generations of androgynous, gender-bending icons in pop.
Jeff Spicer/Getty Images
David was always an inspiration to me and a true original,Jagger told EW in a statement.
He was wonderfully shameless in his work, we had so many good times together.
David said, Absolutely, and he went to meet him.
He was aware of Bruce.
Despite the headiness of his ascendant stardom in the 70s, Bowie found time to start a family.
They divorced in 1980.
Despite the split, he cared deeply about family.
He was a devoted, devoted father to Duncan, Gibbons recalls.
I was flying out there, really in a bad way, he toldQin 1997.
I listen toStation to Stationas a piece of work by an entirely different person.
In an effort to get clean, Bowie relocated to Switzerland in 1976 and eventually settled in Germany.
There were a lot of things happening, the nightclubs were open 24 hours.
It was a great experience in Berlin for him.
Mass audiences finally caught up with Bowie at the dawn on the MTV era.
Even as MTV boosted him, though, he was never afraid to bite the hand that fed him.
Its got a lot going for it.
Ive always called him the Picasso of rock & roll,Rodgers tells EW.
And he says, Nile, darling, I want the album to sound like this.
And he whipped out a picture of Little Richard in a red suit getting into a red Cadillac convertible.
I knew exactly what he was talking about.
Some of them became collaborators and friends.
Were not going to do any hits, because thats what I want to do.
I thought that took real courage and conviction…. Hes the real deal.
Hes one of those few people who didnt disappoint you when you actually get to know them.
That creative spark continued through his final album,Blackstar.
According to Visconti, the record was intentionally crafted as his farewell.
I didnt notice him reaching back.
I just felt like hes pushing.
All his life, Bowie never stopped his restless reach toward the unknown.
With every movement, every change, he left a deep imprint on the culture.
