David Bowie Dead: Brian Eno Reveals Poignant Final Email From The Late Star | HuffPost

Brian Eno Reveals Poignant Final Email From David Bowie

Daniel Welsh— The Huffington Post UK

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Brian Eno has opened up about the poignant last email he received from David Bowie.

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The music producer - who worked with Bowie on what became known as the ‘Berlin trilogy’ of albums, spawning hits like ‘Heroes’, ‘Sound And Vision’ and ‘Boys Keep Swinging’ - kept in contact with David throughout their careers, and reveals he received a message from the late star just last week.

Speaking with fondness about their friendship, Brian recalled to the BBC: “David’s death came as a complete surprise, as did nearly everything else about him. I feel a huge gap now.

Brian Eno and David Bowie in 1991

“We knew each other for over 40 years, in a friendship that was always tinged by echoes of Pete and Dud. Over the last few years - with him living in New York and me in London - our connection was by email. We signed off with invented names: some of his were Mr Showbiz, Milton Keynes, Rhoda Borrocks and the Duke of Ear.”

He went on to describe their final correspondence, adding: "I received an email from him seven days ago.

"It was as funny as always, and as surreal, looping through word games and allusions and all the usual stuff we did. It ended with this sentence: 'Thank you for our good times, brian. they will never rot'. And it was signed 'Dawn'.

"I realise now he was saying goodbye."

David died on Sunday, at the age of 69, following a secret 18-month battle with cancer.

In the days before his death, he released his 25th album, ‘Blackstar’, which looks set to top the UK album chart on Friday.

The album was preceded by the poignant music video for the single, ‘Lazarus’, which shows David lying in a hospital bed, while singing lyrics about being “in heaven” and “free”.

David Bowie Tributes Around The World

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The Ritzy Cinema in Brixton pays tribute to local hero David Bowie (credit:Rex)

rexfeatures_5534031a(02 of26)

The Ritzy Cinema in Brixton pays tribute to local hero David Bowie (credit:Rex)

Britain Bowie Obit(03 of26)

Flowers are placed where the Ziggy Stardust album cover of David Bowie was photographed in London, Monday, Jan. 11, 2016. David Bowie, the other-worldly musician who broke pop and rock boundaries with creative musicianship, nonconformity, striking visuals and a genre-bending persona, died of cancer Sunday. He was 69. The singer, who was born David Jones at the family home in the Brixton area of London, came of age in the glam rock era of the early 1970s. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) (credit:Frank Augstein/AP)

Britain Bowie Obit(04 of26)

A fan stands in front of a plaque commemorating the launch of David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust and where the album cover was photographed in London, Monday, Jan. 11, 2016. David Bowie, the other-worldly musician who broke pop and rock boundaries with creative musicianship, nonconformity, striking visuals and a genre-bending persona, died of cancer Sunday. He was 69. The singer, who was born David Jones at the family home in the Brixton area of London, came of age in the glam rock era of the early 1970s. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) (credit:Frank Augstein/AP)

Britain Bowie Obit(05 of26)

A man places flowers where the Ziggy Stardust album cover of David Bowie was photographed in London, Monday, Jan. 11, 2016. David Bowie, the other-worldly musician who broke pop and rock boundaries with creative musicianship, nonconformity, striking visuals and a genre-bending persona, died of cancer Sunday. He was 69. The singer, who was born David Jones at the family home in the Brixton area of London, came of age in the glam rock era of the early 1970s. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) (credit:Frank Augstein/AP)

David Bowie death(06 of26)

A woman lays flowers underneath a commemorative plaque to David Bowie's iconic creation, Ziggy Stardust, in Heddon Street, London, marking the 40th anniversary of the album, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and The Spiders from Mars, after the rock star died following an 18-month battle with cancer. (credit:Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire)

David Bowie death(07 of26)

Tributes are left outside 40 Stansfield Road, Brixton, London, the former home of David Bowie, after the rock star died following an 18-month battle with cancer. (credit:Anthony Devlin/PA Wire)

David Bowie death(08 of26)

A woman holds a Ten Brixton Pound note featuring a picture of David Bowie by a mural of David Bowie on the wall of a Morley's store in Brixton, London, the singers birthplace, after the rock star died following an 18-month battle with cancer. (credit:Anthony Devlin/PA Wire)

David Bowie death(09 of26)

Tributes are left outside 40 Stansfield Road, Brixton, London, the former home of David Bowie, after the rock star died following an 18-month battle with cancer. (credit:Anthony Devlin/PA Wire)

David Bowie death(10 of26)

Flowers are left underneath a commemorative plaque to David Bowie's iconic creation, Ziggy Stardust, in Heddon Street, London, marking the 40th anniversary of the album, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and The Spiders from Mars, after the rock star died following an 18-month battle with cancer. (credit:Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire)

David Bowie death(11 of26)

Tributes are left outside 40 Stansfield Road, Brixton, London, the former home of David Bowie, after the rock star died following an 18-month battle with cancer. (credit:Anthony Devlin/PA Wire)

BRITAIN-MUSIC-OBIT-BOWIE(12 of26)

Floral tributes are left beneath a mural of British singer David Bowie, painted by Australian street artist James Cochran, aka Jimmy C, following the announcement of Bowie's death, in Brixton, south London, on January 11, 2016. British music icon David Bowie died of cancer at the age of 69, drawing an outpouring of tributes for the innovative star famed for groundbreaking hits like 'Ziggy Stardust' and his theatrical shape-shifting style. AFP PHOTO / CHRIS RATCLIFFERESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE, MANDATORY MENTION OF THE ARTIST UPON PUBLICATION, TO ILLUSTRATE THE EVENT AS SPECIFIED IN THE CAPTION / AFP / CHRIS RATCLIFFE (Photo credit should read CHRIS RATCLIFFE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:CHRIS RATCLIFFE via Getty Images)

BRITAIN-MUSIC-OBIT-BOWIE(13 of26)

Floral tributes are left beneath a mural of British singer David Bowie, following the announcement of Bowie's death, in Brixton, south London, on January 11, 2016. British music icon David Bowie died of cancer at the age of 69, drawing an outpouring of tributes for the innovative star famed for groundbreaking hits like 'Ziggy Stardust' and his theatrical shape-shifting style. AFP PHOTO / CHRIS RATCLIFFE / AFP / CHRIS RATCLIFFE (Photo credit should read CHRIS RATCLIFFE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:CHRIS RATCLIFFE via Getty Images)

BRITAIN-MUSIC-OBIT-BOWIE(14 of26)

Tributes are left beneath a mural of British singer David Bowie, following the announcement of Bowie's death, in Brixton, south London, on January 11, 2016. British music icon David Bowie died of cancer at the age of 69, drawing an outpouring of tributes for the innovative star famed for groundbreaking hits like 'Ziggy Stardust' and his theatrical shape-shifting style. AFP PHOTO / CHRIS RATCLIFFE / AFP / CHRIS RATCLIFFE (Photo credit should read CHRIS RATCLIFFE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:CHRIS RATCLIFFE via Getty Images)

BRITAIN-MUSIC-OBIT-BOWIE(15 of26)

A man takes a photograph on his smartphone of floral tributes left beneath a mural of British singer David Bowie, painted by Australian street artist James Cochran, aka Jimmy C, following the announcement of Bowie's death, in Brixton, south London, on January 11, 2016. British music icon David Bowie died of cancer at the age of 69, drawing an outpouring of tributes for the innovative star famed for groundbreaking hits like 'Ziggy Stardust' and his theatrical shape-shifting style. AFP PHOTO / CHRIS RATCLIFFERESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE, MANDATORY MENTION OF THE ARTIST UPON PUBLICATION, TO ILLUSTRATE THE EVENT AS SPECIFIED IN THE CAPTION / AFP / CHRIS RATCLIFFE (Photo credit should read CHRIS RATCLIFFE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:CHRIS RATCLIFFE via Getty Images)

SEAN SUEN Presented By GQ China - Backstage - London Collections Men AW16(16 of26)

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 11: A model with a tribute to the late David Bowie written on his back backstage ahead of the SEAN SUEN presented by GQ China show during The London Collections Men AW16 at Victoria House on January 11, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images) (credit:Stuart C. Wilson via Getty Images)

SEAN SUEN Presented By GQ China - Backstage - London Collections Men AW16(17 of26)

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 11: A model with a tribute to the late David Bowie written on his back backstage ahead of the SEAN SUEN presented by GQ China show during The London Collections Men AW16 at Victoria House on January 11, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images) (credit:Stuart C. Wilson via Getty Images)

SEAN SUEN Presented By GQ China - Backstage - London Collections Men AW16(18 of26)

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 11: A model with a tribute to the late David Bowie written on his back backstage ahead of the SEAN SUEN presented by GQ China show during The London Collections Men AW16 at Victoria House on January 11, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images) (credit:Stuart C. Wilson via Getty Images)

GERMANY-BOWIE-BRITAIN-MUSIC-PEOPLE-OBIT(19 of26)

A resident leaves the building among tributes to British rock legend David Bowie leftoutside his former home in Berlin's Hauptstrasse 155 on January 11, 2016.British rock music legend David Bowie has died after a long battle with cancer, his official Twitter and Facebook accounts said. / AFP / ODD ANDERSEN (Photo credit should read ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:ODD ANDERSEN via Getty Images)

GERMANY-BRITAIN-MUSIC-PEOPLE-BOWIE-OBIT(20 of26)

David-Bowie-fan Jamie Young puts down a tribute to British rock legend David Bowie outside his former home in Berlin's Hauptstrasse 155 on January 11, 2016.British rock music legend David Bowie has died after a long battle with cancer, his official Twitter and Facebook accounts said. / AFP / ODD ANDERSEN (Photo credit should read ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:ODD ANDERSEN via Getty Images)

GERMANY-BOWIE-BRITAIN-MUSIC-PEOPLE-OBIT(21 of26)

Tributes to British rock legend David Bowie are seen outside his former home in Berlin's Hauptstrasse 155 on January 11, 2016.British rock music legend David Bowie has died after a long battle with cancer, his official Twitter and Facebook accounts said. / AFP / ODD ANDERSEN (Photo credit should read ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:ODD ANDERSEN via Getty Images)

GERMANY-BOWIE(22 of26)

David-Bowie-fan Dirk Turnage puts down a tribute to British rock legend David Bowie outside his former home in Berlin's Hauptstrasse 155 on January 11, 2016.British rock music legend David Bowie has died after a long battle with cancer, his official Twitter and Facebook accounts said. / AFP / ODD ANDERSEN (Photo credit should read ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:ODD ANDERSEN via Getty Images)

David Bowie Remembered On The Hollywood Walk Of Fame(23 of26)

HOLLYWOOD, CA - JANUARY 10: David Bowie remembered on The Hollywood Walk of Fame on January 10, 2016 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Araya Diaz/Getty Images) (credit:Araya Diaz via Getty Images)

David Bowie Remembered On The Hollywood Walk Of Fame(24 of26)

HOLLYWOOD, CA - JANUARY 10: David Bowie remembered on The Hollywood Walk of Fame on January 10, 2016 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Araya Diaz/Getty Images) (credit:Araya Diaz via Getty Images)

David Bowie Remembered On The Hollywood Walk Of Fame(25 of26)

HOLLYWOOD, CA - JANUARY 10: David Bowie remembered on The Hollywood Walk of Fame on January 10, 2016 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Araya Diaz/Getty Images) (credit:Araya Diaz via Getty Images)

David Bowie Remembered On The Hollywood Walk Of Fame(26 of26)

HOLLYWOOD, CA - JANUARY 10: David Bowie remembered on The Hollywood Walk of Fame on January 10, 2016 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Araya Diaz/Getty Images) (credit:Araya Diaz via Getty Images)

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