David Bowie’s long-time producer, Tony Visconti, has opened up about the emotional moment the star revealed to him he was dying of cancer.
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Tony worked with David on 11 of his studio albums, including his most recent offerings ‘The Next Day’ and ‘Blackstar’, and has now spoken about the moment the singer broke the news to him that he had cancer.
Speaking to Mojo magazine, Tony explained: “He called me for a meeting and it sounded like I was getting the sack.
David Bowie in 2010
“David said, ‘I have something to show you’, and pulled his woolly hat off. He was completely bald and he said, ‘I have cancer.'”
Tony admitted that “his life has not been the same” since David broke the news, and the two then set about creating what became his final album, ‘Blackstar’.
David Bowie and Tony Visconti in 1970
The album was preceded by the single, ‘Lazarus’, the poignant music video for which felt particularly poignant following the sad news of his death.
David is shown in the video lying on what appears to be a deathbed, while singing lyrics relating to his own mortality.
‘Blackstar’ shot to the top of the UK albums chart in the week after his death, one of 19 Bowie albums to make the top 100 that week.
He had already been on course to hit the top spot before the news broke of his death, with five of his singles also making the UK top 40.
David Bowie Tributes Around The World
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The Ritzy Cinema in Brixton pays tribute to local hero David Bowie (credit:Rex)
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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)